Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Red Wine, 75cLBy Winebuyers

Ornellaia, Bolgheri Superiore, Bolgheri, 2005 is a red wine from the Bolgheri region. Founded in the early 1980s by Lodovico Antinori, nephew of Sassicaia's Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, the first vintage to be released was the 1985. Initially favouring more Merlot (and to a lesser extent Cabernet Franc), it was a charmingly hedonistic and seductive wine, with a unique aromatic intensity, and which easily built its reputation out of the shadow of Sassicaia. Today the blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc with a hint of Petit Verdot, and aged for around 24 months in mainly new French oak barriques. In 2002, Lodovico Antinori sold the estate to Robert Mondavi, who later sold a share to Frescobaldi, who today has full ownership of the property along with sister property Masseto. Frescobaldi has been a fine custodian, and the wine's reputation has only grown over the past twenty years. The wine is typically comprised of at least two thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, with the exact blend varying with fruit ripeness and vintage conditions. This wine is suitable for both men and women.