and more:
• Le Macchiole's Flagship Red
• Super-Tuscan Six: Then & Now
• IWM Seminar: Barolo to Valtellina

Ornellaia: Bolgheri's Ironhorse

Sassicaia (Tenuta San Guido), Masseto & Ornellaia (Tenuta dell'Ornellaia), Paleo Rosso & Messorio (Le Macchiole), Grattamacco Rosso (Grattamacco), Ca' Marcanda (Gaja), Guado al Tasso (Antinori)…. It’s an all-star list any wine enthusiast would like to manage. Miraculously, these wines all come from the small zone of Bolgheri, where the Super-Tuscan movement began more than thirty years ago. And while Sassicaia can be labeled Bolgheri’s Babe Ruth, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia would certainly be its Lou Gehrig.

This estate consistently performs and excels, even in an off-vintage. Its Ironhorse, Masseto (100% Merlot), has again astonished the wine world collecting 100-points from Wine Spectator for the 2001 vintage, as her older sibling Ornellaia (Cab-Merlot blend), was blessed with 95 points. It was only six years ago that this same wine was knighted “Wine of the Year” from the same publication. While IWM has never been an advocate of the point system, it is clear that this will be one of the legendary Bolgheri wines and is a trophy for any collector.

Read on below to learn more on Tenuta dell’Ornellaia and the latest releases from the estate. In this issue we have also enclosed Bolgheri's third great wine, Le Macchiole's Paleo Rosso, and new information on our seminar series. If you would like to purchase these or have any additional questions, please contact Perry Porricelli at 212.473.2323.

Click here for more on Italy's Super Tuscans!

Masseto and Ornellaia

Along with Tenuta San Guido, Le Macchiole, and Grattamacco, Ornellaia is one of the four pillars of the great Bolgheri wine movement. You might say the estate was destined for greatness. Lodovico Antinori simply had wine in his bloodline, a 600-year legacy in winemaking from his family’s firm: brother to Piero Antinori and cousin to Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta of Sassicaia, he left his family in the seventies to start his own winery with an emphasis on Cabernet and Merlot. Like the neighboring Marchese Mario Incisa, Lodovico believed that the steep, south facing coastal slopes in this zone were a calling card for great claret-style wines. However, Lodovico did not just look to Bordeaux or Sassicaia for inspiration. He quickly acquainted himself with Andre Tchelistcheff, one of the fathers of California Cabernet, as well as Bordeaux’s leading enologist, Michel Rolland. With Andre's guidance and persistance, Lodovico established a site dedicated to the noble Merlot. The spot contains a unique blend of three clays in the soil and its own unique microclimate. With the team and plantings in place it wasn’t long before a space-age wine facility was built to produce the highest quality wines of Italy. While Ornellaia was the breakout wine for the estate, the Masseto is its crowning achievement!

Masseto: Most Sought-After Wine of Bolgheri

The press has dubbed this particular bottling as “maybe the best Tuscan red wine ever.” IWM believes it is another stunning example that can compete with the greats of Pomerol. With only a limited number of cases being imported into the US, the one certainty is that allocation of this wine is sure to start a frenzy reminiscent of the Cabbage Patch Kid shortage of 1983. This will be the most sought-after wine in the region.

The 2001 bottling is a product of the vineyard and winemaking coming together in perfect harmony. It is the crowning wine of winemaker Thomas Duroux and
consultant Michel Rolland. The recent conditions have led to premium berry-ripening, resulting in highly concentrated flavors in this varietal Merlot. Intense aromas of red cherry, black plum, and blueberry jam show underlying hints of chocolate. On the palate, sweet oak and licorice intertwine seamlessly with rich black fruit. A striking combination of power and finesse.

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2001 Masseto $279.99 (750ml)
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2000 Masseto $239.99 (750ml)
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2000 Masseto $544.00 (1.5L)
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2000 Masseto $1,295.00 (3.0L)
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2000 Masseto $2,200.00 (6.0L)

Ornellaia: The Estate's Signature Wine

Since its debut in 1985, the estate’s signature wine continues to demonstrate excellence. This weighty Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend with a splash of Cabernet Franc displays broad, enticing aromas of black- and redcurrants, forest berries, rosemary, and petrol. Baked cherries and minerals surface on the palate. The intense layers of flavor are structured by medium acidity, moderate tannins, and warm alcohol.

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2001 Ornellaia $125.00 (750ml)
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2000 Ornellaia $125.00 (750ml)

Click to order the wines of Ornellaia by fax!

