Tenuta dell'Ornellaia - Ornellaia 1987, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

Introduction: The young prince proves his ability

Ornellaia 1987is a wine of particular historical significance. It dates from the early, formative phase of the winery, which was only founded in 1981, and followed directly on from the celebrated first wines of 1985. 1987 was a good, solid and classic vintage in Tuscany , which - after the spectacular 1985 and before the great 1988 - is often overlooked. For the young Ornellaia, it was a test that showed that the quality was no coincidence. This wine represents the original vision of founder Lodovico Antinori and his advisor André Tchelistcheff: to establish a powerful but elegant Bordeaux style on Tuscan soil.

Sensory description (with perfect ageing)

After more than 35 years of ageing in the bottle, an optimally stored Ornellaia 1987 has lost its youthful austerity and developed into a complex, fully mature and drinkable classic.

Colour

• A medium to deep garnet red with distinct brick-red to orange-coloured edges. The colour shows noble maturity, but retains a beautiful intensity.

Nose

The bouquet is classic, profound and characterised by a beautiful blend of tertiary spice and ripe fruit.

• Ripe fruit: Preserved blackcurrant (cassis), plum jam, dried blackberry.

• Classic wood & spice notes: Cedar wood, cigar box, damp tobacco, leather, a subtle vanilla sweetness from the oak.

• Tertiary complexity: Pronounced notes of truffle, undergrowth, damp leaves and an elegant animal note.

• Minerality & freshness: A cool, graphite or stony note, typical of Bolgheri, paired with a hint of eucalyptus or mint.

Palate

The palate confirms the image of a perfect, balanced wine of great drinkability.

• Texture: Medium to full-bodied, silky and velvety. The once powerful tannins are fully integrated and lend a soft, powdery structure.

• Acidity: Still lively and clear. It gives the wine a pleasant freshness and length and is the key to its lasting vitality.

• Flavour: An elegant reflection of the nose: ripe cassis, tobacco, leather, cedar wood and an earthy spiciness.

• Finish: Long and persistent, with a lingering flavour of cedar, tobacco, truffle and a salty minerality.

Vintage & stylistic classification

Vintage 1987 in Tuscany

• A good, classic and balanced vintage. It produced wines of good concentration, solid structure and remarkable freshness, which were often more elegant and accessible than the monumental vintages before and after. Ideal for developing complexity without overwhelming power.

Ornellaia in the 1980s: the early style

• The early Ornellaia vintages (1985-1991) were characterised by the search for the perfect Bordeaux blend in Tuscany.

• The proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and occasionally Petit Verdot varied.

• The wine was matured in French barriques, but with a possibly more restrained use of new wood than in later years.

• The aim was a powerful but drinkable and aromatically complex wine - less extravagant opulence, more classic lines.

Maturity & ageing potential

Current drinking maturity

The wine has reached its optimum drinking window some time agoand is on a plateau of great harmony. It is a perfect example of a fully mature, old Ornellaia.

Development potential

• Peak: Now. No further improvement is to be expected.

• Shelf life: With perfect cellaring, it can retain its form for another 5-8 years, but will then slowly lose its freshness and fruity nuances.

Rating & recommendations

Rating (for a perfect bottle): 94-96/100 points

An Ornellaia of great class, maturity and drinking pleasure. It demonstrates the early greatness of the estate and the quality of the solid 1987 vintage. A fully mature classic.

Recommendations for enjoyment

1. Decanting: Recommended (30-45 minutes) to open up the complex flavours. Decant carefully to separate any sediment.

2. Serving temperature: 16-17°C.

3. Food pairing:

   • Game: saddle of venison, pheasant.

   • Red meat: leg of lamb, entrecôte.

   • Hearty mushroom dishes (porcini risotto).

   • Matured hard cheese (Pecorino, old Parmigiano).

Conclusion

The Ornellaia 1987 is a timeless and elegant representative of the early Super Tuscan era. It is not a spectacular powerhouse, but a wine of deep roots, classic structure and perfect maturity. It shows that Ornellaia has always been able to produce world-class wines that mature over decades and achieve great beauty. Opening a bottle today is the reward for long patience and a moment of great satisfaction - proof that true class often lies in balanced, mature elegance and not in loud spectacle. A wine for the connoisseur.