One of the biggest surprises of the night, the 1995 Ornellaia is superb. The 1995 has long been one of my favorite vintages of Ornellaia. It is also a wine I have followed since the beginning. Over the last few years, though, the wine has begun to fray and show its age. The 1995 was made during an earlier era, before Ornellaia introduced Le Serre Nuove, the estate’s second wine, and increased the selection for the flagship wine. On this evening, from magnum, the 1995 is superb. Lifted, gracious and remarkably fresh, the 1995 is utterly sublime.

A beautiful and refined red with sweet tobacco, cedar, light chocolate and currants. Medium to full body and a lovely mid-palate. Very long and attractive. Starting of new era of Ornellaia. Drink now. Nov 2016

In the Cellar January, 2010

The 1995 Ornellaia (magnum) is remarkably fresher than the same wine from bottle. There is a warm, almost exotic quality to the luxurious, rich fruit. Sweet tobacco and licorice add further layers of nuance and flavor. In magnum the wine still has a few years left, but bottles are further along in their evolution and need to be drunk over the next few years. The 1995 is a rather unique Ornellaia in that only a portion of the wine (40%) finished its malolactic fermentation in barrique, while the majority of the wine underwent malo in cask. The blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, and the percentage of new oak is 39%. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2014. (95)

Good medium reed. Ripe aromas of red fruits, tobacco, chocolate, smoke, leather and truffle. Densely packed, structured and backward, with complex, youthful flavors of cassis, lavender, minerals and game. Still unfolding. Finishes with superb persistence and tannic grip. "A great year for quality and quantity," notes Duroux. Sept 2004

Is the 1995 Ornellaia better than previous vintages? It is too soon to know, but this is unquestionably another stunning wine in what has been a strong succession of top wines since 1988. The color is a saturated, thick-looking, ruby/purple. The nose offers up aromas of roasted coffee, jammy black cherry liqueur, and cassis intermixed with spice. On the palate, the wine is rich and full-bodied, with well-integrated wood, tannin, and acidity. Pure, youthful, and accessible, this impressively endowed wine should drink well for 10-15+ years. The "other" Antinori continues to turn out stunning wines from this small estate in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast. The omnipresent Michel Rolland is the consultant, and that is evident in the rich texture, and ripe, concentrated style of this wine. Importer: Kobrand Corp., New York, NY; tel. (212) 490-9300

Very dark healthy shaded crimson. Intense, ripe but subtle – very interesting! Rather like ashes on the palate – a big bruiser with something in common with the 1985 but made much more gently. Definitely sweet. JR March 2006