2013 Ornellaia Bianco
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Tasting notes
The 2013 Ornellaia Bianco, a Sauvignon/Viognier blend that spent a year in barrel, is an addition to the range and the estate's most ambitious white wine to date. A host of lemon peel, white flowers, mint and slate are all beautifully delineated and totally vivid as this dazzling, crystalline white shows off its translucent energy. The Graves-inflected finish leaves a lasting impression. As good as the 2013 Bianco is - and it is terrific - its price is deeply troubling. Over the years, Ornellaia and Masseto have built impressive track records. As a result the prestige and price of the wines has gradually risen over time. That is understandable. But Tenuta dell'Ornellaia has no track record when it comes to making world-class whites. Pricing the Bianco in its first vintage inline with Ornellaia is risky, leaves no margin for error and is a hostile move towards the consumer.
Critic scores
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
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This is the newest wine to join the portfolio of one of Italy's most prestigious estates. The 2013 Bianco Ornellaia is an IGT Toscana blend of 70% Sauvignon and 30% Viognier. (The wine does not qualify to be part of the Bolgheri Bianco appellation because the percentage of Sauvignon Blanc is too big.) White wines have always been in production at Ornellaia, but this is the first time the estate shows such a high level of ambition and execution. The Viognier clones were sourced from neighbor Michele Satta. Both varieties are fermented in barrique and then rest on the lees for one year. The bouquet delivers delicate tones of stone fruit and white almond. The wine shows a beautiful sense of linearity and drying mineral focus.
About the producer
Based in the foothills of Bolgheri, Ornellaia is one of the original Super Tuscans, making some of Italy’s finest Cabernet blends. Created by Lodovico Antinori, today the estate is owned by the Frescobaldi family, which also owns sibling property Masseto.