Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, Ornellaia, Bolgheri, Tuscany, 2008, 750ml

The cool start to the vintage followed by high temperatures have created a wonderfully complex structure, with generous, ripe fruit, overlaid with a beguiling aromatic complexity. There is a pure, rich fruit character, complemented by chocolate and balsamic notes, with herbs and zest lift out of the glass. The extra few percent of Cabernet Franc provide a perfect framework of elegance and minerality and the palate certainly does not disappoint, with a silky smooth texture and glossy tannins carrying a deliciously rich, yet elegant Ornellaia through to a revitalising, lively acidity and a fantastic, lingering finish.