Tenuta dell’Ornellaia 2008 – 97-Point Super Tuscan Elegance with Power

🕰️ A Vintage That Aged Into Icon Status

The 2008 vintage in Bolgheri wasn’t easy — a wet spring, a cool summer, and a late harvest. But that’s exactly what made it great. It was a year that separated the amateurs from the artists, and Ornellaia painted a masterpiece.

Thanks to obsessive vineyard management and a bit of magic in the cellar, the 2008 is now pure silk and stone — elegant, intense, and beautifully alive.

💬 Critic Reviews

97 Points – James Suckling
“This has everything you want in a Super Tuscan. Aromas of currant and blackberry, with hints of dried flowers. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Needs time, but already a classic.”

95 Points – Wine Advocate (Antonio Galloni)
“The 2008 Ornellaia is stunning. Layers of dark fruit, graphite, spices, and licorice build in the glass. A wine of energy and class, the 2008 is showing beautifully today and promises to age gracefully.”

95 Points – Wine Spectator
“Offers plum, blackberry, mineral, and spice, with fine balance and a long finish. Shows the elegance of the vintage with power in reserve.”

🍷 Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep garnet with fading ruby rim

• Nose: Black cherry, dried roses, pencil lead, and balsamic spice

• Palate: Full-bodied with velvety tannins, black plum, tobacco, dark chocolate, and a stony mineral thread

• Finish: Long, savory, and layered with umami and dried herbs

🍇 The Art of Patience

In 2008, the Ornellaia team waited. They pruned aggressively. They picked late. And they let the fruit speak with tension and depth. The result? A wine that still sings 15 years later — and likely will for 15 more.

📦 Wine Specs

• Blend: 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

• Region: Bolgheri DOC Superiore, Tuscany, Italy

• Producer: Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

• Vintage: 2008

• ABV: 14.5%

• Bottle Size: 750ml

• Cellaring: Now–2035+

🍽️ Pair With Patience

• Dry-aged porterhouse

• Wild boar ragù with pappardelle

• Aged Comté or 36-month Parm

• Or honestly? Pair it with silence and a damn good glass

Not all wine gets better with time. This one did.

Secure a bottle of Ornellaia 2008 and taste what patience, power, and precision really mean.
Let it linger. Let it lead. Let it change you.