From Piedmont to Puglia, summer was wet, cool and cloudy, requiring countless hours in the vineyards. Axel Heinz of Ornallaia and Masseto noted that it was important to control fungal diseases and keep the canopy healthy to take advantage of the late-season ripening. The world's most trusted authority in wine for over 30 years. Tuscany. At the beginning of October, there was very little sign of noble rot. For the men and women who make wine, perhaps no word is more packed with nervous anticipation than "harvest." Lorenza Sebasti Pallanti, co-owner of Castello di Ama in Chianti Classico, reported their area had less precipitation than the northern part of the region, closer to Florence. Smaller than usual crop—on average 20 percent less. Health conditions was so good that sorting was carried on only to remove leaves. A 'perfect' September saved the 2014 crop of Champagne fruit, according to G.H. With volumes returning to average after the smaller 2017 harvest, Tuscan producers were pleased with the 2018 vintage. For example, they expect to make half their average quantity of … In some areas this caused problems, in others the rain made little impact.' Barossa Vintage Reports 2020-12-18T22:19:21+10:30 Interested in Barossa Vintages and Australian Wine Vintages by year? The prospects for Sauternes hang (pun intended) in the balance, according to Bill Blatch of Bordeauxgold.com. But the standout is clearly Sicily, where weather conditions improved at the end of June and the vineyards enjoyed a warm and dry growing season typical to the island. Learn about the 2014 Tuscany vintage; what happened that year and which wines are available by region, price and location. The good news: Elegant wines for those who did their homework in the vineyards (canopy management, leaf pulling, green harvest, selection). “The wet and warm climate generated a very vigorous vegetative growth, which meant a complicated management for growers,” said Giovanni Folonari of Tenute Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari, "both to obtain a correct canopy management and to free the vines from potential fungus attacks.". Tuscany. Verdicchio from the Marche expresses bright acidity and aromatic character, while Primitivo from Puglia shows good balance. As the Vintage Report is dedicated to providing a dialogue for a higher level of innovation in the wine industry, many of the conference’ attendees … In some areas, September sun ripened grapes fully. The rains continued, and the humidity—combined with rapid vegetative growth—kept vintners on their toes. After months of spending time, sweat and money in their vineyards, it's the moment to see what nature delivered. Popping open a bottle of wine shouldn’t be a shot in the dark. “We picked without refrigerated trucks, and it was the first time we picked white grapes in the afternoon.”. 89E “Overall the 2014 vintage showed very well the quality of top single vineyards—warmer sites with good soil drainage, the importance of correct work of spraying and [leaf pulling and green harvest] and how crucial the last part of the season is to ripen the grapes,” said Pietro Ratti, owner of Renato Ratti in Barolo’s La Morra commune. Challenging areas: 2014 was challenging for everyone, but particularly for the reds, especially Veneto’s Amarone. The ripening season was extended thanks to early flowering and warm, dry conditions throughout summer, and yields are an improvement on the 2013 haul. But even hard work could not completely counter summer’s poor weather, and growers had to carefully select in the vineyards to avoid grapes affected by peronospora, a type of mold, in Trentino-Alto Adige and various vine diseases in the Veneto region. "But now the grapes are drying and so far they look perfect, so we trust we will obtain a good-quality Amarone wine.”. In the fourth of five 2013 vintage reports, growers across Italy describe a tricky harvest. Home News 2018: a super Tuscan vintage?. Some storms on 19 September damaged St-Pourçain in particular, with 80% of bunches being hit by hail. Learn about the 2012 Tuscan vintage; from what happened to which wines are available by region, price and location. The growing season was “very regular”, with no extreme weather events, and normal picking times. The bad news: Quantities will be below average, sometimes significantly depending on the region. Percorari said they used leaf thinning and pruning techniques to manage vine canopies. The 2017 vintage for Tuscany had its fair share of challenges. Growing seasons vary enormously from year to year. To counter the wet conditions, quality-oriented producers needed to do extensive work in the vineyards to battle disease and encourage ripening despite few sunny days. All the troubles mean that yields are low, anywhere from 5 to 15 percent down on average, and sometimes much more. After an early budbreak, rainstorms hit again in early July, causing 'extraordinary damage, flooding the local railway station and precipitating an avalanche of rock and mud that destroyed the car of a well-known wine maker in the village (fortunately nobody was in the car at the time)'. See Gavin Quinney's comprehensive report. Comments . Vintage guide: Tuscany 2006 2006 vintage guide for Italy Tuscany. This allowed the pickers to be very selective in