31-03-2014

Infinito Ornellaia

The presentation of the 2011 vintage. A more reliable investment than gold and petrol

Alex Heinz, oenologist at Ornellaia, at Sotheby’

Alex Heinz, oenologist at Ornellaia, at Sotheby’s auction house in Milan, on the occasion of the presentation of the 2011 vintage of Vendemmia d’ArtistaL’Infinito. Art and wine are ever more intertwined in the strategies of the Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi family

A few weeks ago, at Sotheby’s auction house in Milan, the 2011 vintage Vendemmia d’Artista – L’Infinito by Ornellaia was presented. There are many Italian excellent wines appreciated across the world, however, the legendary Ornellaia is perhaps the one with the most constantly growing yields across time. An investment for collectors, as mentioned, much sounder than many safe-heaven assets such as gold or petrol. It’s no chance that in 2012, in London, the (9 litres) Salmanazar bottle of Ornellaia 2010, with a label created by artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, was sold at auction for 80 thousand pounds (around 105 thousand euros), becoming the bottle of Italian red wine with the highest bid in the world.

Left to right, Giovanni Geddes, Stephen Mould and Ferdinando Frescobaldi

Left to right, Giovanni Geddes, Stephen Mould and Ferdinando Frescobaldi

Through Ornellaia, the Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi family has transformed Bolgheri in a unique land, a place in which nature sets the rhythm of seasons, a cradle in which the right timing is always awaited, thanks to the experience of people who dedicate themselves to obtain excellent results. The soil on which the vineyards are grown is much varied geologically. Inside the Tenuta, in fact, one can find three types of different soil: marine, alluvial and volcanic. The climate is temperate, made milder by the Tyrrhenian Sea, the perfect habitat for the 97 hectares of vineyards of Ornellaia divided into Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and other Sauvignon Blanc varieties, Viogner and Petit Manseng.

The Vendemmia d’Artista project was born in 2009 – with the 2006 vintage of Ornellaia – to celebrate the unique character of each vintage. Every year, an internationally renowned artist is commissioned an artwork that can capture the essence of the wine, the uniqueness of the vintage and its specific character. The unique Salmanazar bottle with the label created by the artist, together with a few larger formats are then put up for auction. The proceeds are donated to international foundations linked to the world of art.

With this project, Ornellaia wanted to strengthen the already close link between art and wine. In 2014 the assignment was given to Canadian artist Rodney Graham, singer and composer, who had to interpret “L’Infinito”, the infinite character of the 2011 vintage of Ornellaia. One-hundred-eleven larger formats were produced: 100 double Magnum (3 litres) bottles, 10 Imperial (6 litres) bottles and a sole Salmanazar bottle. This is a poetic selection, inspired by the soul, the wine and the sense of Infinite, defining the 2011 vintage.

The coming July 12th a charity auction will take place and the entire proceeds of the 9 batches will be given to the location that will host the event Ago, Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. The oenologist and production director of Ornellaia, Axel Heinz, has thus described the 2011 vintage (51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot): «This wine encloses infinite sensations that go beyond. It truly has a timeless ageing potential».


In cantina

Stories of men, women and bottles that enrich the galaxy of wine, in Italy and in the world

by

Cinzia Benzi

a graduate in Psychology, she was enchanted by the Identità Golose galaxy. While studying wine is her life, her gourmet vocation is an evolving discovery 

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