Accolades

• Wine Advocate's Antonio Galloni rates "TUSCANY: The Best of 2005 and 2006." (June 2008, Issue 177)
  He writes: "It is impossible not to be impressed by the consistent results Ornellaia achieves year after year. This is a gorgeous set of wines from oenologist Axel Heinz and agronomist/General Manager Leonardo Raspini. In general, the estate’s 2005s are smaller-scaled wines than is often the case, but they offer remarkable balance and plenty of style. As outstanding as the 2005s are, the 2006s are simply off the charts. They are thrilling wines that have tons of everything; fruit, acidity and structure to burn. Even though 2005 was a fresher vintage than 2006, Heinz reported that the 2006s have higher acidities that developed as a result of the unique qualities of the growing season."
  -The 2005 Le Serre Nuove is the second wine of Ornellaia. In top vintages it is the hidden gem in this lineup from a price to quality perspective. The 2005 reveals gorgeous aromatics along with sweet black cherries, blackberries, spices, smoke and toasted oak. It is a delicate, feminine wine to enjoy over the next decade or so. (90 pts)
  -The 2006 Le Volte is especially generous in this vintage. This plump, juicy wine bursts from the glass with an array of super-ripe dark plums, cherries, smoke and licorice. It is an engaging, rewarding wine to enjoy over the next few years. Le Volte is made from Sangiovese which is purchased from outside producers plus Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the property. (90 pts)
  -The medium-bodied 2005 Ornellaia shows plenty of delineation in its dark cherries, blueberries, spices, minerals and crushed rocks. The 2005 doesn’t have the detail of the 2004 or the richness of the 2006, but it does offer notable finesse and clarity in an understated style for this wine. My impression is that this will be a relatively early-maturing vintage of Ornellaia, which is not a bad thing, considering the age-worthiness of the two vintages which surround it. In 2005 Ornellaia is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. It is a big success in this vintage. (93 pts)
  
• Tuscan Reds featured in Wine & Spirits:
  -Ornellaia 2004 Bolgheri Superiore (93 pts)--Closed at first behind a wall of tannin, this needs several hours to reveal its full potential.  While those tannins remain strong, the flavor of the fruit--perfectly ripened to flavors of fig and black cherries during a long, even growing season--is what powers the wine. Cellar this and watch it develop over the next 10 to 20 years.
  -Ornellaia 2005 Le Volte (88 pts)--"Best Buy"--Made in an international style, this wine's ripe plummy fruit is forward and clean.  The gentle texture and soft tannins will match pork tenderloin. (April 2008)
  
• 2005 Le Serre Nuove is featured as one of the "Top 5 Affordable Super-Tuscans Wines" on Epicurious.com: "#4 - Can't afford the famed Ornellaia at $175 a pop? Then try Tenuta dell'Ornellaia's "second label," Le Serre Nuove, which combines the smooth, juicy plum fruit of Merlot and the structure, cassis, and herbal notes of Cabernet Sauvignon. This medium to full-bodied wine is supple and fresh-tasting, yet has the tannic grip to cut through the heartiest of red meats. Consider it a Tuscan take on classic Bordeaux." (March 2008) Article link--http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/drinking/wine/top5_supertuscans
• The Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2007 has been posted online.  It was another great year for Ornellaia:
  - Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia 2004 Ornellaia--#7, 97 points
  
• Wine Spectator Insider, vol. 3, No.18, France and Italy duke it out in this edition. The 2004 Tenuta dell' Ornellaia earns 97 Pts, "Dark ruby-purple in color, with complex aromas of dark chocolate, cola, vanilla, cedar and currant. Full-bodied yet untrarefined, with dense, seamless, caressing tannins. Everything is in the right proportion. Superb. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best after 2009." (Sept 5, 2007)
• Wine Spectator On-line awarded the 2004 Masseto 98 points, the highest score in the Tasting Hightlights: Tuscan Reds article (August 27, 2007)
• 2004 Tenuta dell' Ornellaia earned 92 points and the 2004 Tenuta dell Ornellaia Masseto earned 95 points in Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (August 2007)
• Wine Advocate's Antonio Galloni rates Central Tuscany
  (June 2007, Issue 171)
  - 2004 Masseto - "...layers of sweet jammy dark fruit and mineral notes that burst forth fromt he glass with notable length, purity and delineation. It is a decidedly elegant and super-refined Masseto that continues to integrate its 100% new oak well, showing extraordinary class and fine, silky-textured tannins that caress the palate on the long finish. The 2004 will be hard to resist in its youth as it is incredibly delicious even now... 97 pts"
  - 2005 Le Volte - "... delivers considerable pleasure in its fresh, vinous aromatics, perfumed sweet dark fruit and irresistibly soft-textured personality... 90 pts"
• The Robb Report proclaims Tenuta dell' Ornellaia "The Best of The Best" (May 2007)
• The Robb Report calls Tenuta dell' Ornellaia a "Modern Classic" (February 2007)
• Wine Advocate's, issue 169, Antonio Galloni reviewed the 2003 Tenuta dell' Ornellaia, "...presents a dramatic contrast to the 2004 in its super-ripe, open nose and jammy dark fruit. Ample and warm on the palate, it is clearly the product of a very hot vintage, yet it shows notable freshness along with much persistence, great overall balance and a lingering note of sweetness on the finish..." (February 2007)