keep
An excellent vintage with noteworthy wines in all districts. Low quantities though
Weather Conditions
Stands out in contrast to an apparent meteorological trend in the last decade of the century towards earlier vintages for Sangiovese. Spring in Tuscany was late, the summer was cool and in many parts of the region the grapes only began to change colour well into the month of August. The fact that then at the beginning of September it began to rain prompted pessimistic forecasts. It all came right however thanks to an Indian summer which lasted from the final week of September through to the end of October. Quantities were down, but the quality of the fruit was excellent, with very good sugar/acid balance and very ripe tannin.
Best Appellations
One of the three top vintages of the decade; more elegant than 1990 but probably not as complete as 1997. Quality was very uniform. It was a great year for Bolgheri, but also for the Sangiovese wines from the Central hills. Chianti Riservas are rich in colour, fruit and extract and look good for long keeping. Vino Nobile has a similar profile. The long awaited release of the 1995 Brunellos had a certain element of anticlimax; the wines are round and attractive, but at the moment appear to lack a little depth and complexity. Definitely to lay down.
Best Producers
Star in the Chianti Classico was the new Casa Silia from Poggio al Sole, but from Felsina, Fontodi, Fonterutoli and Brolio though a long list of smaller estates, none of the top producers missed out. There were impressive debut wines from Poggiopiano (Rosso di Sera) and in Montalcino from Gaja’s Pieve Santa Restituta (Sugarille). The Vino Nobile Riservas from Il Macchione and Poliziano are excellent examples of the modern, fruit-driven style from that DOCG. Sassicaia turned in what is widely rated as one of its most convincing performances of the decade.
