Bolgheri Classic: 1998 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia

Tasting Notes
Dense, saturated ruby-purple. Nose of tarragon, fresh sage, blackberry, cherry, pain grillé, spice, smoke, graphite. On the palate: full-bodied yet sleek—silky tannins carry ripe cassis, tobacco, cedar and mint. Long, fruity finish with herbal precision. This is Bolgheri finesse at its best. 

Meet the Winemaker
In ’98 Axel Heinz hadn't arrived yet—instead, Lodovico Antinori kicked this off with Tibor Gál’s bold vision. Coastal Bolgheri sun + Antinori determination = a Bordeaux-style blend that set the Super‑Tuscan scene on fire.

Wine Specs

• Varietal(s): ~60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc 

• Vintage: 1998

• Region: Bolgheri DOC Superiore, Tuscany, Italy

• Aging: ~18 months in French oak; classic barrique aging

• ABV: 13.5–14.5% 

• Bottle Size: 750 ml

• Serving Temp: 16–18 °C

Critic Reviews

• Wine Spectator: 96 pts – “A cool and sleek Tuscan red, with tarragon and fresh sage aromas, blackberry and cherry undertones… wonderfully silky palate… long, fruity finish.” 

• Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: 93 pts – “Dense saturated ruby/purple… aromas of pain grillé, spice, smoke, black fruits and graphite… full-bodied, concentrated, exceptionally pure… finest 2005–2018.” 

• TastingBook avg: 94 pts – “Liqueur-like cherry, dark plum… spices, tobacco, chocolate, coffee… silky with persistent smooth tannins.” 

Food Pairings

• Herb-rubbed rib‑eye or grilled venison

• Aged Parmigiano‑Reggiano or Pecorino

• Cedar-smoked pork steaks with wild herbs

Why You Need This Bottle
This is not just Ornellaia—it’s the vintage that Vogue-leveld early Tuscan Bordeaux blends. Sleek, herbal-forward, but with ripe fruit and polished structure. This bottle screams “collectible”—and drinks like a legend even now.

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