Ornellaia Bianco 2023 is Tenuta dell’Ornellaia’s small-production white from coastal Bolgheri, Tuscany, a zone better known for Bordeaux-inspired reds. Officially labeled Bolgheri DOC Bianco and made from Sauvignon Blanc, it aims to translate the estate’s “sun and sea” setting into a structured, age-worthy style.
Critical reception is notably strong, led by an excellent 96-point review from The Wine Palate. That reviewer calls it “super-intense with wonderful tension and a satiny texture,” detailing “restrained scents of lemon curd, grapefruit, and honeysuckle,” with “elderflower, chalk dust, and Marcona almonds,” finishing “long and chalky.” The Wine Palate also reports specific élevage: fermentation and aging in French oak barrels for 20 months with 30% new oak.
Jeb Dunnuck (95 points) similarly emphasizes restraint and mineral drive, noting it “leans into a more subtle and mineral-driven expression,” with “candle wax, fresh apricot, rosemary, and lime oil.” He describes “impressive density and clarity” and a “savory, Mediterranean profile that avoids overt tropicality,” and suggests cellaring: “Drink 2026–2036.” Dunnuck adds a key scale detail: the Sauvignon Blanc is sourced across 13 hectares.
At 94 points, Antonio Galloni (Vinous) highlights precision and aromatic lift: “brilliant, sculpted aromatics,” with “citrus peel, slate, sage, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper,” followed by “tropical and saline notes” as it opens. He also notes bottle variation, calling this tasting “a far better bottle than the one I tasted a few months ago.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (94 points) frames 2023 as a more generous edition: “a softer more cushiony profile than recent editions,” with Sauvignon Blanc “sourced primarily from the Bellaria vineyard at 130 meters.” The review cites oxygen-protected fermentation; aging in barrique (about 30% new French oak), plus tonneaux and amphorae; and 10 months on fine lees with bâtonnage. Wine Advocate concludes that 2023 “outperforms the 2022 in terms of length and polish,” and notes a March 2026 release.
