The 2016 Orma Proprietary Blend from Tuscany's Bolgheri region is a notable red wine that has garnered impressive reviews from wine critics. This blend, composed of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc, exhibits a robust and complex profile.
James Suckling awarded this wine a score of 95, describing it with aromas of "blueberries, blackberries, chocolate and hazelnuts" and noting its "full body" with "round and velvety tannins". He advises patience, suggesting it will benefit from additional aging, recommending trying it in 2022.
Similarly, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also rated it 95, highlighting its "brooding and dark" nature with a "nicely compact core". The wine's "rich and thickly textured" mouthfeel, along with notes of "green olive, black olive, caper and smoke", underscores its powerful character, emphasized by its 15% alcohol content. This wine's opulence is evident through its dense concentration and remarkable structure.
On the other hand, Wine Enthusiast gave it a respectable score of 91, appreciating its blend of aromas including "underbrush, ripe dark berry, and tobacco". The palate is described as "concentrated and full-bodied", with flavors of "blackberry jam, cedar, and espresso", complemented by "chewy, fine-grained tannins". This review suggests drinking the wine now through 2025.
Wine Spectator, also scoring it 91, noted the wine's flavors of "ripe plum, black cherry, licorice and wild rosemary and thyme". The wine's structure is supported by firm tannins and lively acidity, which contribute to a focused and dense finish. With a production of 2,500 cases, of which 600 were imported, this wine's availability is somewhat limited.
Overall, the 2016 Orma is a powerful and richly textured wine with a strong potential for aging, presenting a complex array of flavors and aromas that reflect its Tuscan roots.