the vineyards in order to reach the maximum yield of 10,500 kg/ha plus 3,100 kg/ha for reserves set down by the Comité Champagne. We had a very wet period from December through to February with 44% more rain than normal. Wine collectors who are attuned to vintage may be inclined to give the 2014 wines from Brunello di Montalcino a pass, considering how rain and cool temperatures made it … Courtier Charles Sydney declares that '2014 is looking pretty damn good so far.' Made up of stunning countryside and distinguished cities, Tuscany is the perfect escape for gastronomes, cognoscenti, and fans of the Italian Renaissance. Plus, when to drink the wines at their best. Analysis: Like much of Italy, northeastern wines from 2014 were shaped by ongoing rain during the summer months. Find ratings for recent vintages in Italy’s coastal Bolgheri and Maremma regions, summing up the quality and character of the Tuscan red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Pickers head out to the vines at Rapitalà in Sicily. See Alder's very comprehensive report published yesterday. “Asti is really good with correct alcohol and so far brilliant fruit with great structure,” he added. In many parts of Europe, however, 2013 marked another vintage of challenging conditions and low yields. The bad news: A difficult year for white grape varieties and early-ripening reds. • Tuscany. The bad news: It was hot and dry in central Tuscany, causing the vines to slow down, delaying maturity on what was expected to be an early harvest. Tuscany Wine tasting reports, wine videos, wine reviews and more from Tuscany, by James Suckling, wine critic and journalist, and the team at JamesSuckling.com. If there's one sure sign of autumn in full swing for the wine trade, it's the influx of vintage reports hitting inboxes. Although the frosts mostly impacted vines at lower altitudes, the heatwave was harder to escape. Tuscany. The year 2014 was one of the coolest, wettest ones in recent memory on mainland Italy, and the Montalcino region in Tuscany was no exception.But thanks to … 2014 brought one of the most difficult vintages for Italy in living memory, with excessive rain, devastating hailstorms and cool conditions making a big impact. This year's growing season was less uniform, and the grape skins were thinner and more pliable than last year's. Acidity levels were slightly lower than in 2013 with an average of 8.29 g/l and average pH of 3.02.'. We have some fantastic financing plans and take trades also! 89R 2012: Italy: Tuscany (Bolgheri) ... 2017: Portugal Vintage Port. In Chablis, spirits are high for the prospects of 2014. Tuscany. Picking fruit in Chianti Classico at Badia a Coltibuono. The bad news: The year was difficult for Dolcetto, thanks to hail, and white wine grapes, especially Moscato. See our Tuscany vintage report to find out if the Brunello di Montalcino 2015 vintage lived up to high expectations, and how the Chianti Classico 2017 vintage has fared 2014; 2012 Rosso di Montalcino (Dec 2014) Tuscany Part 2: Bolgheri, the Tuscan Coast and More Super-Tuscans (Dec 2014) Val d’Orcia, Montepulciano, Carmignano and the Undiscovered Tuscany (Oct 2014) Exploring the Tuscan Coast (Sep 2014) Chianti Classico and Beyond – New Releases (Sep 2014) “We were so worried during the summer," she said. For California, 2014 brought another year of record-breaking drought. Disover Tuscan vintages with Cadman Fine Wines. “We have to go back 18 years before we find another summer as cold and rainy,” said Alvaro Pecorari, owner of Lis Neris in Friuli. In Tuscany and farther south, it was hotter, and vintners with dry soils faced big challenges.… The bad news: Production quantities will be lower in 2014 thanks to a cloudy, wet summer. Pierro Antinori, pictured above, reports that the summer was very rainy, with lower temperatures than the norm – and admitted that 2014 is a 'challenging vintage' with far lower yields. Summer brought generous sun during the day and cooler marine influences, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes. 95R 2013: Italy: Tuscany (Bolgheri) Ready to drink. A wet spring in many regions lowered yields by as much as 40 percent. Here are a few snippets of what we've heard, quite literally, on the grapevine. He confirms that 'it was not a glorious harvest right across the region as it might have been if the weather had held during September and overall yields will be down. 2014 Thor Motor Coach TUSCANY, 2014 Thor Motor Coach TUSCANY - Please email or call for the full list of the features, availability or anything else we can send to help you. Some initial tries have been undertaken, with 'harvest troops picking just two or three fully botrytised grapes per bunch'. 2018. 