Ornellaia Le Volte dell’Ornellaia, Toscana IGT

Description

Ornellaia Le Volte dell’Ornellaia is this world-famous estate’s third wine, after Ornellaia itself and Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia. It is a “Super Tuscan” blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and was first released in 1991.

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is one of the best-known wineries in the Bolgheri appellation on the coast of Tuscany. The estate was founded in 1981 by Marchese Lodovico Antinori. Eventually, in 2002, the estate was purchased by Robert Mondavi, who entered into a partnership with the Frescobaldi family (Masseto, Luce et al.), who then bought it outright in 2005. Michel Rolland is the consultant oenologist.

Estate Vineyards

The estate comprises of 115 hectares of vineyards nestled in the foothills near Bolgheri, which lie just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean coast (next door to Tenuta San Guido, producer of Sassicaia). During the summer months, the cool sea breeze caresses the vineyards and nearby olive groves, while during the winter, the hills protect from the cold north winds. The vineyards benefit from a unique combination of maritime climate and a complex mosaic of marine, alluvial and volcanic soils – creating a distinct environment where red and white varieties can best express themselves.

Le Volte dell’Ornellaia Winemaking

• Fermentation Process:
  • Different varietals are fermented separately in small steel tanks to preserve varietal characteristics.
  • Alcoholic fermentation followed by malolactic fermentation in steel tanks.
• Ageing Process:
  • Wine aged for 10 months.
  • Ageing split between barriques (previously used for Ornellaia) and concrete tanks.
  • Ageing is designed to balance tannic structure with fresh fruit expression.
• Blend Composition:
  • Approximately 50% Sangiovese.
  • The remaining blend consists of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.