Vineyards Magazine

Style and identity in the name of Bolgheri, released to market on 1 September

Ornellaia presents the 2019 vintage of Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia, produced by the prestigious Bolgheri estate as an expression of the dedication in the vineyard, with a careful attention to every single detail in the cellar.

The precious cuvée of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blends the individual traits of each varietal in a complex synergy of aromas. Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia has honed its identity year after year and is now an important and enjoyable expression of the appellation.

“Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2019 is a product of the attention paid to every stage in the winemaking, which enabled us to maximize the aromatic potential of the grapes,” explains Axel Heinz, Estate Director. “The result is a smooth and silky wine with elegant tannins and a lengthy, savoury finish.”

The wine stands out for its immediacy and vivacity, without ever losing sight of the estate style. Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia also reveals the character of the vintage a few months prior to the release of its elder sibling, Ornellaia.

The 2019 vintage was distinguished by variable weather conditions, alternating between cold spells and extended hot and dry periods. Following a winter within seasonal averages, budbreak occurred in the first week in April, but the cold, rainy conditions throughout April and May delayed the flowering. The summer proved to be hot and sunny with above-average temperatures and a lack of precipitation. The rainfall towards the end of July returned temperatures to the seasonal norm, creating optimal conditions for ripening the grapes.

The change between sunny and wet spells accelerated the ripening and especially the development of the skins. Softer and more permeable than usual, the grape skins guaranteed optimal colour and tannin extraction. Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2019 is currently characterised by “fresh notes of ripe red fruit, accompanied by a lively balsamic vein and the allure of cypress berries and eucalyptus,” comments Ornellaia’s winemaker, Olga Fusari.

The 2019 harvest of the red grapes started on 5 September before continuing into the first week in October, due to the cool temperatures and night breeze ensured by the closeness to the coast. The grapes, which were gathered by hand, underwent further culling on a double selection table in the cellar. In addition to manual selection, optical selection was also introduced in 2016, which ensures the perfection of every single grape after being destemmed. 

Every variety and parcel is vinified separately. The malolactic fermentation begins in steel and is completed in barriques where the wine is left to age for about 15 months. The wines are blended after 12 months in the barriques, allowing the individual varietals to give their maximum contribution to the expression of the vintage and the appellation. 

The impressive synergy between the verticality and freshness of the Cabernets, the rounder and deeper character of the Merlot and the body of the Petit Verdot make “Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia” a complex wine with a typical Bolgheri identity, elegance and considerable ageing potential.