Tenuta dell Ornellaia Ornellaia 2020 Demi 0,375 l

-  19/20 VINUM Wine Magazin: „La Proporzione – das Verhältnis – ist die von Ornellaia für diesen Jahrgang vergebene Ehrenbezeichnung, perfekt proportioniert ist auch der Wein: Intrigante Aromen von Steinobst, aufgepeppt mit zartem Odeur von frischen Blüten und Macchia, das dezente Holz sehr gut integriert; superber Bau mit viel Druck und Fülle, das Tannin dabei präzise und noch sehr jung, endet lang. Trinkfenster: 2026-2034“

- 98 Punkte, James Suckling: „Alluring aromas of lead pencil and currants with crushed stone and iodine. Full-bodied with hemmed in tannins that are tight and focused. Very fresh and energetic with wonderful length and intensity for this vintage. Needs four or five years to come together. Better in 2028 and onwards.“

- 97 DECANTER, Michelle Cherutti-Kowal: „Aromas of ripe blackcurrants with layers of wood spice and smoke. Dense in the mouth with great viscosity, rich in texture with a good depth of fruit concentration. The alcohol is well integrated and balanced with fresh acidity; the tannins provide grip and structure. The oak is still sitting on top, but will blend with further time in bottle. Hold. 2024-2040“

- 18 Punkte Jancis Robinson: „This year's release is known as La Proporzione. Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot from a year in which cold and rain alternated with extended hot and dry periods but temperatures fell towards harvest, which was welcome. Aged in 70% new barriques for about 18 months.
Deep, lustrous crimson. Very sumptuous nose followed up by a hedonistic palate that finishes especially fresh. Ripe but not too-ripe fruit – a drier (much less sweet) vintage than usual which should age well. Unusually, there is some vestige of tannin on the finish. It's certainly possible to drink now if it's aerated before serving but ideally, I'd keep this awhile. Savoury persistence. 2024-2038“

- 95 Punkte Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Monica Larner: „The 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It opens to an impenetrable, full-bodied approach with dark fruit, pencil shaving, toasted oak, Spanish cedar, campfire ash and iron ore. For sure, this is an especially concentrated and oak-driven vintage of this iconic wine. It absolutely requires more aging time. It feels quite tight and firm in its youth. The concentration is abundant. 2026-2045“

Following a very productive 17 years at Masseto and Ornellaia, Estate Director Axel Heinz announced in March of this year that he was leaving his position. He will join Château Lascombes in Bordeaux as CEO. Axel was born in Germany, raised in France and established a brilliant winemaking career in Italy. "It makes it difficult to know which national soccer team to root for," he once joked with me. Under his time at Masseto and Ornellaia, the two brands grew in respective strength with individual identities. His new releases command some of the highest prices in Italian wine and are sought after by collectors worldwide. Axel oversaw the construction of the new Masseto winery, and he launched a second wine called Massetino (new vintages of both are reviewed here). Axel was quoted in the Italian press as saying, "Italy will stay in my heart forever, but it's time to go back to France."