2015 proved to be a solid vintage for Tuscany's Chianti Classico. Cool summer temperatures and excessive rain are to blame, meaning that yields will be low, and that 'some of our crus might not be produced.' Yields are lower than 2013’s bumper crop and a bit below the average for each region. The good news: Quality is better than expected, particularly for the late-ripening Nebbiolo. Find wine by searching the most popular, best, most expensive and cheapest. And the wines? Luca Marrone, enologist for Grattamacco, Colle Massari and Poggio di Sotto, wrote that there was more rain in the Bolgheri area than in Montecucco and the southern sector of Montalcino. As I write, the larger Langhe estates are still feverishly gathering up the last of the Nebbiolo harvest, the still-warm sun lighting up the stunning autumn colours. “It’s a vintage of elegance rather than concentration,” said Andrea Felluga of his family’s Livio Felluga estate in Friuli. Seamless season of heavenly hangtime and phenomenal phenolic developmentFebruary saw abundant rains, followed by lots of filtered light in spring and early summer. Learn about the 2014 Tuscany vintage; what happened that year and which wines are available by region, price and location. In others, no amount of work could save the season. All rights reserved. For Muscadet and the Sauvignon appellations, however, 'the harvest was in as near perfect conditions as you can get', with Chenin harvest looking very promising too. Despite atypical weather, general assessments range from “a very good vintage” from winemakers in the regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto, to an enthusiastic “outstanding” from some in Trentino-Alto Adige. The growing season endured both severe April frosts and a searing summer heatwave. Many say quality matched 2015, but add that 2016 is different in style. The weather in September and during harvest was good, more typical for the time of year. In Styria, Willi Sattler apparently said 'he has never encountered such a demanding and stressful vintage' in 30 years of making wine, with a lack of ripeness and excessive rot thereatening quality. Apart from the difficulties encountered by those engaged in replanting vineyards, this rain was most welcome.' Give 2 Wine Spectator gift subscriptions for the price of 1 this holiday season. In Burgenland, the St. Laurent and Blaüfrankisch grapes have particularly suffered, although the final judgement as to quality is still pending. The world's most trusted authority in wine for over 30 years. In the fourth of five 2014 vintage reports, Italian winemakers report a challenging but potentially good year. Producers who attended to their vineyards carefully in summer months were rewarded by September’s fair weather, including sunny days that helped the grapes reach greater ripeness levels. The good news: Fine weather in September helped diligent producers harvest a smaller, but healthy crop. A mild winter and spring saw vines ahead of schedule by about two weeks in April. This stopped any rot developing and allowed 'optimum ripeness' to be reached. For this reason, Andrea Lonardi, chief technical director of Bertani, reported in late August that the estate made the decision to forgo Amarone production in 2014 altogether. For California, 2014 brought another year of record-breaking drought. Picking started:: Sept. 1 (Moscato); Sept. 15 (Arneis); Sept. 16 (Dolcetto); Sept. 21 (Barbera); and Oct. 2 (Nebbiolo). At least in Vienna, things are looking better for Grüner Veltliner, which has resisted the rain more succesfully. Promising areas: Prosecco—the wine’s Glera grapes are typically harvested early and at higher levels of acidity, which 2014’s conditions supported. Early summer produced good conditions for flowering, then a cooler August but hot September meant there was plenty of time to ripen the fruit without risk of rot. Potential alcohol levels were good at 10 ° for Chardonnay, 10.02 ° for Pinot Noir and 9.5 ° for Pinot Meunier, requiring very little chaptalisation. It is our #1 goal that your experience with our … Both Gusbourne and Nyetimber are positively giddy at the excellent quality of the fruit they have harvested – though yields are lower than in 2013. The vintage chart and harvest reports provided by the Wine Scholar Guild gives you the ranking for every French wine region and vintage from 2000 to today. For much of Western Europe, 2014 was unpredictable, with sun, clouds and plenty of hail in some unfortunate spots. Both bud break and flowering occurred a bit late, but under ideal weather conditions, creating plentiful and even fruit set. It’s the best gift for wine-loving friends and family, and something they will enjoy all year long! Published on January 10, 2014. For America's East Coast, winter brought a deep freeze. Tuscany. The best red wines and white wines from Tuscany. Analysis: After a mild winter and early spring, Piedmont's July was marked by violent storms with high rainfall and hail in some areas of Barolo that mostly affected Dolcetto grapes. Mara Castellani, however, of her family’s Michele Castellani winery, explained that despite the challenges, they are pleased with their Amarone prospects. Challenging grapes: Dolcetto, Moscato, and grapes grown in hail-struck parts of Barolo. In the fourth of five 2012 vintage reports, winemakers across the Italian boot are reporting a promising vintage after a year of hard work. 89E Up and down "the Boot," winemakers from Piedmont to Tuscany to Sicily report a challenging summer, The Northeast: Venezia-Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige and the Veneto, Somms' Top Picks: Wines to Give, Fave Accessories, Making Wine Fit for a Sun Goddess: A Live Chat with Mary J. Blige, Instagram Live Chats: View Wine Spectator's Upcoming Schedule, Exclusive: Heitz Cellar Owner and CEO Buy Stony Hill Vineyard, Wine and Cheese a Perfect Pairing to Prevent Alzheimer's, Study Finds, Grand Award–Winning Fine-Dining Fixture ‘21’ Club Closes in New York, In Lebanese Wine, Perseverance Is Part of the Terroir. Thank You! Premium Estates of Austria, a consortium of six producers, reports that 'The 2014 harvest in Austria’s vineyards has been one of the most demanding and challenging of the past 10 years.' 