The 2014 Ornellaia is a powerful, earthy wine. As has always been the case, the 2014 has a very strong, powerful imprint with heavy toast notes. In 2014, Ornellaia is very dark, with a distinctive mocha/torrefaction component that has always been one of its signatures. I confess, the 2014 remains a mystery wine. I just don't see the pedigree here that has been such a signature since the debut vintage in 1985. The 2014 has always been a difficult, stubborn Ornellaia with aggressive tannins. Time in the glass brings out a measure of aromatic freshness. Even so, the 2014 remains tightly wound and in need of time to be at its very best. Several recent bottles have all shown more or less the same.

Very floral and fresh with dark berry, lemon rind and hints of cloves and spice. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a pretty finish of fruit, smoke, toasted oak and more spice. Better in 2019. Outstanding for the vintage. James Suckling, April 2017 >

From a cooler, more challenging vintage, the 2014 Ornellaia is nevertheless a beautiful wine. Based on 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc brought up in 70% new oak, it has classy cassis and black cherry fruits as well as notes of saddle leather, dried flowers, and spicy oak. While it doesn't have the wealth of material found in the 2015 and 2016, it has solid mid-palate depth, beautiful balance, and a great finish. It's a classy, seamless Ornellaia to enjoy over the coming 15+ years or more.

To be released in May 2017, the 2014 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia reverts to a style and personality that we have not seen in a long while. The wine shows a tight, silky and determined approach that reminds us of the Ornellaias made under the estate's previous ownership with the Marchese Lodovico Antinori in the mid-1990s. More than anything else, this has to do with the very unique characteristics of the 2014 growing season. The wine opens to a beautifully saturated and dark appearance. Thanks to the advanced age of the vines and their extensive root systems, fruit quality was well preserved despite the cool summer and late harvest. The wine shows sweet fruit nuances with blackberry and dark currant. Spice, leather and tobacco fill in the rear. The finish reveals just enough of that acidic prickle to assure an easy ten or fifteen year drinking window. ML

Tasted as a preview sample, the 2014 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia shows a level of sophistication and generosity that, frankly speaking, I did not expect from this vintage. This wine far exceeds my expectations and merits special attention. This vintage of Ornellaia offers unique assets that you don't often see in past editions. There's a level of sharpness and brightness that is linked to the wine's balanced acidity and its overall prominence. That freshness is more immediate against the streamlined nature of the background fruit and overall extraction. Rather than presenting itself as a horizontal wine (with so much complexity that hits you at once), this vintage reveals a delicately vertical approach in which each unique perfume is presented in slow succession. The good news is that the wine will definitely flesh out before its commercial release next spring.

34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, 14% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 18 months in barrique. Dark crimson with a pale rim. Super-snazzy nose. What’s not to like?! Just a glorious blend that, frankly, could have been made anywhere. Not sure it really expresses the terroir but it’s such skilful winemaking. Beautifully balanced and composed without being too rich. (JR)