Tenuta dell´Ornellaia - Ornellaia VdT 2006

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2006 Ornellaia flows from the glass in a profound expression of ripe, dark fruit. With time in the glass layers of minerals, cassis, tar, sweet herbs and French oak emerge, adding further complexity. This harmonious Ornellaia combines the richness of the vintage with superb freshness and awesome balance. Today the wine’s sheer density almost manages to hide the tannins, but they are there, and the wine will ultimately benefit from a few years in the cellar. The 2006 Ornellaia is one of the highlights of this sensational Tuscan vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is complex and fascinating. At first taste it is like a great California Cabernet mixed with a first growth Bordeaux. Delicious licorice, mint, and currants on the palate. Full bodied, chewy, with ultra fine tannins. A gorgeous, classy wine that needs to be left in the cellar for at least 5 years."

WEINWISSER: "Schon auf den ersten Schluck ein sehr homogener Wein mit reicher, üppiger Frucht, schöner Säure und weichem, total gesundem, perfekt verschmolzenem Tannin, das diesen Ornellaia wie ein feiner, unendlich verzweigter Muskelstrang durchzieht. Laut Önologe Axel Heinz ein «magischer Wein», der das, was Ornellaia ist, präzis auf den Punkt bringt: reich, aber nicht überladen, fleischig, aber nicht fett, opulent, aber straff. Ein heisses, trockenes Frühjahr hatte dafür gesorgt, dass die Trauben kleiner und die Beeren dickschaliger wurden als normal. Grosse Zukunft."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Consistently among Italy's top-scoring wines, this vintage of the celebrated Ornellaia (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) is a gorgeous expression of the very best of European enology. It delivers extraordinary richness, succulence and intensity, but remains elegant to the end. Aromas include black cherry, spice and dark chocolate."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Superb wine, with a complex nose of flowers, coffee bean, licorice, black cherry liqueur and wet earth. The silky, sweet tannins and long, fresh, plush finish are just now getting to the sweet spot."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. Feinwürzig unterlegte dunkle Beerenfrucht, reife Herzkirschen, angenehmer Nougattouch, zart nach Orangenzesten, noch etwas zurückhaltend. Saftig, komplex, engmaschig, feine Extraktsüße, straffe, gut integrierte Tannine, stoffig und anhaltend, mineralischer Nachhall, sicheres Reifepotenzial. Ein Referenzjahrgang mit viel Tannin und viel Säure, mit einem Wort ein typischer Italiener."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson. The funny thing is that this wine smells first and foremost Tuscan rather than like the Bordeaux blend that it is. A good thing! Very savoury with real tang and I could swear there was some Sangiovese in here. Zings with life but there is no obvious sweetness at all (cf its stablemate Masseto). Great, glamorous life and concentration. The alcohol is very well hidden. Tannins are clearly there but are all but completely hidden by the ripe but savoury fruit. The overall balance is definitely helped by the defiantly high acidity. Delicious young wine that should age beautifully."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dark in color, showing loads of dark fruits on the nose, as well as licorice and berries and hints of mint and cedar. Full-bodied, with refined yet chewy tannins and a ripe berry, coffee and chocolate aftertaste. New wood barrels shine through. But it will all come together with bottle age. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot."