The 2016 Ornellaia is a standout vintage—deep, elegant, and beautifully structured. Packed with dark fruit, spice, and floral notes, it’s vibrant yet refined, with polished tannins and serious aging potential. A perfect mix of power and finesse—one for the cellar, but already showing its brilliance.

Decanter | D 99
Published: Apr 18, 2024
Drink: 2024-2045

Known as ‘La Tensione’, Ornellaia 2016 is everything you expect from a great wine in a great vintage following a few years of bottle age: Poised, ethereal, fragrant, intense and sapid, its silky and floral dark fruit character is backed by that classic 2016 tannic structure, making this somewhat of a transitional year between the bold and muscular Ornellaia of old and the new, trimmed down frame we see today. Superb. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 14.50%
Body: Medium
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 18% Cabernet Franc 51% Cabernet Sauvignon 27% Merlot

The Wine Advocate | RP 98
Published: Apr 19, 2019
Drink: 2021-2045

The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a wine of extreme complexity and precision. It offers monumental depth with profound layers of black fruit, coffee, licorice and baking chocolate. I tasted this 2016 vintage beside the less-impactful 2015 vintage (which was reviewed last year). These two editions are very different when compared side to side, and this 2016 release is clearly superior in terms of the quality, clarity and intensity of its offerings. This Ornellaia delivers glossy shine and a polished texture that segues to the important richness, concentration and textural fiber. It wraps thickly over the palate, imparting waves of sweet dark fruit and dark spice that linger for many long minutes. This beautiful wine is hitting the market now, but collectors will want to put it straight into their cellars for safekeeping.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 98
Published: Nov 26, 2019

An astoundingly vibrant, powerful and concentrated Ornellaia that has a wealth of intense dark cherries, mulberries and plums with hints of espresso, dark cocoa powder and cedar. The concentrated palate is framed in long, regal tannins that bring focus to the plush, ripe and fresh black cherries and dark plums. Extremely balanced. Best from 2025.

Ornellaia.com

The desire to nurture the estate?s exceptional qualities has shaped Ornellaia?s philosophy since the beginning. Ornellaia is a cuv?e of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot and the faithful expression of unique terroir developed in harmony with nature.