Ornellaia
Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2017
Bolgheri DOC Rosso
Coming primarily from the Ornellaia’s younger vineyard sites and made with the same passion and attention to detail as the estate’s flagship wine, Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia combines generosity and depth of flavor with an engaging and vibrant personality. Made to be more approachable, yet delivering the quality experience of Ornellaia, Merlot has a dominant role in this wine in contrast to the Cabernet Sauvignon in Ornellaia.
Vineyard
The Ornellaia vineyard totals 280 acres that are divided into more than 70 vineyard plots according to soil type, exposition and varietal. There are three major soil types: marine (sedimentary deposit from the sea), alluvial (marly, sandy clays with mineral veins), and volcanic (schist, gravel and porous soils). All the vineyards are about 3 miles from the Mediterranean shore. The mild maritime climate features sea breezes that keep the sky clear, low rainfall, and long summers that favor the development of aromatic compounds.
Vineyards are planted at high density, from 5,000-8,700 hl/ha, and feature several training systems – spur-pruned cordon, single Guyot, and head-pruned vines.
Winemaking
The clusters were hand-picked into 15-kg boxes and then selected by hand on a double sorting table, before and after de-stemming, and finally gently crushed. Each variety and each parcel was vinified separately. Alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel, at temperatures of between 26° and 30°C for two weeks followed by maceration of around 10-15 days. Malolactic fermentation was started in stainless steel, and completed after transfer to barrels (25% new and 75% a year old). The wine remained in Ornellaia’s temperature-controlled cellar for a further 15 months. It was assembled after the first 12 months and then reintroduced in the barrels for a further 3 months. After bottling, it was aged for an additional six months prior to release.
Vintage
2017 will go down in history as being one of the hottest, driest years ever. Things were clear from the outset due to a particularly mild winter, with temperatures over three degrees higher than the seasonal average and rains within the norm. Consequently, the vines budded much sooner than usual, almost two weeks in advance. The vegetative cycle was accompanied by hot weather with very little rain from the month of March, and this was interrupted by a sudden drop in temperatures at the end of April, which caused frost in various parts of Tuscany. Thanks to the mitigating effects of the sea, temperatures remained above zero along the coast, preventing damage to the young buds. The hot, dry weather returned in May, limiting vegetative development and the size of the bunches, while flowering occurred under excellent conditions. There was virtually no rain in July and August but fortunately the hot weather was offset by cooler temperatures at night. The harvest began early, with the first Merlot on the 24th of August, continuing through until the last week of September in hot weather and under sunny skies. Rain finally put in an appearance around the middle of month, cooling things down and creating the perfect conditions for the later-ripening varieties.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Appellation
Bolgheri DOC Rosso
Alcohol
14.5%
Suggested Retail Price
$82.00
Reviews
"Silky tannins and a flavorful finish"
James Suckling - November 11, 2019 "An integrated, ripe red with currant, berry and light tobacco character. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a flavorful finish."
"Plump, juicy and so seductive"
Vinous - April 22, 2020 “The 2017 Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia is plump, juicy and so seductive, with pretty floral and savory top notes that add a touch of freshness to balance things out. Medium in body and wonderfully inviting, Le Serre Nuove also has quite a bit of energy for the year. The Merlot was picked starting on August 24, which is very early, even within the context of modern-day warm vintages. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, licorice and mint nuances linger in the glass. This is such a pretty wine."
"Violet, tobacco and green peppercorn"
Wine Enthusiast - May 22, 2020
"A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this opens with aromas of violet, tobacco and green peppercorn. The savory, youthfully tense palate offers black plum, licorice, toasted oak and mocha alongside fine-grained tannins."
"The whole entire presentation here is seamless"
Wine Advocate - May 22, 2020 "The Ornellaia 2017 Bolgheri Rosso Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia is a real charmer of a wine with a sweet, soft and supple disposition. The exact blend is 54% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Fermentation starts in stainless steel, and the wine is then racked over to barrique to complete malolactic fermentation. It ages in oak for 15 months. Production is large, with some 250,000 bottles released in September 2019. The whole entire presentation here is seamless, from start to finish, with dark fruit and cherry slowly folding into leather, spice and pipe tobacco. Fruit was denser and more compact in this hot and dry vintage, and you absolutely feel that extra richness and concentration. I recommend another quick two years of aging to relax the wine's tannins that are extra tight in 2017."
"Delivering harmony and extending nicely"
Wine Spectator - August 6, 2020
"The ripe plum, cherry, black currant, licorice and iron aromas and flavors are enticing in this youthful red. Solid and intense, yet never heavy, delivering harmony and extending nicely on the wild herb-and-tobacco tinged aftertaste. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot."
"A joy to drink"
Jeb Dunnuck - September 3, 2020
"A blend of 54% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot aged 15 months in French oak, the 2017 Le Serre Nuove Dell'Ornellaia shows the warmth of the vintage in its upfront, beautiful perfume of sweet red and black fruits as well as notes of spice, chocolate, loamy earth, and new leather. Just about seamless on the palate, [...] wow, it's just a joy to drink. It should continue showing well for a solid 10-12 years."
Reviews
More on Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2017
How Wines from a Little Known Region Became the Most Expensive in the World
August 5, 2018 - Ornellaia and winemaker Axel Heinz feature prominently in an article in Fortune about the rise of Bolgheri as one of the world's premiere winemaking regions. Read the full article here.
Object of Desire: Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2016
August 5, 2018 - Karla Alindahao, Contributing Editor at Forbes, shares her featured article focusing on Le Serre Nuove. In her article titled "Object of Desire: Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia 2016" Karla writes…
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Ornus dell'Ornellaia
Toscana Bianco IGT
Ornus dell’Ornellaia is a late harvest Petit Manseng produced in extremely limited quantities and gives yet another dimension to the Estate. In certain vintages conditions are perfect in the tiny “Palmetta” vineyard for the production of this exclusive dessert wine. The name Ornus dell’Ornellaia takes its inspiration from ‘Fraxinus Ornus’, the Latin name for the Manna or Flowering Ash (in Italian, Orniello), the tree which has given its name to the Ornellaia. The “Manna Ash” Orniello or ‘Fraxinus Ornus’ is a tree which is typical to the Mediterranean coastal area. Its precious sap has been used since Biblical times as a sweetener and acts as a perfect link to the sweetness of Ornus dell’Ornellaia.
Ornellaia Bianco
IGT Toscana
Ornellaia Bianco is Italy's most ambitious white wine. It is a result of the Estate’s desire to translate the exceptional properties of its terroir not only into red wines, but also into this magnificent white.
Le Volte dell’Ornellaia
Toscana IGT
Le Volte dell’Ornellaia combines a Mediterranean expression of generosity with structure and complexity, reflecting the philosophy of Ornellaia. It represents the first step into the Ornellaia family, and is an ideal wine for everyday enjoyment.
Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia
Toscana IGT Bianco
Poggio alle Gazze dell'Ornellaia is one of Italy's most innovative and progressive white wines, providing an altogether different experience of the Ornellaia estate and its Mediterranean influences.
Ornellaia
Bolgheri DOC Superiore
Ornellaia is the estate's "Grand Vin", with exceptional balance, power, elegance, and great aging potential. It faithfully reflects, in every vintage, its nature, site, and distinctive Mediterranean personality.