1997 Ornellaia
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Tasting notes
The 1997 Ornellaia (magnum) is a big, fat wine endowed with tons of fruit. Mocha, coffee beans and ripe, dark fruit emerge from the glass on a rich, opulent frame. The structural elements are easy to overlook, as the tannins are so juicy and ripe, and the fruit is incredibly intense. Simply put, everything is in the right place. Not surprisingly, 1997 is the year Ornellaia introduced their second wine, Le Serre Nuove, and the extra selection that was carried out to produce this wine has paid off big time. The 1997 is also the first Ornellaia in which Merlot is a full 30% of the blend, while Cabernet Sauvignon is 65% and Cabernet Franc is 5%. It is also the first year in which the percentage of new oak is 50%. In many ways, the 1997 is a wine that signals a move towards the more extroverted style that is common here these days. The 1997 Ornellaia, like many wines from Tuscany that year, is marked by a unique growing season that saw an April frost lower yields dramatically, followed by a hot, dry summer which concentrated the remaining fruit to a levels not seen previously. It remains a magnificent example of this Tuscan classic.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The estate's 1997 Ornellaia (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc) combines the large-framed opulence of the 1999 with the slightly more herbal notes found in the 1998. It is a big, plump wine packed with layers of fruit and well-integrated oak, showing outstanding length and the telltale note of sweetness on the finish that defines this vintage. Despite its approachable nature today, the 1997 appears to have enough structure to drink well for another decade. Both the 1997 Ornellaia and Masseto enjoyed a very strong showing in this tasting.
Exceptionally dark crimson with black tones. Very warm and very Napa Valley – very ripe. Sweet – advertises hang time. Very easy to drink without food though there are some quite marked tannins on the finish. Very lush but not very terroir driven. A bit jagged and Unknit. 14% CS:M:CF 65:30:5 138,000 bottles (and the second wine Le Serre Nuove was born) (JR)
Ripe (14%) overall but with a slightly herbaceous topnote. Sweet and voluptuous. Very winning, almost California in style (the Michel Rolland influence?). Lots of fine tannins underneath. Round with a dry finish. Tea leaf. More intense and sweeter than Sassicaia 1997. (JR)
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.