New vintage and new label to celebrate the anniversary of the first Italian “second vin”
Bolgheri, Italy, November 25, 2019 – Ornellaia, the renowned Tuscan wine estate, is pleased to announce the release of the 2017 vintage of Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia. The label which accompanies this new vintage is a celebratory one, marking the passage of twenty years since the decision to create a second wine with a blend of the four principal varieties of Ornellaia—Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot—which maintains the elegance and charm of the grand vin, while also being more approachable in youth.
For this release, the number twenty stands out at the centre of the wine’s new label, recalling a history of achievements which over the past two decades has accompanied Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia and enabled it to earn global recognition as a true Italian collectible. A wine with great capability for ageing—and yet also ready for enjoyment now—Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is an elevated expression of its appellation, Bolgheri Rosso DOC, as interpreted through the savoir faire and style of the Ornellaia estate. Its blend is the outcome of the assessment of various base wines and of the grapes originating from specific parcels of the estate’s vineyards, having well in mind the wine to be created: another face of Ornellaia.
Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2017 is the result of a hot and dry year which to some extent recalled that of its inaugural vintage, 1997, which was defined by a long summer season of above-average temperatures and no rainfall. But then, as now, the nocturnal breezes guaranteed by the proximity of the Mediterranean were fundamental, enabling the grapes to ripen optimally and homogeneously. The 2017 harvest began on August 24th with the first Merlot and continued until the last week of September accompanied by sunny and warm days. The resulting wine is distinguished by its “beautiful complexity with scents of small red berries and balsamic notes reminiscent of the Mediterranean’s influence. In the mouth, particularly striking is the quality of the tannic texture, which is smooth and silky. The taste closes with a long finish of unexpected freshness,” says Olga Fusari, oenologist at Ornellaia.
The charm of all the wines produced by the estate also comes from the skilful and passionate attention to every detail of the production process, a practice honed over many years. Axel Heinz, Estate Director of Ornellaia, says: “Since 2016, in addition to manual grape sorting, an approach has been introduced to further increase sorting quality. Each variety and each parcel is vinified separately and it is only after the first 12 months in French oak barrels that the base wines selected for Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia are blended. These then spend another three months in wood before bottling”.
Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2017 will be released in the U.S. during November through Ornellaia’s exclusive importer, VINTUS, and will be priced at SRP: $82.00.
About Ornellaia – www.ornellaia.com
The name ORNELLAIA evokes wine-making excellence and interprets the authentic expression of Tuscan beauty. The estate covers an area of 115 hectares on the Tuscan coast, only a short way from the medieval village of Bolgheri and the famous avenue of cypresses. The top of the range is Bolgheri DOC Superiore Ornellaia, crowned by Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia, second vin, Le Volte dell’Ornellaia and, for the white varieties, by Ornellaia Bianco and Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia. The constant work of the team and the optimal microclimatic and geological conditions have, in little more than thirty years – 1985 was the first vintage of Ornellaia – resulted in the wines of the estate achieving great success among the public and critics, both Italian and international.
