2007 Ornellaia

Deep ruby with the beginning of orange tinge. Quite beautiful, fine spice and marasca cherry. Opulence on the nose, but all is kept pretty much in check. Still youthful concentration and little sign of age. Oak plays up a little but loads of long fruit flavours to offset it. Muscular tannins. (WS)

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Early budbreak, mild spring. Hot, dry July and cooler August.  Harvest 28 Aug to end of first week in Oct. Mild, sunny September. Fermented in steel but malo mainly in barrel (70% new), then components aged 12 months separately, blended and aged for a further 6 months in barrel. 12 months in bottle prior to release. A very slight leafiness and some graphite but it is savoury too, with black olive and balsamic notes. Restrained and very complex. Distinctively mineral and great tension, the minerality more in texture than flavour. Deliciously fine and tight on the palate, with powder-fine but compact tannins and a fresh compact density. Very very long, dry, mouthwatering finish. (JH)

Mild spring and winter, early blossoming and a raining June. Sunny and almost rain-free September. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Hand-picked, hand-selected and destemmed. Fermented in stainless steel, skin contact for 10-15 days and aged in barriques for 18 months. Tasted in magnum. Very dark and concentrated crimson. Very intense nose. Fully ripe. Subtle, lively, and still chewy. Purity and structure as well as ripe fruit. Dry finish. Desperately needs food. (JR)