-
99
/ 100
Jane Anson -
98
/ 100
The Drinks Business -
97
/ 100
The Wine Advocate -
97
/ 100
James Suckling
Red
Classification
Cabernet Blend
Variety
2022
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Italy
Country
Tuscany, Bolgheri
Region
14.0%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
99 / 100"One of the few 2022 Tuscan wines where you can really see that this will benefit from a few years in bottle, right now it is, hovering on the edge of something delicious, vibrating over the tannic architecture, feathered, campfire smoke, fennel, blackberry, liquorice and crushed peonies, and the bitter fennel and slate scrape, dense, contrast of textures and flavours like only truly great wines can do, a reflection of skilful construction. A gorgeous wine, slowly stretching out in the palate, 65% new oak for ageing. Harvest began August 9 for the whites, and the reds began August 25 with Masseto, and then a few days later for Ornellaia, one of the earliest on record, with around 38hl/h yield. - Jane Anson"
- Jane Anson
98 / 100
"Delicate. Poised. Classical. And very true to its identity. Perfectly pixilated red and darker berry fruits, with a little cherry stone too bringing a sense of coolness. A subtle hint of graphite with more to come. There’s still a suggestion of vanilla pod from the oak, but that’s just a reminder of the youthfulness of this wine and its long life ahead of it. Lovely texturally, with a beautiful lavender note that enters from the edges with the grip of the tannin – very beguiling. Crucially, this is very fresh on the palate too. This has a very well-defined central spine and the sense of compactness that comes with that seems to reinforce the length, stretching out the fruit all the way to a distant vanishing point. This will need a little time to come together aromatically but we have here a stunning Ornellaia in prospect. - Colin Hay"
- The Drinks Business
97 / 100
"Tasted a few months after it was bottled, the Ornellaia 2022 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be coming to market in March 2025. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The wine sees 18 months of aging with up to 70% new oak, but the trick, proprietor Lamberto Frescobaldi tells me, is drawing from a large group of coopers with different toast levels and forests. "I don't want to make a wine of any one tonnellerie," he says. The oak element is crucial to the identity of this wine that reveals dark fruit, blackberry, sweet spice and cinnamon. Most of the vines were planted in the 1980s, and the average age of the plants is over 20 years old. Fruit comes from many parcels, including Bellaria, Bellaria Nuova, Bellaria Alta, Pero, Fosso, Vigna Vecchia and Stallina. Indeed, some 80 wines are made before final blending. The 2022 vintage will be remembered for its full-bodied appeal, concentrated fruit and generous oak renderings. Petit Verdot plays a slightly larger role in this vintage and was one of the surprise hits of 2022. It serves to elongate the wine and adds to its length. The wine's abundant fruit weight cedes to elegantly integrated tannins. This vintage will appeal to die-hard Ornellaia enthusiasts. - Monica Larner"
- The Wine Advocate
97 / 100
"A Mediterranean-style wine. Stunning elegance on the nose, with vibrant dried eucalyptus leaves, flowers, restrained brambleberries and hints of black cherries, dried bananas, milk chocolate, cloves and graphite. The palate is full-bodied with elegant tannins and a touch of dust. It’s savory and well packed, with integrated, brilliant freshness and a ripe, fruity finish with a toasty aftertaste of blond tobacco. Try from 2026. - James Suckling"
- James Suckling
Tasting Notes
Since 1982, Ornellaia has been producing some of the world’s finest wines, driven by the Frescobaldi family’s commitment to Tuscan excellence. With a Mediterranean-influenced style, Ornellaia is a true reflection of its exceptional terroir, where the rich blend of marine, alluvial, and volcanic soils adds complexity to both red and white grape varieties.
Born from a perfect balance of nature and expertise, Ornellaia thrives in a finely-tuned microclimate, where a meticulous ageing process allows the wine to evolve, gradually revealing its depth, finesse, and generosity over time.
The 2022 vintage began with a typical winter, followed by a cool, dry spring. The hot summer tested the vines, but timely summer storms helped revive the berries’ ripening process. Harvest began on August 25 with Merlot, continued in September with Cabernet Sauvignon, and concluded on October 10.
Ornellaia 2022 is a testament to perseverance in the face of climatic challenges, offering a wine that balances elegance and power.
The 2022 vintage opens with an expressive bouquet of black fruits, vanilla, and tobacco. On the palate, it is expansive and generous, with a powerful tannic structure and a long-lasting finish. Despite the heatwaves, this vintage retains remarkable elegance and vitality.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity