Wine Enthusiast 97 points - Pure flavors of black cherry, blackberry and coffee are enmeshed in the dense texture of this red, which is polished and beautifully balanced, in an international style, with fine length. Best from 2014 through 2024. 2,150 cases imported. –BS
Wine Advocate 96+ points - The 2008 Ornellaia has really come together beautifully over the last few months. Up until fairly recently it was a tightly wound, inaccessible wine, but it has begun to blossom quite nicely. The 2008 is a cool, inward Ornellaia graced with exquisite finesse in its dark fruit, mocha, licorice, tar and spices. I especially like the minerality and focus. There is a fabulous balance between the tannins of this structured, powerful vintage, but with gorgeous fleshiness and pliancy that makes the wine very attractive, even at this early stage. It will be fascinating to watch the 2008 develop over the coming years and decades. The 2008 growing season was marked by a rainy, wet spring which resulted in an irregular flowering and naturally low yields. The summer was hot, but temperatures cooled towards the end of the summer, particularly at night, so important for the development of color, aromatics and full phenolic ripeness in varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a big, massively structured Ornellaia built for the cellar. In 2008 the blend is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The 2008 Ornellaia spent about 20 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.
Wine Spectator 93 points - Pure flavors of black cherry, blackberry and coffee are enmeshed in the dense texture of this red, which is polished and beautifully balanced, in an international style, with fine length. Best from 2014 through 2024. 2,150 cases imported. –BS
2008 TENUTA DELL ORNELLAIA ORNELLAIA
The 2008 Ornellaia continues to blossom in the bottle. Dark cherries, chocolate, espresso, blackberries and mocha are just some of the many notes that explode from the glass. A rich tapestry of licorice, tar and camphor notes develop in the glass, adding considerable complexity. The 2008 is a huge, structured Ornellaia endowed with massive structure. It has come together beautifully since the early days when it was a tannic beast. Readers who can be patient will be rewarded with a spectacular bottle of wine. This is a fabulous showing." Antonio Galloni Wine Advocate 97 points Drink 2018+
| Wine maker notes |
| Tasted May 2011 Ornellaia 2008 represents one of the most classic expressions of the Bolgheri terroir. Fruit of a harvest that was low in quantity but high in concentration, its character reflects both the generous ripeness reached in the first ten days of September as well as the crisp, lively vibrancy encouraged by the cool, breezy days from mid-September through October. Its colour is remarkably intense and deep, while the nose offers stunningly rich, ripe fruit tones, alongside the classic balsamic and tobacco notes with hints of Mediterranean herbs. The palate exhibits immense depth, complex and dense, with tannins that are powerful, but fine-grained, velvety, and racy, giving Ornellaia 2008 a sensation of impressive solidity. A vintage with good aging potential.
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