TENUTA ROCCA Ornati, Langhe Rosso

92 POINTS, Wine Spectator Insider, 2-2-11

Piercing aromas of black currant, violet, iron and black tea mark this well-defined, intense red, which is firmly structured and balanced, with an austerity on the finish, but fruit to match. Barbera, Nebbiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2014.-BS

THE WINE
Tenuta Rocca Ornati is in many ways the signature red wine of the Ciravegna family. It is an international style wine with its roots from the best vineyards of the estate. It is a blend, an assemblage of Barbera from Ròca Neira, Nebbiolo from the south by southwest part of Ornati and Cabernet Sauvignon from southwest Ornati. It is a superb bridge wine, since the local Barbera and Nebbiolo nuances are mollified by the more familiar and universal Cabernet Sauvignon.
The three vines are harvested separately and the varietals are fermented separately. Even the aging in small French Allier barriques is carried out separately. At the proper moment, guided by Dr. Piero Ballario, the wines are tasted and blended together in an "assemblagio." The finished wine is refined in the bottle for six months or more. Tenuta Rocca Langhe Rosso Ornati will satisfy you and your friends for a decade or more. It will grace a variety of substantial dishes. Serve this wine side by side with Super Tuscans, fine Bordeaux or New World Cabernets.

THE VINE
Cabernet Sauvignon, the famous vine of Bordeaux, has been planted in Italy since at least 1716. It was called Uva Francesca (the French grape) and was brought back to Tuscany by Caterina de Medici, who had married into the royal house of France.

Barbera is Italy’s most versatile and well-traveled dark grape. A late ripening workhorse in Piedmont, Barbera can also be found in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, as well as in Sicily, where it is called Perricone. From Slovenia to Argentina to California, Barbera produces richly flavored wines. Noted for its crisp acidity, Barbera in Italy is responsible for a broad range of wine, from fizzy, vivacious types, to aristocratic, barrique aged gems that improve with a decade or more of bottle age. Best known quality Barberas are from the D.O.C. Alba and Asti zones in Piedmont.

The aristocratic red wine of Piedmont, Nebbiolo takes its name from the “fog” (nebbia) of the Langhe Hills. In the Novara Hills, Nebbiolo is called Spanna. In Valle D’Aosta, it is known as Picutener and in Valtellina, Nebbiolo is Chiavennasca. Until recently the wine was confined to northwestern Italy, but now you can find it in California. There are 3 principal clones: Rose, Michet and Lampia. Characteristics of the best Nebbiolo include the fragrance of roses and violets, an almost Burgundian tar and high tannins. Some of the most important Nebbiolo based wines are Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, Ghemme, Carema, Nebbiolo D’Alba, Inferno, Sassella and Grumello. Most often Nebbiolo wines are unblended.

TECHNICAL FACTS
Characteristics
A lustrous garnet to ruby with violet tones, a ripe generous bouquet of black currants, blackberries and cherries, a dry yet velvety mouth feel with a persistent finish of licorice, chocolate and toasted hazelnuts.

Grapes
Percentages vary from year to year, but generally about 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Barbera, 25% Nebbiolo.

Food Affinities
Steaks, chops, cheeses. Rack of lamb, crown roast of pork, pasta with meat sauce, game dishes, any rich or spicy cuisine.

Sales Materials
Ornati Langhe Rosso HeyDay Fact Sheet.pdf
Langhe Rosso Ornati Shelftalker.pdf