THE 2012 GROWING SEASON
56% CABERNET SAUVIGNON
27% MERLOT
7% PETIT VERDOT
10% CABERNET FRANC
2012 was a dry growing year, like 2011, with the scarcity of water already evident during a cold, dry winter. At budbreak, which occurred normally, a water deficit of some 100mm, compared to the multi-year average, was already evident. A mild, sunny spring brought good vine growth, with a rapid, consistent flowering. July and August were hot and almost rain-free, leading to fears of arrested ripening due to lack of water. However, veraison was completely normal and satisfactory. A few spells of rain in late August and early September increased the momentum of the ripening, and the fruit achieved fine overall ripeness, with optimal levels of aromatics and polyphenols. The harvest for Merlot took place between 29 August and 17 September; it began on 18 September for Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot in the younger vineyards, and concluded with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the oldest vineyards.
VINIFICATION AND AGEING
The clusters were hand-picked into 15 kg crates and then selected by hand on a double sorting table, before and after destemming, and then softly crushed. In 2016, optical sorting has been introduced in addition to manual selection, in order to further increase the quality of selection. Each grape variety and single vineyard block were vinified separately. Fermentation took place in stainless steel and concrete tanks at temperatures between 26 and 30°C for one week, followed by maceration for about 15 days, for a total time in the vat of about three weeks. The malolactic fermentation took place mainly in oak barrels, 70% new and 30% used once. The wine then remained in barriques, in Ornellaia’s temperature-controlled cellars for about 18 months. After the first 12 months of maturation, the wine was assembled and then returned to the barriques for an additional 6 months. After bottling, the wine aged a further 12 months prior to release.
WINEMAKER'S TASTING NOTE
“The 2012 growing season was characterised by an abundance of sunny, dry weather; some rain did fall as well, but it occurred in just the right periods, before the harvest, and helped the vines to cope with the hot, dry conditions. The result was an even, consistent ripening process that in the end yielded generous, full-volumed wines that are remarkably appealing and seductive, with an overall character that we like to define with the word Incanto (‘Enchantment’). Ornellaia 2012 appears a deep ruby, and a remarkably beguiling bouquet boasts rich fruit and spices notes. The palate shows well-rounded, full, and generous, with glossy tannins and a complete absence of any roughness. The 2012 lacks none of the proverbial concentration that distinguishes Ornellaia’s, great vintages, but this vintage adroitly masks that richness behind an expansive, magisterial structure, then concludes with a near-endless finish.”
Axel Heinz – May 2014
