Six bottles of Ornellaia
Produced by Tenute dell’Ornellaia
1997 vintage
Bolgheri, Tuscany/Italy
In original wooden case
Original filling quantity: 0.75 l
Fill level: into neck
Robert Parker (2000): 94/100
Wine Spectator (2007): 95/100
Antonio Galloni (2007): 93/100

This lot comprises one original wooden case with six bottles of 1997 vintage Ornellaia from Bolgheri in Tuscany.

Bolgheri is a small town in the Maremma, the southern part of Tuscany, which gained recognition for its role in the revival of Italian premium red wine. Historically, the wine-growing country is hardly steeped in heritage, especially when compared to Chianti, however pioneer vintners triggered a new era of Italian premium winegrowing here at the end of the 1960s. Wines including Tignanello, Sassicaia and Orenellaia were produced by members of Tuscan wine dynasty Antinoir in Bolgheri. These wines were not like traditional Sangiovese regarding taste and structure, but rather characteristic of French types, such as Merlot, Cabernet and, later, Syrah. They were therefore initially only allowed to be marketed as Vini da Tavola. However, these wines were more than just fashionable, they established a new notion of taste and style for Tuscan red wine. Their immense success led to them being recognized as DOC wines during the 1990s. Their style of winegrowing was also innovative – they used barriques, small wooden oak barrels, which was not usual for Tuscany. The best of these Super Tuscans have proved to be of stable value and long-lasting.

In 1997 the summer in Tuscany was extremely hot, the quality of the wines is rather inconsistent but some are quite extraordinary. The best wines are fruity and well-balanced, and this powerful Ornellaia is at the peak of its maturity.

The 1997 vintage Ornellaia was rated 94 points by Robert Paker in 2000. James Suckling gave the wine a score of 95 points on Wine Spectator’s website in 2007. Antonio Galloni rated it 93 points for Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate in the same year.

The fill levels are excellent (into neck). The labels, capsules and original wooden cases are in perfect condition.