Tenuta dell'Ornellaia - Serre Nuove dell Ornellaia 2022

The Ornellaia 2022 Bolgheri Rosso Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia is a blend of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc that saw 15 months in barrique with one-third new oak. Following in the general Ornellaia philosophy, the team has been leaning off long maceration times for more delicate extraction. Blending for this wine usually occurs 12 months after fermentation. This vintage is structured and rich with sweet tannins and a supple texture. This hot vintage brings more fruit weight for sure, but the wine remains fresh and well balanced overall.

The 2022 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is coming to market in March 2025, but the 2022 Masseto will not be released until September 2025. Today, Ornellaia counts 134 hectares of vines, including 11 hectares in Castagneto Carducci (with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Vermentino) that were added in 2022. Masseto covers 11 hectares of vines surrounded by forests. I tasted these wines with proprietor Lamberto Frescobaldi at the estate. We were joined by the new Director of Production Marco Balsimelli, who worked in Bordeaux at the Laboratoire Oenologique Boissenot for 18 years before returning to his native Italy. He is joined by Ornellaia Winemaker Denise Cosentino and Vineyard Manager Giuliano Tarchi.

Here's a bit of news I am especially happy to report: between the sister estates Ornellaia and Masseto, bottle weight has been reduced by 82 tons in two years. The goal is to reduce an additional 12 tons before next year. For example, the bottle for the 2021 Masseto reviewed here was reduced by 150 grams to its current weight of 600 grams. This is a theme I have been following carefully (https://www.robertparker.com/wines/u8L84HES4Nid48LDw), because if a brand as important as Masseto takes a leadership stand on environmentally unfriendly glass bottles, other estates will surely follow. 

This is a time of enormous change for Ornellaia and Masseto. Estate Director Axel Heinz left his position in March 2023 after nearly two decades in Bolgheri. The German-born, Bordeaux-trained winemaker is currently employed at Château Lascombes in Margaux. Axel joined the Tuscan estate in 2005 and oversaw the development of Ornellaia and Masseto as distinct brands, each with their own dedicated winery today. Lamberto Frescobaldi is president of the group today. Former Ornellaia CEO Giovanni Geddes, the visionary who brought Masseto to La Place de Bordeaux, announced his retirement in 2023. 

Starting January 1, 2024, a new team was put into place. Marco Balsimelli is charged with production (returning home to Italy from Bordeaux, where he spent 17 years with Laboratoire Oenologique Boissenot) and Giuliano Tarchi is vineyard manager (for both Ornellaia and Masseto). Gaia Cinnirella is winemaker for Masseto, and the Ornellaia winemaker is Denise Cosentino (she replaces outgoing Olga Fusari).

The Ornellaia Bianco became a Bolgheri Bianco DOC wine starting in the 2021 vintage. I have previously reviewed that vintage, and you will find my note published in our database.