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93POINTS
17¼/20
Ornellaia Rosso L’Essenza 2014
Bolgheri, Tuscany, ItalyThe Ornellaia estate lies camouflaged in the low hills that create the Bolgheri amphitheatre capturing all that the Mediterranean offers, including increased luminosity, and cool maritime breezes throughout the growing season. During the winter the mountain works as a giant deflector protecting the vines from the cold north winds. An intriguing mix of marine, alluvial and volcanic soils bring diversity to the blend, allowing winemaker Axel Heinz the freedom to plant a variety of grapes in a variation of landscapes, each adding layers of complexity. Every year the Ornellaia team sum up the year in one word or phrase. In 2014, Ornellaia was tagged “L’Essenza” or the Essence. Heinz calls 2014 “one of the most demanding years in memory”, yet five years down the road the wine is robust, and at the least, a dependable Ornellaia. The blend is a 34/32/20/14/ mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot and cabernet franc. Rounder and more luxurious than the norm, what it lacks in tension and energy it over-delivers in texture and weight. The winemaking is artisanal, hand-picked and sorted, and barely crushed it spends 12 months in barriques as single varietal wine before it's blended and returned to barrel for six more months. Post-bottling it spends another year at the winery before release. This wine will have shorter ageing potential but is fun to drink now, and I suspect it will remain so over the next decade. The tasting was part of a trilogy of Ornellaias: ’14, ’15, ’16.Tasted: 13 April 2019Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:| BC | $229.99 | 750ml | BCLS |
| AB | $240.00 | 750ml | private wine shops |
| ON | $240.00 | 750ml | LCBO - Vintages |
| QC | $240.00 | 750ml | SAQ |
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Cabernet Franc - Petit VerdotCSPC: 160300UPC: 00877397004801
