About the Wine

Once part of the Antinori family empire and later owned by Robert Mondavi, Ornellaia is now proudly under the stewardship of the Frescobaldi family.Axel Heinz, the brilliant winemaker, and the legendary Michel Rolland as consultant continue the tradition of crafting extraordinary wines. 

Ornellaia has always been a testament to the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. From the iconic launch in 1985, and with a winemaking heritage spanning seven centuries, the Frescobaldi family brings creativity, excellence, and a deep respect for tradition to Ornellaia. Their commitment to cultivating and celebrating local diversity has yielded exceptional results.

Since 2006, Ornellaia has collaborated with contemporary artists to create unique works of art for the estate and limited-edition labels inspired by the vintage's character. The Vendemmia d’Artista project produces 111 large-format bottles, personally numbered and signed by the artist. 

In 2020, the acclaimed artist Joseph Kosuth was tasked with capturing the essence of Ornellaia's character. American artist Joseph Kosuth is a pioneer in Conceptual Art, who boldly questioned conventional art norms and techniques. His primary passion was unraveling the intricate cultural codes hidden within visual expressions, all through the lens of language. He believed that art fundamentally served as a tautology, a direct reflection of the artist's intentions. This belief led him to challenge the very essence of art itself, favoring the conceptual side of a work over its formal and productive aspects. Kosuth's playground of ideas included linguistic tools like quotes, translations, repetitions, contradictions, and negations, making his artistic journey a thrilling exploration of language's power in the art world.

His unique artwork, specially created for a specific location at the estate, adorns select large bottles and graces the Bordeaux bottle with a special label.

Disclaimer: One “La Proporzione” artistic label can be found in every case containing six 750ml bottles of Ornellaia 2020.

Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels. 

Reviews

Alluring aromas of lead pencil and currants with crushed stone and iodine. Full-bodied with hemmed-in tannins that are tight and focused. Very fresh and energetic with wonderful length and intensity for this vintage. Needs four or five years to come together. Better in 2028 and onwards. ~98 James Suckling

The 2020 Ornellaia is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised in 70% new French oak for 18 months, with another 12 months in bottle prior to release. Flush with herbs and menthol, blackberry, and cedar, it is full-bodied and fills the sides of the mouth with rounded fruit of luxurious plum, black cherry, and toast, with supple and velvety tannins. Drink 2026-2046. ~96 Jeb Dunnuck

Estate director Axel Heinz called 2020 ‘a classic Ornellaia,’ and picked the theme of ‘La Proporzione‘ (proportion) to describe its character. Indeed, the blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot marks a return to a more typical blend following the pendulum swings of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon in 2019, and 51% Merlot in 2018. Fine-grained and beautifully textured, its finely integrated tannins support a concentration of black fruits lightened by red berries. Aromas of black cherry, liquorice, dark chocolate, cedar and damp earth make for a fragrant wine, accompanied by menthol and balsamic streaks which run through the wine and impart plenty of freshness. It finishes with a stony and salty element along with some chocolatey and woody hints. Tight and moreish, its ripeness of fruit combined with freshness and structure adeptly tells the story of this earlier-ripening vintage. It lacks complexity in the mouth – this will come with time – but the array of aromas gives a hint of what is to come. ~96 Decanter

Inviting aromas of blackberry, black currant, anise, cedar, vanilla and tobacco draw you in to this red, which is sleek and open on the palate. This is so well-balanced, it's approachable now, yet there's a bit of reserve too. The fruit flavors are prominent on the finish, along with mineral and spice notes, while the lasting impression is a salty, flinty element. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. ~96 Wine Spectator 

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