2000 Tuscany Vintage
A difficult, unsettled Tuscan year of June mildew, August heat and an early harvest, rated good in Chianti Classico and Montalcino and very good at Montepulciano by official sources.
2000 was a difficult Tuscan year: an early spring, a wet and warm June with widespread downy mildew, a very hot and dry August, and a September that turned fine after early storms. Picking started early, with Chardonnay from 21 August. Production fell about 5 percent, the wines tend to be soft and round with ripe tannins and low acidity, and official sources rated the year good in Chianti Classico and Montalcino and very good at Montepulciano.
Growing season
2000 was a difficult year for Tuscan growers, with unsettled and often abnormal weather. An early spring brought flowering and fruit set forward, and flowering and fruit set were good. A wet and warm June brought "widespread attacks of peronospera" (downy mildew); mixed weather in June and July encouraged disease, with peronospora causing uneven ripening in some zones that later evened out. Rains on 10, 12 and 20 July restored water reserves ahead of high temperatures that gave no respite from 14 August. Temperatures fell in July, then rose sharply in August, which for the third year running was very hot and dry, causing local problems of drought. September began with storms and then turned fine and sunny, which helped redress the situation, although isolated areas in the central hills were hit by hail. Picking began at least ten days early and in places up to three weeks ahead of the norm; Assoenologi put the harvest on average more than a week early, with peaks of 20 days.
- Harvest start: Chardonnay from 21 August, then Merlot from the 26th
- Montalcino: Tenuta Col d'Orcia began picking Sangiovese for Brunello di Montalcino before the end of August; it is normally picked around 25 September
- Chianti grapes (Canaiolo, Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Malvasia): expected in full swing by mid-September, possibly earlier, as of 5 September
- Yield: production down about 5 percent for the region; quantity 5 percent below 1999
- 2000 was a difficult year for Tuscan growers, with unsettled and often abnormal weather
- A wet, warm June brought widespread peronospora (downy mildew)
- August was very hot and dry for the third year running, with local drought, and isolated areas in the central hills were hit by hail
- Picking began at least ten days early, in places up to three weeks early; Chardonnay picking started on 21 August
- Official sources rated the year good on the coast, in Chianti Classico and Montalcino, and very good at Montepulciano
- Production fell about 5 percent; Assoenologi rated Tuscan quality "ottima" (excellent, translated) with quantity 5 percent below 1999
Ratings by zone
Decanter's vintage guide reports that official sources rated 2000 good on the coast, in Chianti Classico and in Montalcino, and very good at Montepulciano. In a profile dated 5 September and published by WineNews on 5 October 2000, the Italian winemakers' association Assoenologi rated Tuscan quality "ottima" (excellent, translated) and named Tuscany, with Trentino Alto Adige and Lazio, among Italy's best harvests of the year. Quality is mixed, both across the region and within the individual DOC and DOCG zones.
- Coast, Chianti Classico and Montalcino: good (official sources)
- Montepulciano: very good (official sources)
- Tuscany: quality "ottima" (excellent, translated), quantity 5 percent below 1999 (Assoenologi)
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Musts generally had high sugar content and ripe tannins, but reduced aroma and low natural acidity. The wines will tend to be soft and round, probably more suited to earlier bottling and drinking than long ageing. Cabernet and Sangiovese could generally have the edge over the earlier picked Merlot. Assoenologi expected good sugar content, higher than in 1999, and a normal grape-to-wine yield.
- Musts: high sugar, ripe tannins, reduced aroma, low natural acidity
- Wines: soft and round, probably better suited to earlier drinking than long ageing
- Grapes: Cabernet and Sangiovese could have the edge over earlier picked Merlot
- 2000 in Tuscany: early spring, wet and warm June with widespread peronospora, cooler July, very hot and dry August for the third year running, a stormy start to September then fine weather, and isolated hail in the central hills.
- Harvest ran early: at least ten days and in places up to three weeks ahead of the norm. Chardonnay picking began on 21 August and Merlot on the 26th.
- Official sources rated 2000 good on the coast, in Chianti Classico and in Montalcino, and very good at Montepulciano.
- Style: high sugar, ripe tannins, reduced aroma, low natural acidity; soft, round wines probably better suited to earlier drinking than long ageing, with Cabernet and Sangiovese possibly ahead of earlier picked Merlot.
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