2014: Italy: Tuscany (Bolgheri) Early maturing and accesable. But in Montalcino, Biondi-Santi reported it will not make a Brunello. Analysis: The individual geography and climate of each of central and southern Italy’s wine regions make it difficult to generalize about this area as a whole. The good news: A difficult harvest everywhere but Sicily, but producers seem generally optimistic about the results. Current condition: Ready to drink, yet to be released. © Copyright 2020 Wine Spectator. The weather improved, delivering sunshine and dry conditions that favored the late-ripening varieties like Barbera and Nebbiolo and the favored locations of the best crus. 95R 2013: Italy: Tuscany (Bolgheri) Ready to drink. 89R 2012: Italy: Tuscany (Bolgheri) ... 2017: Portugal Vintage Port. While warm, the heat wasn’t as excessive as elsewhere in Europe, and the watchwords seem to be silkiness, elegance and some surprising freshness. Share this post. ... 2014. Quantities are down 10 to 30 percent, and even lower for early-ripening white grape varieties. Mumm report that their average vineyard yield 'was around 15,000 kg/ha. As a result, many producers report that despite the season’s challenges, they are pleased with the vintage as a whole. On the West Coast, most vintners are reporting 2013 as a great year, a twin to the promising 2012. A first look at vintage quality in Italian wine regions, with eyewitness reports from growers and winemakers The 2011 growing season was erratic in Italy. The achingly beautiful Tuscany region of Italy is a touchstone of art, food, and culture. The good news: Quality appears to be very good to outstanding in Montalcino, Chianti Classico and Montepulciano, with fine results in Bolgheri. 2018: a super Tuscan vintage? The wet, combined with warm temperatures, increased pressure from fungal diseases. “The aromatic profile is absolutely intriguing and the mouthfeel is extremely balanced.”, The region’s cellar-worthy reds, notably Veneto’s Amarone, will probably suffer more, as they are typically known for their concentration and abundant flavor. Summer's rains and cool temperatures made for a tough year. 83E 2014: Portugal Vintage Port. Good - but not over-the-top - intensity and concentration, excellent balance promises wine for the long haul. 3 Wine of 2018—benefitted from the cooperative growing season. The relatively mild sum… As for final quality in the bottle, it's too early to know, but here's a sneak peek. The only region in Italy that seems happy with 2014 is Sicily, where vintners are delighted with the quality of grapes. This warning comes on the back of the 2014 vintage, which at a very early stage, well before any grapes were harvested, was condemned as the worst in memory, some going as far as to say that anyone wanting to make red wine in 2014 was doomed to fail, yet in reality there were many positive surprises, especially for Italy’s whites. One standout was Barbera d’Asti. 'The skin is pale yellow, which shows the ripeness without excess, with thick, ripe skins. The 2018 harvest will lead to a five-star vintage for Chianti Classico wines, according to Giovanni Manetti, newly-elected president of the appellation’s Consorzio.. Topics: Vintage Chart, Vintages. In the north, weather was hot, but occasional rains kept the grapes ripening nicely. For much of Western Europe, 2014 was unpredictable, with sun, clouds and plenty of hail in some unfortunate spots. Pierro Antinori, pictured above, reports that the summer was very rainy, with lower temperatures than the norm – and admitted that 2014 is a 'challenging vintage' with far lower yields. Grim news from the fruit basket of France, with this report that we are keeping anonymous: 'awful (very rainy) in Languedoc-Roussillon: vintage will be less bad than last year, mainly for red wines, but not excellent I'm afraid …'. Challenging grapes: White varieties and Merlot. See our Tuscany vintage report to find out if the Brunello di Montalcino 2015 vintage lived up to high expectations, and how the Chianti Classico 2017 vintage has fared Barbera in Asti, which was also spared from hail and witnessed warmer summer temperatures and less rain. Italy The Northeast. Indeed at the beginning of harvest, 'the grapes were in really lovely condition; soft skins, full berries and balanced sugars and acidity, perfect for making great port and very good Douro wines. Vintage 2015 Progress Report – Tuscany & Abruzzo . Across Tuscany, vintners are quite happy with the 2016 harvest. Read Wine Spectator's most recent tasting report on the region to see which wines—including the No. For example, they expect to make half their average quantity of … Autumnal Nebbiolo Grapes – La Mora, San Lorenzo Piedmont. The Vintage Report has become a must-attend event for the most influential wineries in Bordeaux, Napa Valley, Narbonne and Paso Robles. 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