ORNELLAIA - Poggio alle Gazze 2019
Ornellaia is located in the Bolgheri appellation, in Tuscany, Italy. The company was founded in 1981 by Marchese Lodovico Antinori, with the first vintage in 1985. From 2002 to 2005 the estate was co-owned by Robert Mondavi and Marchesi De Frescobaldi but, since 2005 Frescobaldi has owned it outright. At Ornellaia, the concept of environmental sustainability, understood as the use of the soil’s natural fertility, can be identified in various practices and limited measures implemented in the vineyards, with the aim of promoting the biodiversity of the species cultivated.
Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (78%), Vermentino (16%) and Verdicchio (6%). The clusters were hand-picked into small 15 kg boxes in the early morning hours and immediately chilled on arrival at the cellar in order to fully preserve their aromatic compounds. After a meticulous quality selection, the whole clusters were given a very slow, gradual pressing, while great care was exercised to prevent oxidation of the fruit. After gravity settling of some 12 hours, the separate lots of must were put to barriques (25% of which new and 25% used), in steel tanks and in concrete vats (50%). Fermentation temperatures did not exceed 22°C, and the wine did not go through malolactic fermentation. The wine matured on the fine lees for 6 months, with regular bâtonnage throughout the period, followed by the assemblage of the final blend. After a light fining, it rested an additional 12 months in the bottle before release.
Grape varieties: 78% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Vermentino, 6% Verdicchio