Tenuta dell’Ornellaia was founded in 1981 by Marchese Lodovico Antinori in the maritime hills of Bolgheri. The 97-hectare estate stretches out along the Tyrrhenian Sea and is the birthplace of the now-iconic wines Ornellaia and Masseto. With marine, alluvial and volcanic soils, each grape variety is planted in its ideal conditions. Ornellaia is a powerful, concentrated Cabernet-Merlot blend originating in 1985. It is built for aging and remains one of the great wines of Italy.

VM97: Another dark, intense wine, the 2011 Ornellaia boasts superb depth, richness and power. Here, too, the 2011 has tightened up quite a bit over the last six months. Today, the searing tannins are quite prominent, giving the 2011 an element of gravitas and muscle that argues for cellaring. How long? I am not sure, but the 2011 is built for the long haul. Savory herbs, new leather, menthol and cloves resonate on the huge finish.