A Nine Bottle Vertical Of Ornellaia

It was time. Me and a friend had talked a while about putting this tasting together, and a couple of weeks ago we made it happen. Fine wines, decent food and great company, a Saturday evening could be worse than this :-)

2022 Poggio Alle Gazze

A fresh, perky nose with notes of lemon licorice, grass, minerals and a hint of mustard. A nice salty note that comes forward with air.

The taste is young and fresh with a medium acidity and fine yellow fruit in the shape of pears and peaches. Very, very good.

53% Sauvignon Blanc, 37% Vermentino, 6% Viognier 2% Semillon and 2% Verdicchio.

91p   (tasted 2026/10)

2023 Poggio Alle Gazze

A linear, stony nose with notes of birch sap, gravel and table tennis balls. 

The taste is cool and restrained with notes of white pepper, minerals and lemon peel. 

53% Sauvignon Blanc, 37% Vermentino, 7% Viognier and 3% Semillon.

89p   (tasted 2026/10)

Flight I

1988 Ornellaia

I remember this as an almost perfect wine back in the days. And it still is a spectacular wine. The nose is deep, mature and very elegant with notes of dried red and black currants, fine tobacco, tiles, fresh stables and hints of shoe cream. Very complex.

The taste is seamless and velvety with beautiful sweet black fruit, melted tannins and a long, perfectly dry finish. Aristocratic. On top of its game.

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.

97p   (tasted 2026/10)

1990 Ornellaia

A big, warm nose with notes of pipe tobacco, sun warm leather, dried black currants and a touch of mint. Very fine.

The taste is open and forward with juicy black fruit, a very fine warmth and a long finish with still some steady tannins. Broadshouldered. Could be cellared for another 6+ years.

82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.

94p   (tasted 2026/10)

1993 Ornellaia

A soft, mature nose with notes of warm tiles, dried flowers and autumn leaves. A tad foursquare.

The taste is long and warm with notes of dried up black currant jam, scorched earth and smoke. A tad hollow in the middle. Should have been drunk 10+ years ago.

78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

86p   (tasted 2026/10)

Flight II

1995 Ornellaia

A tight, refined nose with notes of black currants leaves, tobacco, smoke and Christmas spices. A very fine depth.

The taste is pure and racy with gorgeous black fruit, sandy tannins and a long, luscious finish. Still on the young side of things, 5+ years.

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc.

95p   (tasted 2026/10)

1999 Ornellaia

A tight, focused nose with notes of red beets, graphite, tobacco and iron. Very fine.

The taste is young and seedy with iron clad tannins, backward black currant fruit and a structure for long aging, 10+ years.

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

93p   (tasted 2026/10)

2004 Ornellaia

A intense, brilliant nose with notes of ripe flowers, black currant leaves, charcoal and tobacco. Lovely.

The taste is juicy and layered with notes of ripe black cherries, plums, tobacco and smoke. Very, very long. 5+ years.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.

95p   (tasted 2026/10)

Flight III

2013 Ornellaia

A young, tight and focused nose with notes of sweet tobacco, plums, fir wood and a hint of mint. Lovely.

The taste is silky yet taut with impressive tannins, gorgeous plum fruit and a long, distinct finish. 6+ years.

45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot.

94p   (tasted 2026/10)

2018 Ornellaia

A very deep, inky nose with notes of ripe black currants, blackberries, chrushed rocks and iron. Very, very fine.

The taste is pure and refined with notes of chocolate covered plums, cold coffee, iron and fir wood. The finish goes on and on and on. Great wine. 8+ years.

51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

96p   (tasted 2026/10)

2021 Ornellaia

A deep, brilliant nose with every knot and bolt in the right place. Intensity, complexity and balance.

The taste follows the nose with purity, raciness and concentration. This will hit perfection in 10+ years.

53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot.

98p   (tasted 2026/10)