The 2001 Le Serre Nuove, effectively Ornellaia’s deuxieme vin, a full ruby, offers lightly peppery and herbaceous aromas along with its black berry fruit, a firm texture, and volume and roundness. Drink: 2005-2015. Ornellaia has been through some significant changes over the past several years. First with the departure of Lodovico Antinori and the arrival of the new owners, Mondavi and Frescobaldi, then with a double changeover of winemakers, first Andrea Giovannini (now at Monsanto) from 1999 to 2001, then Thomas Duroux, trained at Bordeaux and then the oenologist for the unsuccessful Mondavi Languedoc project. High quality, however, has been a constant – these have been Bolgheri’s best wines, along with those of Le Macchiole, over the past five years, and there is no indication of any change in the level of ambition.Importer: Robert Mondavi Imports, Napa, CA; tel. 800-228-1395

Fantastic. Serious aromas of blackberry, smoke and fresh herb. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a subtle, refined finish. Shows promise. The second wine of Ornellaia. Best after 2005. 7,500 cases made, 1,660 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Bolgheri Select to Add