2018 Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove
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Tasting notes
As usual, the 2018 Le Serre Nuove Dell'Ornellaia is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, and it functions as the second wine of Ornellaia. Aged15 months in French oak, it has a Bordeaux-like bouquet of ripe black cherries, cedary spice, chalky minerality, and sappy, herbal nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a pure, balanced, elegant mouthfeel, supple and nicely integrated tannins, and a great finish. The tannins are beautifully managed, and this elegant blend will evolve for 10-15 years in cold cellars.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
A recognisable Bordeaux blend with its structure, tannins and velvet texture. Softly brushed vanilla bean and cocoa shavings alongside the raspberry fruits. This is excellent quality, approachable with a good few hours in a carafe now, or give it another few years to further soften the tannins. Le Serre Nuove comes from younger vines or those on lighter, sandier soils, translating into a fruit-focused, unfussy wine that was first released in this vintage through the Place in March 2021, making this my second tasting.
The 2018 Bolgheri Rosso Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that is aged in oak for 15 months. The wine shows depth, concentration and generous fruit weight that adds to the intensity and the textural importance of this abundant, full-bodied expression. Late-season rains threw some challenges at the winemakers of Bolgheri, but this open-knit wine has emerged unscathed. This vintage was released in September of last year, but I have also written a review in this report of the younger 2019 vintage (which will be released in September of this year).
The 2018 Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is everything a second wine should be. Open-knit and silky, with impeccable balance and tons of sheer appeal, the 2018 is exquisite today. I would prefer to drink it on the early side in order to capture all of its freshness. In some vintages, Le Serre Nuove can be a bit imposing; in 2018 is all charm and seduction.
About the producer
Based in the foothills of Bolgheri, Ornellaia is one of the original Super Tuscans, making some of Italy’s finest Cabernet blends. Created by Lodovico Antinori, today the estate is owned by the Frescobaldi family, which also owns sibling property Masseto.