2023 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia - Toscana IGT White Blend Poggio alle Gazze (750ml)
Ornellaia needs little introduction — the Bolgheri estate founded in 1981 by Ludovico Antinori is one of Italy's most celebrated producers, its flagship red long counted among the great wines of the world. But collectors in the know quietly covet this: the estate's signature white, Poggio alle Gazze, named for the magpies that nest in the vineyards overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The 2023 blend is 53% Sauvignon Blanc, 37% Vermentino, 7% Viognier, and 3% Sémillon , drawn from the coolest parcels of the estate where maritime breezes and diurnal temperature swings preserve both aromatic intensity and freshness. Whole clusters are pressed slowly, the wine settling for 12 hours before half the lots are aged in barriques — 25% new — and the rest in stainless steel and concrete; six months on fine lees with regular bâtonnage follows, with no malolactic fermentation.
The result is a white of genuine complexity and Mediterranean character. Brilliant straw yellow in the glass, the nose opens with citrus, exotic fruit, and white flowers, followed by aromatic herbs, sage, and sweet spices. Orchard fruit, citrus peel, sage, mint, and chalk show lovely energy in a mid-weight style — full and smooth on the palate, with a long, mineral, and savory finish. This is Tuscany's white wine answer to the Super Tuscan.
Drink: 2025–2030 | Pair with: Branzino, lobster risotto, grilled langoustines, burrata with heirloom tomatoes