We will be releasing the new vintage of the perennially exciting second wine of Ornellaia, Le Serre Nuove in the next two weeks. However, having re-tasted the 2011 vintage on several occasions over the last month we have become even more passionate about this spectacular wine, which at £25 a bottle in bond simply cannot to be missed. Over the last few weeks Monica Larner released her score for Le Serre Nuove 2011, echoing Antonio Galloni’s stellar mark by awarding the wine 94 points. As such the 2011 vintage surpasses their extraordinary 2006 effort, which received 93 from Galloni. Le Serre Nuove 2006 is currently virtually impossible to find in the UK and as one might expect the 2011, their greatest ever, has largely sold out over the last 12 months. As such we have secured a small parcel of 15 cases in order to provide the last opportunity to secure what is considered their best vintage ever, at release price.
Le Serre Nuove is to Ornellaia what Carrauades de Lafite is to Lafite Rothschild. The first vintage of Le Serre Nuove was produced in 1997, the vintage when Ornellaia choose to make further selections during the blending of their first wine. It is chiefly made from younger Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot vines; some of these make it into Ornellaia to give the wine more energy and lift. Earlier this year we released Ornellaia 2011 for £600 a half case, a wine that scored 94-96 points. Le Serre Nuove 2011 is available for £150 a half case, less than a quarter of the price, yet potentially close to equal quality.
Antonio Galloni recently commented that that current vintages of Le Serre Nuove ‘are actually better wines than the early vintages of Ornellaia‘. However, this paradigm also extends to half of Ornellaia’s vintages since 2000, with Le Serre Nouve 2011 outscoring Ornellaia’s 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007. These vintages of Ornellaia have an average six pack price of £700 and Price Over Points Rato (POP) average of 100, while Le Serre Nouve 2011, a superior wine costs £150. We consider any Super Tuscan with a POP Ratio below 30 as exceptional and those close to 20 as offering immense value for money: Le Serre Nuove 2011 has a POP ratio of 21.
The 2011 is a powerful wine, combining a full body, with fresh acidity and focused clean aromatics. The Merlot provides a depth and long fruit driven mid-palate, the fruit concentration is spectacular and the potential is brooding under the refined structure and ripe, sweetly focused tannins. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot create an aromatic very similar to left bank Bordeaux wines, with flavours of tobacco, herbs, baked coffee beans and mocha. It can be approached now but will age and improve for 20 years. We have also tasted this wine against many of the leading first wines from the 2011 and 2010 vintages and it exceeds many of them. The 2011 will become scare very soon and we recommend stocking up now. It is also noteworthy that most restaurants charge £100 or more for Le Serre Nuove 2011, you can secure six bottles, VAT and duty paid today for under £200, £32 a bottle!
Le Serre Nuove 2011, 6×75 £150 or £194.70 incl duty and VAT
Antonio Galloni 94 points
“The 2011 Le Serre Nuove is striking for its beauty and symmetry. Some vintages of Le Serre Nuove are open and radiant, others are more structured. The 2011 seems to bring together elements of both in a wine of superb pedigree and pure class. Mocha, dark raspberries, tobacco and grilled herbs all flesh out on the inviting, vivid finish. Today, the 2011 is absolutely singing and points to a spectacular vintage at Tenuta dell’Ornellaia. This is impressive juice. In 2011 the blend is 57% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 12% Cabernet Franc. The relatively high amounts of both Petit Verdot and Franc are very much felt. Drink 2015 – 2026.”
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