2009 Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove Bolgheri

(92 Points) The 2009 Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is a gorgeous, fleshy wine that shows the radiant personality of the vintage. Mocha, espresso, raspberry jam and spices are some of the aromas and flavors that flow from this pliant, accessible red. This is all silk and polish. Stylistically, the 2009 is close to the 2007 for its early approachability but appears to have less overall stuffing. It is a gorgeous, rewarding wine to drink now and over the next 8-10 years. Vintage 2009 was a strange year. A dry hot summer led to an early harvest for Merlot, which is typically precocious, but rain in mid-September slowed down the maturation cycle for later-ripening grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2009 the blend is 54% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The 2009 Serre Nuove spent about 15 months in French oak barrels, 25% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

This is another strong set of wines from Tenuta dell’Ornellaia. The 2008 Ornellaia is back to its usual high level after a slightly perplexing 2007, while the 2008 Masseto is another in a fine line of vintages for this Tuscan icon. Readers should be on the lookout for a complete vertical of Masseto, back to the inaugural 1986 Il Merlot dell’Ornellaia, which will be posted on www.erobertparker.com in the coming weeks. Needless to say, it was an amazing tasting. Wine Advocate #196, Aug 2011