Merkki: Ornellaia

The abundant winter rains permitted the vines to have a good water reserve in the soil in April which was very important due to the torrid summer that was ahead. In Spring the budding was a bit late but with the drought (only 14 mm of rain fell from May through to the beginning of September) and the high temperatures, the vines were a week early in flowering. In the Summer the highest temperatures were 35°C between 20 and 28 July and 39°C between 3 and 9 August. Between 21 and 28 August, a couple of weeks earlier than usual, the bunches of the youngest Merlot were harvested in two separate occasions. At the beginning of September in the other vineyards, analysis confirmed a high sugar level but an insufficient phenolic maturity. The harvest, therefore, began again only on 10 September after a couple of thunder storms had lowered the temperature and with a harvest of bunches in perfect condition. The yield was less than expected – about 30% lower.

Ornellaia 2003 is a wine that shows the great ripeness of the vintage through its abundant ripe fruit flavours, scents of exotic spices and a rich and generous texture. The important proportion of Cabernet franc and the Petit Verdot add their complex aromatics, their freshness that together with the wine’s richness give a bottle of great harmony and balance.