2023 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore

ABOUT ORNELLAIA 2023 | LA VITALITÀ

Ornellaia Vendemmia d'Artista honors the unique character of every new Ornellaia vintage. Every year since May 2009, upon the release of Ornellaia 2006, a modern artist creates a work of art and a series of limited edition labels, inspired by the word the winemaker chose to describe the character of the new vintage.

For this 18th edition of Vendemmia d'Artista, Serbian artist Marina Abramović has been asked to interpret the theme of the 2023 volume, La Vitalità. Marina Abramović revolutionized performance art starting in the 1970s with work that explored the boundaries of vulnerability, control, and self-examination. She became one of the first performance artists to gain widespread museum recognition, with solo exhibitions in Europe and the US. “ When I started this project, I began with the drawing, with the raw material: the grape. I surrounded my face with the bunches and suddenly the vibrant green of the leaves and the deep black of the berries began to vibrate. A vital force, energy leaves opening from the spirit.”

Each case (6x750ml) of Ornellaia 2023 contains one bottle with the special label and 5 bottles with the regular label.

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Winery

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia belongs to the absolute elite of Italy and is one of the iconic producers from Bolgheri. The estate was founded in 1981 and is known for its Bordeaux blends with a distinct Tuscan signature. Under the leadership of the Frescobaldi family, work is carried out here with great precision, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. The focus is on balance, elegance, and aging potential. Ornellaia itself is considered the flagship of the estate and is among the most sought-after wines in Italy. More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Origin, terroir and vintage 2023

The wine originates from Bolgheri, located on the Tuscan coast. This area benefits from a maritime climate with cooling influences from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The combination of sun, wind, and temperature variations ensures optimal ripening while preserving freshness.

The 2023 vintage presented specific challenges, particularly due to damp conditions and fungal pressure early in the season. This required strict selection in the vineyard. Ultimately, this resulted in lower yields, but with high-quality grapes. According to owner Lamberto Frescobaldi, the focus this year was clearly on freshness and balance, while maintaining tension in the fruit and avoiding overripeness.

These circumstances have resulted in a wine that is not only powerful, but also remarkably refined and energetic.

Grape varieties and blend

The 2023 Ornellaia is a classic Bordeaux blend with a Tuscan interpretation. The composition consists of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot.

It is striking that Merlot retains a significant share, despite the more difficult conditions for early-ripening grapes. This is the result of very strict selection. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone with structure and length, while Merlot provides roundness and texture. Cabernet Franc adds aromatic refinement, and Petit Verdot brings extra depth and spiciness.

Vinification and aging

After a careful harvest, the grapes are vinified separately by plot. This makes it possible to maintain maximum control over extraction and style. Fermentation takes place under controlled temperatures, followed by aging in French oak barrels.

The wine ages for approximately 18 months in barriques, a significant portion of which is new wood. Subsequently, blending takes place, and the wine ages further in the bottle before being released to the market. Bottling took place in July 2025, with a release planned for March 2026.

The vinification focuses on precision and balance, with the aim of creating a wine in which fruit, structure, and spiciness are fully integrated.

Color, smell and taste

In the glass, the wine displays a deep, concentrated ruby red color. The nose is complex and still slightly closed in its youth, but already shows distinct layers of dark fruit, spices, and Mediterranean influences.

Aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries, and plums are combined with notes of thyme, rosemary, and subtle earthy nuances. This gives the wine a distinct botanical character that is typical of this vintage.

On the palate, the structure is impressive. The wine has a full body with a velvety, polished texture. The tannins are ripe and fine-grained, providing an elegant grip without harshness.

The taste is rich and concentrated, with a beautiful balance between ripe fruit and fresh tension. The wine feels broad and layered on the palate, with a long, harmonious finish in which fruit, spices, and light wood notes come together.

Drinking window and storage potential

According to The Wine Advocate, the drinking window for this wine is between 2027 and 2050. In its youth, the wine will still be closed and benefit from decanting. After a few years of bottle aging, the complexity will develop further and the aromas will deepen.

Due to the combination of structure, acidity, and concentration, this wine has excellent aging potential and can continue to develop over several decades.

Reviews and scores

98 points – Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
The wine is praised for its richness, concentration, and refinement. Larner emphasizes the botanical character with notes of dark fruit, thyme, and rosemary, as well as the velvety texture and the balance between fruit and freshness. A very precise and elegant interpretation of the vintage.

Wine & Food Pairing and Discount

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grandcruwijnen customers. In the Food tab, you will find advice on what to look for for the right food and wine pairing, and a number of dish suggestions from our Sommelier.

AUTHENTICITY CHECK

In recent years, there has been a great deal of counterfeit merchandise on the market from established top houses in France, Italy, and Spain, among others. Grandcruwijnen sources only from the wineries or official importers. Be very wary of offers that are "too good to be true." You run the risk of receiving a fake bottle with completely different contents. Even if it is a genuine bottle, you never know what journey it has been on. Wines can sometimes be in transit for a year and eventually arrive at your doorstep via hot trucks, sea containers, and unconditioned wineries. Since 2001, every bottle of Ornellaia, regardless of size, has featured the brand name ORNELLAIA embossed on the bottom of the bottle. As of 2011, an authentication seal is affixed to all Ornellaia bottles by the estate prior to shipment. This seal contains information regarding the specific bottle in question, which is registered in a database accessible to consumers.

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