2021 Ornellaia Poggio Alle Gazze
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
A bright pale yellow color, the 2021 Poggio Alle Gazze is 72% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Vermentino, and the rest equal parts Viognier and Verdicchio. Reminiscent of a great Bordeaux Blanc, it opens in the glass to aromas of Meyer lemon oils, green pineapple, jasmine, and white peaches. It’s medium-bodied, although it has phenomenal concentration and length without ever feeling austere. It floats across the palate with ease and is mouthwatering, with a fantastic finish. An exceptional wine, it certainly has the potential to age gracefully over the next 8-10 years. 2023 saw the departure of longtime winemaker and estate director Axel Heinz, as well as winemaker Olga Fusari. Ms. Fusari has moved on to lead the team as winemaker over at Ruffino, while Axel has returned to his home of Bordeaux, where he is now the CEO of Château Lascombes. Marco Balsimelli has officially taken over the reins for Axel as of this month (January 2024). Founded in 1981 by Marchesi Lodovico Antinori, since 2005 the ownership of Ornellaia has been entirely with the Frescobaldi family of wine estates. Famed oenologist Michel Rolland has been an instrumental consultant since 1991 and remains so to this day. In the winery, they work entirely with medium toast French oak, hoping not to impact the aromatic profile of the wines too much. The Serre Nuove delle Ornellaia, which was established in 1997, originally served as an outlet for the younger vines of the estate, but today it has evolved, with its own full expression and style, as a wine to drink more immediately than the flagship label. At this year's tasting, I was especially impressed with the 2021 release of this cuvée, and I’m hoping it’s an indication of great things to come from the 2021 flagship label next year.
Critic scores
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Bolgheri. 72% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Vermentino, 6% Viognier, 6% Verdicchio. Intense straw yellow. Elegant, deep gooseberry and peach nose with a hint of oak. More obvious Sauvignon Blanc notes on the palate and with a core of ripe peach fruit. Aromatic gooseberry and peach fruit on the finish. It fails however to be more individualistic in expressing where it comes from. Perhaps that is not the point of this wine. (WS)
The 2021 Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia is such a classy wine. Bright and finely cut, the 2021 races across the palate with hints of lemon confit, sage, mint and white flowers. The 2021 is vibrant and energetic but also has plenty of depth.
Sliced apple, pineapple, apricot and crushed stone aromas follow through to a medium body with creamy texture and pleasant bitter lemon flavors at the end. 72% sauvignon blanc, 16% vermentino, 6% viognier, and 6% verdicchio. Drink or hold.
About the producer
Marchesi Antinori is a leading Italian producer, historically based in Tuscany, who rose to fame after creating Tignanello – one of the first Super Tuscans . Combining tradition and innovation to craft fine wine, the family-owned firm has been a force in the Italian wine industry for over 600 years.