Ornellaia 1996, Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia

Name: Ornellaia 1996, Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia - Le Roux Vins
Brand: 0.75 L
SKU: VEVRTDO1996
Price: 255.00 CHF
Availability: InStock

CHF 255.00

Ornellaia 1996, Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia – Ornellaia is one of the founding fathers of the “Super Tuscan” movement. Born in the coastal region of Bolgheri, this wine proved that Italy could produce Bordeaux-style blends that rival the greatest estates in the world. The 1996 vintage is a classicist’s dream. While often overshadowed by the warmer and flashier 1997, 1996 offered a cooler, longer growing season. This resulted in a wine of profound elegance, firm structure, and incredible longevity. Now fully mature, it is a magnificent piece of Italian winemaking history.

What’s it Like?

It pours a deep, mature garnet with a brick rim. The nose is a complex, fully evolved bouquet of dried black cherries, cedar wood, old leather, sweet tobacco, and crushed graphite. On the palate, the youthful fruit has gracefully transformed into savory, tertiary flavors. It is medium-to-full-bodied, with tannins that have melted into a silky texture, driven by a vibrant acidity that keeps the wine incredibly fresh despite its age. The finish is long, earthy, and aristocratic.

Perfect For

A milestone celebration or an intimate dinner with fellow wine aficionados. It pairs beautifully with roasted meats, specifically a classic Bistecca alla Fiorentina, wild boar ragù, or aged Pecorino cheese.

The Critics Agree…

Critics have long praised the 1996 for its “Bordeaux-like” character and firm backbone. Reviews highlight its “classic structure,” “aristocratic elegance,” and “cedary, tobacco-laced fruit.” It is often cited as a vintage that rewarded patience, finally reaching its glorious peak after decades in the cellar.

What is it? A fully mature, legendary Super Tuscan from a classic vintage.
From? Bolgheri (Tuscany), Italy.
Grapes? Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.
Tastes Like? Dried cherry, cedar, sweet tobacco, old leather, and graphite.

1 in stock

SKU: VEVRTDO1996 Categories: 0.75 L, Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Red, Red Wines, Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Tuscany

Ornellaia 1996, Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia: The Super Tuscan Dream

In the early 1980s, the coastal region of Bolgheri in Tuscany was largely a swampy, forgotten landscape, famous only for peaches and strawberries. But Marchese Lodovico Antinori saw something else. Inspired by the success of his cousin’s Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia) and his own travels to California and Bordeaux, he founded Tenuta dell’Ornellaia in 1981. His vision was bold: to plant classic Bordeaux grape varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot—on the Tuscan coast and create wines that could rival the absolute best in the world.

A Unique Coastal Terroir The magic of Ornellaia lies in its unique geography. Situated close to the Mediterranean Sea, the vineyards benefit from constant cooling sea breezes that moderate the intense summer heat. The soils are a complex, ancient mosaic of marine, alluvial, and volcanic elements. This diversity allows each grape variety to be planted exactly where it will thrive. The result is a perfect balance between the ripe, opulent fruit character of the Tuscan sun and the structured, elegant backbone of the Bordeaux varieties.

The Pursuit of Excellence From the very beginning, Ornellaia operated on a philosophy of uncompromising quality. This means severe pruning, manicured vineyards, and harvesting block by block only when the grapes reach perfect phenolic maturity. Today, the estate is owned by the Frescobaldi family, another legendary Tuscan wine dynasty, who have fiercely protected Lodovico’s original vision. Ornellaia is not just a winery; it is a testament to human intuition and the absolute pinnacle of the Super Tuscan movement.