April 4, 2025
New Release: Ornellaia 2022 - 99 Points - "clearly among the most successful wines of the vintage"
2022 Ornellaia Release
99 Points - Jane Anson
“One of the few 2022 Tuscan wines where you can really see that this will benefit from a few years in bottle, right now it is, hovering on the edge of something delicious, vibrating over the tannic architecture, feathered, campfire smoke, fennel, blackberry, liquorice and crushed peonies, and the bitter fennel and slate scrape, dense, contrast of textures and flavours like only truly great wines can do, a reflection of skilful construction.on. A gorgeous wine”
Widely considered a Tuscan 'First Growth', Ornellaia’s vineyards are nestled in the prestigious Bolgheri region. This terroir benefits from a unique combination of maritime influences, diverse soil compositions, and a temperate climate that fosters optimal grape maturation. The Ornellaia 2022 is a shining example of the Super Tuscan category, which defies traditional Italian winemaking norms by incorporating international grape varieties and innovative techniques.
The 2022 growing season brought challenges: a cool winter, prolonged dry spells, and intense summer heat. Yet thanks to expert vineyard management and old-vine plantings, the estate produced a wine of extraordinary freshness, depth, and structure. The final blend—55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot—reflects the best of Bolgheri’s terroir: powerful, layered, and elegant. There’s a core of ripe black fruit, lifted by aromas of graphite, liquorice, fennel, and spice, all wrapped in velvety tannins and a long, poised finish.
A near-perfect 99-point score from Jane Anson who lists ever aromatic under the (Tuscan) sun whilst Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate scores it 97-points, only one point behind the highly esteemed 2016 vintage. Larner concluded that “the wine's abundant fruit weight cedes to elegantly integrated tannins. This vintage will appeal to die-hard Ornellaia enthusiasts.”
This week we have allocations available at €175 In Bond per bottle including OWC cases of 6x75cl. With towering critical acclaim, limited availability, and the promise of long-term reward, Ornellaia 2022 is a must for collectors and Super Tuscan lovers alike. Secure your case now and add one of the vintage’s true stars to your cellar—before it disappears.
Ornellaia 2022
99 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux
One of the few 2022 Tuscan wines where you can really see that this will benefit from a few years in bottle, right now it is, hovering on the edge of something delicious, vibrating over the tannic architecture, feathered, campfire smoke, fennel, blackberry, liquorice and crushed peonies, and the bitter fennel and slate scrape, dense, contrast of textures and flavours like only truly great wines can do, a reflection of skilful construction. A gorgeous wine, slowly stretching out in the palate, 65% new oak for ageing. Harvest began August 9 for the whites, and the reds began August 25 with Masseto, and then a few days later for Ornellaia, one of the earliest on record, with around 38hl/h yield.
97 Points | Wine Advocate, Monica Larner
Tasted a few months after it was bottled, the Ornellaia 2022 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be coming to market in March 2025. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The wine sees 18 months of aging with up to 70% new oak, but the trick, proprietor Lamberto Frescobaldi tells me, is drawing from a large group of coopers with different toast levels and forests. "I don't want to make a wine of any one tonnellerie," he says. The oak element is crucial to the identity of this wine that reveals dark fruit, blackberry, sweet spice and cinnamon. Most of the vines were planted in the 1980s, and the average age of the plants is over 20 years old. Fruit comes from many parcels, including Bellaria, Bellaria Nuova, Bellaria Alta, Pero, Fosso, Vigna Vecchia and Stallina. Indeed, some 80 wines are made before final blending. The 2022 vintage will be remembered for its full-bodied appeal, concentrated fruit and generous oak renderings. Petit Verdot plays a slightly larger role in this vintage and was one of the surprise hits of 2022. It serves to elongate the wine and adds to its length. The wine's abundant fruit weight cedes to elegantly integrated tannins. This vintage will appeal to die-hard Ornellaia enthusiasts.
96 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni
The 2022 Ornellaia is a terrific wine for the year. Dark red-toned fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice and spice all take shape in a mid-weight, pliant Ornellaia that is quite alluring, even in the early going. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot, unusual for the elevated presence of Petit Verdot, which did better than Franc in 2022. The higher percentage of Petit Verdot comes through in the wine’s dark-leaning personality and also in the quality of tannins. More than anything else, the 2022 is a reminder of how important a tool blending is, especially in challenging years. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2022 Ornellaia is clearly among the most successful wines of the vintage.