Ornellaia 2010 is the red Bolgheri Superiore from Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, a Cabernet-led Bordeaux blend grown on the Tuscan coast near Castagneto Carducci. Cabernet Sauvignon takes over half the blend here, and it shows: the wine is firm rather than plush, built around dark fruit, cedar and a tannic frame that took its time to unwind. Merlot fills in the middle; Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot add lift and edge.
The blend for the 2010:
- 55% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 39% Merlot
- 4% Cabernet Franc
- 4% Petit Verdot
2010 rates as a strong year in Bolgheri, and it sits on our list of standout recent vintages. Fruit is picked by hand, plot by plot, which matters in a blend where four varieties ripen at different speeds.
Serve it around 16 to 18 °C, in a big glass, with a couple of hours of air if the bottle is still young. Bistecca alla Fiorentina, braised beef, wild boar ragout. Best enjoyed until 2032.
Robert Parker (97)
Poured from the special anniversary bottle, the 2010 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a truly outstanding wine that leaves a lasting memory for those who are lucky enough to enjoy it. What stands out is the absolutely seamless-seamless-seamless (yes, it's worth repeating three times) integration of its many moving parts. The wine magically transitions from cherry, spice, chocolate and espresso in one melodic and continuous loop. It exudes balance and elegance over long, delicious minutes. It is profoundly impressive. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030. Of all the grapevines planted on the Ornellaia estate, the 2010 vintage showed best results with Merlot, says Leonardo Raspini. Because the harvest was later than usual, the early-ripening grape enjoyed a slow and steady evolution.
Winespectator (94)
A muscular, impenetrable red, with tightly wound tannins guiding the black cherry, plum, herb, soy and oak spice flavors. Monolithic today, this needs time to find equilibrium.
Vinous (98)
How many dinners anywhere start with a wine on a level with the 2010 Ornellaia? I imagine not many. But that’s exactly the way we get going. Super-expressive aromatics soar out of the glass as the 2010 shows off its personality. Sweet herbs, tobacco, licorice, mocha and tar wrap around a core of intense dark fruit. Racy, powerful and majestic, the 2010 is a total stunner.
