1988 Tenuta dell Ornellaia Tuscany Ornellaia
Condition:
This brilliant wine is one of the best new breed Tuscan reds I have tasted. The color is a sensational black/purple and the nose offers gorgeously intense aromas of black plums, cassis, licorice, and spicy new oak. In the mouth, there is extraordinary opulence and richness, enough acidity to provide grip, and plenty of tannin lurking behind the cascade of fruit. The explosive finish goes on and on. Approachable, even delicious now, this splendid wine promises to get even better over the next 4-6 years and possibly last through the first decade of the next century. Impressive! ... WS 93 (11/1993): A solid wine, with wonderful structure for aging, but still closed and not giving much at this stage. Dark-ruby color, with smoke, berry and cherry aromas and flavors. Loads of velvety tannins, full body and a long finish. Great, soft texture. Wait until at least 1997. ... IWC 92 (10/2004): Good deep healthy red. Complex nose combines raspberry, truffle, mint and earth. Big, rich, sweet and mouthfilling; dense and suave. Red fruit flavors are complicated by notes of tobacco, chocolate and mint. Finishes with very fine, building tannins. A well-structured, very polished wine.
WA93