Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove 2018

Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove 2018 is a Bolgheri DOC red blend from Tuscany, Italy, bottled at 750ml. Awarded 95 points by both James Suckling and Decanter, this second wine of the storied Ornellaia estate delivers remarkable concentration and complexity for its tier. Built from 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 17% Petit Verdot, the 2018 vintage reflects one of Bolgheri's finest recent growing seasons.

Quick Facts: Origin: Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot  |  Producer: Tenuta dell'Ornellaia (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi)

Production & Heritage

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia was founded in 1981 in the Bolgheri sub-region of Tuscany's Maremma coast and is now owned by the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi family. Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia functions as the estate's second label, drawing from younger vines and separate vineyard parcels to produce a wine intended for earlier drinking while still reflecting the estate's exacting standards. The 2018 was aged for 15 months in oak barrels — 25% of which were new — followed by six months of bottle aging before release. Since 2016, Ornellaia has employed optical sorting technology alongside traditional hand selection, an additional layer of quality control that ensures only the most pristine fruit enters the blend.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The bouquet opens with ripe blackberry, raspberry, and red cherry, evolving into more complex layers of currant, tobacco, and dark chocolate. Floral hints of wild rose mingle with spicy accents of pink pepper and licorice as the wine breathes.

Taste: The entry is rich and generous, packed with black cherry, blackberry, and plum that carry through the mid-palate. As it develops, wild Mediterranean herbs, baking spices, and sweet cedar emerge, framed by a Bordeaux-like structure of chalky minerality and sappy, herbal nuances. The texture is full yet polished, with well-integrated tannins from the oak aging.

Finish: Medium-long and layered, trailing off with dark chocolate shavings, sage, and a distinctive Tuscan underbrush character. The interplay of fruit and savory elements lingers, giving the wine a satisfying sense of completeness.

How to Drink Le Serre Nuove 2018

This wine is best served at 16–18°C (60–65°F), ideally decanted for 30 to 45 minutes to allow the aromatic layers to fully open. It rewards patient sipping on its own but also pairs beautifully with food. A Bistecca alla Fiorentina mirrors the wine's Tuscan identity, with charred meat complementing its herbal depth. Braised lamb shanks with rosemary match the savory, spice-driven mid-palate. Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino served alongside dried fruit provides a textural contrast that highlights the wine's dark fruit concentration.

Best For

• Gifting a wine enthusiast who appreciates Super Tuscan blends
• Anchoring a Tuscan-themed dinner party with a serious main course
• Cellaring for medium-term aging — the 2018 vintage has structure to develop through 2028
• Introducing someone to Ornellaia's quality without the flagship's price tag

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Le Serre Nuove 2018 taste like? Le Serre Nuove 2018 is rich and fruit-forward, dominated by black cherry, blackberry, and plum flavors layered with dark chocolate, Mediterranean herbs, baking spices, and a distinct cedary minerality. The tannins are firm but polished, and the finish carries savory Tuscan underbrush and licorice.

How does Le Serre Nuove compare to Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux? Critics frequently draw comparisons between Le Serre Nuove and mid-tier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux, noting a similar structure of Cabernet-driven blends aged in French oak. Le Serre Nuove tends toward riper, more sun-drenched fruit character and Mediterranean herbal notes, reflecting its warmer Bolgheri coastal terroir versus the more restrained, mineral-driven profiles of Left Bank Bordeaux.

Is Le Serre Nuove 2018 good for drinking now? Yes — the 2018 is drinking well now, particularly with 30–45 minutes of decanting. It also has sufficient tannin structure and acidity to reward cellaring through approximately 2028.

Where is Le Serre Nuove made? Le Serre Nuove is produced at Tenuta dell'Ornellaia in Bolgheri, a coastal sub-region within Tuscany's Maremma, Italy. The estate is owned by the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi family, one of Italy's most historic wine dynasties.

What foods pair well with Le Serre Nuove 2018? Grilled or roasted red meats like Bistecca alla Fiorentina are a natural match for the wine's structure and herbal depth. Braised lamb with rosemary echoes the spice notes, while wild boar ragù over pappardelle pairs with the savory underbrush character. Aged hard cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Toscano highlight the dark fruit, and roasted portobello mushrooms complement the wine's earthy, tobacco-tinged complexity.

What sizes does Le Serre Nuove 2018 come in? Le Serre Nuove 2018 is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle, with some vintages also released in magnum (1.5L) format.

Is Le Serre Nuove 2018 worth the price? Le Serre Nuove positions as a premium second wine from one of Italy's most celebrated estates, scoring 95 points from both James Suckling and Decanter. For a wine that regularly outperforms bottles at higher price tiers, it represents strong value within the Super Tuscan category.

Why Le Serre Nuove 2018?

The 2018 vintage is widely regarded as one of Bolgheri's strongest recent harvests, and this bottling captures that quality convincingly. Dual 95-point scores from James Suckling and Decanter, alongside 93 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, confirm the wine's critical standing. Optical sorting technology — introduced at the estate in 2016 — adds a precision layer to grape selection that few producers at this price tier employ. As Ornellaia's second label, Le Serre Nuove 2018 delivers a genuine taste of one of Italy's most iconic properties with the accessibility and approachability that the flagship intentionally reserves for longer aging.