“The 2015 Ornellaia is a dream wine with magnificent balance. All the elements are in the right place. In most vintages, Ornellaia needs time to fully come together, but the 2015 is just impeccable, even in the early going. The warm vintage notwithstanding, winemaker Axel Heinz crafted and Ornellaia is more about finesse and power. The potent, bruising tannins Ornellaia can show as a young wine are nowhere to be found. Bright raspberry jam, mint, white flowers and pomegranate are some of the many notes that punctuate the finish in a memorable Ornellaia that will go down among the great vintages produced at this reference-point estate.”

“A big, brooding red, packed with blackberry, plum and earth flavors, all wrapped in spicy oak. Monolithic now, finishing with saline mineral elements, a leafy tobacco edge and dense, mouthcoating tannins. Terrific potential. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.”

“This is a stunning and exuberant wine that drinks with beautiful intensity and personality. The 2015 Bolgheri Rosso Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is made with fruit from the estate’s young vines. Fruit from the older vines is instead directed to the top-shelf expressions. If this wine is any indication of what we can expect from the next vintage of Ornellaia to hit the market, we are in for a very special treat. This is a complete and richly concentrated expression that drinks with seamless intensity. It pits power against elegance with confidence and grace.”

“Plenty of blackberry and rust with tile and stone undertones. Full body, tannic and structured. A big and flavorful red.”

Black currant, blackberry and mint aromas and flavors mark this firm, linear red. Fruity yet savory, ending with a dense, wide swath of dusty tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese

This gift giving season is here and FORTUNE magazine has selected Ponzi Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve and Ornellaia Poggio Alle Gazze as two of only four wines recommended in the white wine category of its online gift guide for wine lovers. Within the story, writer Rachel King urges readers not to overlook Chardonnay in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, which has become one of the country’s top regions for Pinot Noir. She commends the 2014 Chardonnay Reserve from Ponzi Vineyards, which is owned by second generation sisters Maria and Winemaker Luisa Ponzi. “Developed based on Luisa’s experience while honing her skills in Burgundy, France, the 2014 Chardonnay Reserve offers a nose of orange zest, jasmine, figs, flan, quince, and maple with a flavor palate touting white chocolate, flan, and a vein of acidity.  She continues to praise Ornellaia’s 2016 Poggio Alle Gazze, crediting the white peach flavor and zesty style of the Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Vermentino blend to “the Italian estate’s coastal microclimate.” You can read the full story and see other recommendations here

Ponzi and Ornellaia Fortune

The Panama City News Herald published an interview with VINTUS Italian Portfolio Manager and Master Sommelier Craig Collins, leading up to a Wine Social he’s hosting with Breakthru Beverage Group on August 8. The writer shares background on Collins’ 10+ year journey on becoming one of only 112 Master Sommeliers worldwide. Collins also highlights what he believes makes VINTUS stand apart from other importers.“We represent over 40 producers all over the world. Our company stands on two pillars. The first is all estates must be family owned and operated. The second is they must be standard bearers,” he said.

When it comes to what Collins looks for in a wine, he notes that his palate has changed a great deal over the years, adding “I don’t pay attention to the flavor. There are so many other things — the texture, finish, historical perspective. Is the wine varietal true? Does it speak to the place it is from? Each grape variety tastes unique before it’s put in the mouth, good or bad.”

Offering a fun perspective to consumers on how to think about wine, he says “Wine is a condiment, not a stand-alone beverage. It’s meant to make food taste better, to lubricate the conversation. Anything from Doritos to lobster can be enhanced by wine.”

Wine list and retail options can be intimidating, and he speaks about that with the writer as well. “Consumers get lost with choices and prices, thinking better must be more expensive. Trust your retailer or sommelier at the restaurant. Those individuals who do this for a living taste hundreds of wines every single week,” said Collins, who also added. “Drink what you want; don’t allow someone else’s opinion to influence you. No one can tell you what you like. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are or what color it is. If you like it, drink more of it.”

Find a few of Craig’s wine recommendations for everyday enjoyment below and read the full story HERE

Suggested wine pairings

Collins shared food pairings for three different wines — white, red and rosé — available locally.

“Attems Pinot Grigio – Friuli, Italy: Notes of peach, apple and lemon make this wine a perfect summer sipper. Enjoy it alone or pair it with cheese, fruit and light salads.

La Volte dell’Ornellaia – Tuscany, Italy: From the coast of Tuscany, this Super Tuscan red screams for food. Enjoy it with pasta, pizza or pork.

Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rose – Rhone, France: This dry rose from the Rhone Valley has great texture and can accommodate a lot of different foods. I love this wine with grilled shrimp but it is equally at home with anything from the gulf.”

Wine Spectator reports on Ornellaia‘s latest installment in its long-running Vendemmia d’Artista project, which encourages artists each year to create works inspired by a one-word sum-up of the wine and the vintage. This year, Iranian mixed-media artist and photographer Shirin Neshat designed 11 large-format labels depict women’s hands overlaid with Farsi calligraphy. The mixed-media artist and photographer has a dedicated oeuvre that explores tensions between femininity and masculinity, Islam and the West, and public and private life, making her the perfect artistic translator for the theme of the 2016, “La Tensione.” 

The limited edition large-format bottles of the famous super Tuscan wine raised $312,000 in an auction benefiting Guggenheim’s Mind’s Eye Program. This collaborative effort between artists and educators works to make art accessible by incorporating verbal descriptions, conversation and sensory experiences 

To read more about Mind’s Eye and experience the limited edition labels, read the full article HERE.

In a spotlight piece, VinePair’s Tim McKirdy highlights the key seven points to understanding Super Tuscan producer Ornellaia. Among these points are the unique French roots, the maritime influence, and vineyard structure. To learn more about these points and to get better acquainted with the legendary producer, read the full article HERE.

In preparing for the upcoming holiday season, the lifestyle magazine Town and Country has named the 2015 Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia as one of the best wines to pour. Whether you’re planning a feast for the family or a relaxing evening by the fire, choosing the right bottle is essential in crafting the perfect holiday atmosphere. To assist in this daunting task, Town and Country magazine extensively surveyed master sommeliers and various wine experts to curate a list of 23 bottles that will greatly ease this task. 

Among the selections included is the 2015 Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia “This Le Serre Nuove, which is the ‘second label’ from the famed Ornellaia. Based on a traditional Bordeaux blend, the 2015 is singing with flavors of cassis, black raspberry, leather, tobacco, and graphite. It’s all you need to keep cozy next to an open fire (chestnuts roasting is optional.)”

To read more about the perfect wines for the season and Ornellaia, read the full article HERE.