Ornellaia 2018 Vendemmia d’Artista La Grazia Bolgheri DOC Superiore

The Vendemmia d’Artista project celebrates the exclusive character of each new vintage of Ornellaia. Every year since the release of Ornellaia 2006, which took place in May 2009, a contemporary artist signs a work of art and a series of limited edition labels, drawing inspiration from a word chosen by the winemaker that describes the character of the new vintage.

Collectors from all over the world compete for these bottles, some of which are auctioned during an annual fundraising event in support of art.

The Vendemmia d’Artista project culminates with a work of art, created specifically for the estate, which combines the character of the vintage with the inspiration of the artist in the place where the Ornellaia was born.

“The 2018 vintage gave birth to wines of particular harmony”, comments the director of Ornellaia Axel Heinz. “A wine with a soft and silky structure in which all the elements come together in an expression of grace and beauty”. And for the sense of proportion, Axel Heinz defined the character of this vintage as “La Grazia”.

Jan Fabre, multidisciplinary artist

For the “artist’s harvest” series, inaugurated in 2009, the Belgian Jan Fabre was called upon to interpret this character. In a continuous search for convergence between different disciplines, Fabre offers a personal interpretation of visual art, supported by theater and literature as well as a rich symbolism.

The trend of the 2018 vintage

Speaking of the 2018 vintage, after dry seasons above the norm, the earth finally received the winter rain and cold necessary for a restoration of the vegetative cycle of the plants. The spring was rainy, while the hot summer stimulated the formation of the fruit, culminating in veraison on the sunny days of late July. At the harvest, which took place between 31 August and 8 October, the grapes were healthy and well balanced between acidity and sugars.

Artist harvest 2018, Grace is the protagonist

Inspired by “La Grazia” by Ornellaia 2018 Jan Fabre used his language and the coral of the Gulf of Naples for the sculptures that surmount three Salmanazar (9 liters): A Candle of Mercy, The Crown of Kindness, The Heart of Virtue. In addition to the precious 111 large sizes of Ornellaia that will be put on sale, Jan Fabre has also designed a special label for the 750 ml bottles, and finally created a site-specific work for the company’s orciaia.

BOLGHERI DOC SUPERIORE RED

The desire to express the exceptional qualities of the estate has been the basis of Ornellaia’s philosophy from the very beginning. Ornellaia is a cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, a faithful expression of a unique terroir that has always been in harmony with nature.

2018 VINTAGE

51% MERLOT

40% CABERNET SAUVIGNON

7% CABERNET FRANC

2% PETIT VERDOT

After years in which winter seemed to be forgotten, 2018 brought the climatic conditions back to normal, with temperatures below zero sufficient for the vines to begin their well-deserved winter rest. Spring will be remembered as one of the wettest in history, with rainfall three times higher than the seasonal average and with high temperatures in April. Despite the late budding, the climatic conditions and the rapid growth of the shoots allowed the vines to catch up by anticipating flowering by a whole week. Throughout the month of May and, albeit to a lesser extent, in June, rainfall remained above average, with a respite in July: a hot and dry month. The veraison took place between 22 and 25 July and the month of August was as hot as the previous year, but slightly more rainy. The sugars and acidity developed slowly, while the berries, due to the high levels of water present in the soil, have reached larger sizes. In September, the weather was warm and without precipitation. Temperatures were higher than the seasonal average, but the cooler nights allowed the vines to recover and preserve their aromas and acidity. The harvest of the reds began on August 31 with the Merlots, and ended on October 8 with the later vines.

VINIFICATION AND AGING

The harvest took place by hand in 15 kg crates and the bunches were selected on a double sorting table before and after destemming and subjected to soft pressing at the end. Each variety and each parcel was vinified separately. Alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel vats at temperatures between 26-30 ° C for a week followed by maceration for a total of about 10-15 days. The malolactic fermentation took place mainly in oak barriques (70% new and 30% first passage). The wine remained in barriques in the Ornellaia cellar at a controlled temperature for a period of about 18 months. After the first 12 months, the assembly was carried out