drink now
A very poor vintage with no wines of note
Weather Conditions
The spring i n Tuscany was warm and sunny, but it rained in May and June and again, torrentially, through August and September. What fruit producers managed to harvest in Chianti and Montepulciano was soggy, under ripe and mouldy. The summer was slightly drier in Montalcino, but the harvest equally wet. The only area to partially escape the deluge was the coast.
Best Appellations
Ironically Chianti’s first vintage under the new quality enhancing DOCG laws was a write off. No Riservas were made and producers had to rely heavily on concentrated must to make even a nominal attempt at bottling vini d’annata. Severe selection and topping up with younger wines made a small production of Brunello possible, but it was wine to drink up early.
Best Producers
In the context of the vintage, the Tenuta San Guido made a remarkable Sassicaia with early drinking fruit, but also reassuring structure.