Le Serre Nuove and Le Volte

Here's your chance to get a taste of Ornellaia at contained prices. In the past these wines have been a hit at IWM and among wine enthusiasts as they are ready to drink and impress today!

Le Serre Nuove - The Second Coming of Ornellaia

The "second" wine of Ornellaia is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot made for earlier enjoyment. This is a brighter, more fruity wine than Ornellaia, with red and black berries tinged by subtle oak flavors of chocolate and clove. Released 6-9 months earlier, this is a good preview of the vintage’s Ornellaia bottling, especially with regard to fruit maturity and character.

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2002 Le Serre Nuove $55.00 (750ml)
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2001 Le Serre Nuove $55.00 (750ml)

Le Volte - The Young Ornellaia

A union of Tuscan Sangiovese with Bordeaux’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A wine of indulgent opulence and generosity, the tannin of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the acidity of the Sangiovese lend structure and complexity. The outcome is an approachable wine of vibrant crimson displaying ripe red and dark berry fruits, a gentle, round palate, impeccable balance, and a delightfully lingering finish.

2002 Le Volte $23.00 (750ml)
2001 Le Volte $105.00 (3.0L)

Click here to order the wines of Ornellaia!

Le Macchiole's Flagship Red

TSituated in Tuscany’s hotbed of famous estates, Le Macchiole’s modest 25 acres produce some of the most consistently outstanding wine in Bolgheri. The extraordinary quality-focused dedication of the Campolmi family has shown outstanding results. Bottling fine wine since 1975, they gained momentum in 1984 when Bolgheri wines really began enjoying world-wide acclaim. Then in 1992, Le Macchiole's Paleo tied for first place with the coveted Sassicaia and Ornellaia in a comparative tasting of Tuscany’s best, planting the estate’s position on the Italian fine wine scene. When Paleo placed second to Chateau Pichon Lalande at VinItaly 1995, Le Macchiole earned its full stripes, acceding to the forefront of internationally recognized premium estates.

Paleo Rosso - Bolgheri's Benchmark

Named for the vineyard of its provenance and crafted from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. A sweet nose blooming with ripe blackcurrants, plump raisins, cream and spice. The silky mouthfeel of substantial fruit layers of fresh figs, dried berries and dark chocolate. Velvety tannins accompany the rich, lengthy finish.

1999 $82.50 (750ml)
1999 $165.00 (1.5L)

Click here to order Le Macchiole by fax!

Super-Tuscan Six: Then & Now

The term "Super Tuscan" conjures up words like creativity, freedom, spirit, and defiance. Before the Sixties, no one considered making a wine crafted along Bordeaux lines on Italian soil, much less in a region not yet established viticulturally. The theory back then was that vines exposed to the sea winds and salty air of Bolgheri would produce poor results. More importantly, the viticultural regulations set forth by the DOC and DOCG limited creativity, expression, and the qualitative potential of terroir.

It was the drive and foresight of Mario Incisa della Rocchetta that made enological history and created the Super Tuscan movement with the release of Sassicaia. However, it was the wines of Antinori, Ornellaia, and Le Macchiole that brought the eyes of the wine world to Bolgheri and Tuscany as a whole and proved that Italy can compete with the best. Experience these now classic Super Tuscan wines with the addition of two leaders from a new generation of avant garde producers, Tua Rita and Fossi. This is a Super-Tuscan six pack for the wine enthusiast.

Le Macchiole 1999 Paleo Rosso $82.50 (750ml)
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2001 Ornellaia $125.00 (750ml)
Antinori 2000 Guado al Tasso $75.00 (750ml)
Tua Rita 2000 Giustro di Notri $79.00 (750ml)
Forte 2001 Petrucci $69.00 (750ml)
Fossi 1999 Sassoforte $75.90 (750ml)

IWM Super-Tuscan Six Pack (6) $506.40*
IWM Super-Tuscan Case Sampler (12) $976.42*
*Free delivery to NYC residents

Click here to order this Super-Tuscan Six

IWM Seminar: Barolo to Valtellina

Barolo to Valtellina: The Many Faces of Nebbiolo
Saturday, October 9th
1:00 - 3:00 pm, $95.00

David Lynch, co-author of Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy and Wine Director at Babbo, conducts a world-class tasting of Nebbiolo, from Barolo to Valtellina. David will discuss the stylistic approaches of the winemakers and the environmental influences on this noble grape. Participants will receive a signed copy of David's book "Vino Italiano" (Hardcover, 515 pages).

These events sell out, so we recommend that you reserve well in advance. Click to register by fax or call Derrick Mize today at 212.473.2323.

Click to register for this seminar by fax!