2021 Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Tuscany 750 ml

If there’s an Italian wine that collectors revere like First Growth Bordeaux and cult California Cabernet, it’s Ornellaia. The icon stands shoulder to shoulder with its $500–$800+ Medoc counterparts—and, as Antonio Galloni of Vinous said, has “never failed to literally send shivers down my spine.”

The 2021 edition is one of the finest ever produced. Grown in a spectacular season and dubbed “La Generosita” for its depth, complexity, and fullness, James Suckling called it “the best Ornellaia for the cellar in years.” Antonio Galloni of Vinous said it ‘captures all the magic of this sensational vintage.” Both critics gave it 99 points.  

Ornellaia’s superb pedigree was palpable when we visited the estate a few summers ago. The original Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc vines were planted by legendary enologist André Tchelistcheff, who told founder Lodovico Antinori that the land was a viticultural “El Dorado.” 

Barely three miles from the glimmering Tuscan coast, we could see what he meant. The maritime breeze is a welcome respite from Italy’s sultry summer heat—a key to keeping the wine equal parts “sumptuous and racy,” as Galloni once described it.

This is a bottle that’s sure to turn heads when you bring it up from the cellar, and offer an exquisite experience when you decide to share it at the dinner table.