Le Volte dell’Ornellaia 2023
Produced by Ornellaia in Bolgheri, on Tuscany’s Mediterranean coast, Le Volte is conceived as the estate’s most immediate and convivial red—a welcoming introduction to the Ornellaia style rather than a simplified version of it.
The 2023 blend is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Each variety was fermented separately in small stainless-steel tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation in steel. The wine then matured for ten months, partly in barriques previously used for Ornellaia and partly in concrete tanks, a combination chosen to balance tannic structure with a clear expression of fresh fruit.
My impressions closely matched the estate’s description, particularly its emphasis on ripe blueberry and blackberry, breadth, freshness and silky tannins. The floral lift, plum and subtle cedar were the details that added further nuance for me, giving the wine a distinctly Mediterranean warmth while retaining elegance
I enjoyed it with a 58-day dry-aged, bone-in ribeye, a pairing that allowed both the wine and the meat to show their character. The dark fruit complemented the steak’s deeply savoury flavour, while the tannins and freshness helped balance its marbling and intensity.
What stood out to me was how comfortably Le Volte occupied the space between seriousness and immediate pleasure. It carries the polish and Mediterranean character associated with Ornellaia, but it does not require years of ageing or a formal occasion to make sense.
The dry-aged ribeye was an intense dish, with concentrated beef flavour, rich fat and a lightly nutty character from maturation. The wine had enough breadth and structure to meet that intensity, yet it never dominated the meat. Its smooth tannins, ripe dark fruit and underlying freshness kept the pairing composed from beginning to end.
Country/Region: Tuscany, Italy
Grape: Merlot 50 %, Sangiovese 30 %, Cabernet-sauvignon 20 %
Vintage: 2023
Alcohol : 13%
Producer: Ornellaia
Agent: Mark Anthony Brands
