2001 Tuscany Vintage

The winter and spring were very wet across Tuscany, and the rainy months left Montalcino soils with optimum water levels. An early spring brought the vines forward, exposing new buds to a severe frost on 14 April that caused considerable damage in the central hills. In Montalcino the temperature dropped unexpectedly that night, the night before Easter, in some cases as low as minus 4 degrees; some vineyards were damaged while others were unharmed. The Montalcino low reached 25 degrees F. Freak hailstorms cost Brunello di Montalcino producers 15 percent of their grapes on average, with some reporting losses up to 40 percent. The summer was hot and very dry, with drought stress just beginning to become a concern when rain in the first half of September rejuvenated the vines. June and July were mainly stable and dry, then conditions changed constantly through August and September, with a deluge of rain in the last week of September as producers readied for the later-ripening Sangiovese. In Montalcino the harvest began in mid September, a normal period after two very early years, with ideal temperatures and little rain allowing a relaxed pick. Merlot started early, while Sangiovese and Cabernet came in at the normal time from late September onwards, helped by a dry and sunny October.

• Very wet winter and spring; Montalcino soils held a good water reserve for the dry summer
• Frost on 14 April; considerable damage in the central hills, with some Montalcino vineyards hit and others unharmed
• Hot, very dry summer, with rain in the first half of September and a late-September deluge
• Quantities down 10 to 15 percent across the region; about 10 percent lower in Montalcino

Decanter says Chianti has good fruit and depth, with riservas that should be very good indeed and an embarrassment of choice in Chianti Classico, and that Brunello di Montalcino holds great promise. It picks Cabernet-based Super Tuscans, especially from Chianti areas, as the best bet, and says wines from the coast have better balance and fruit than the 2000s and should drink relatively early. In Bolgheri, the Cabernet and Merlot for wines such as Sassicaia and Ornellaia were picked before the late-September rains, and consultant Luca D'Attoma said the vintage should give rich and highly perfumed wines there.

• Chianti: good fruit and depth, with riservas that should be very good indeed
• Brunello di Montalcino: holds great promise
• Coast: better balance and fruit than the 2000s, drinking relatively early
• Bolgheri: Cabernet and Merlot picked before the late-September rains

Decanter's guide singles out Grosso Sanese from Podere Il Palazzino and Colombaio di Cencio's I Massi in Chianti Classico, and says Frescobaldi made a memorable Rufina Riserva Montesodi. Its top Super Tuscans from the central hills include Castello di Rampolla's D'Alceo, Castello di Fonterutoli's Siepi and the debut vintage of La Massa. From the Maremma it names possibly the best ever vintage of Le Pupille's Saffredi, plus Moris Farms' Avvoltore and Montepeloso's Nardo, and at Bolgheri, Michele Satta's Rosso Piastraia among the early releases.

• Chianti Classico: Podere Il Palazzino Grosso Sanese; Colombaio di Cencio I Massi
• Frescobaldi Rufina Riserva Montesodi
• Central hills Super Tuscans: Castello di Rampolla D'Alceo, Castello di Fonterutoli Siepi, La Massa (debut vintage)
• Maremma and Bolgheri: Le Pupille Saffredi, Moris Farms Avvoltore, Montepeloso Nardo, Michele Satta Rosso Piastraia

The Brunello Consorzio judged the Montalcino wines, on first examination, of the highest levels of quality, with good structure and very soft, elegant tannins. Decanter describes good to excellent fruit and full-bodied wines with excellent ageing potential but also good drinkability. Wine Spectator reported that some producers were comparing 2001 to 1997, though consultant Carlo Ferrini called it "certainly going to be a strange vintage for Tuscany." D'Attoma said some wines may lack the density of 1997 but promise to be more elegant and perfumed than 1998.

• Brunello Consorzio: quality of the highest levels in Montalcino, on first examination
• Decanter: high alcohol, good quality tannin and soft acidity
• Wine Spectator: some producers compared the vintage to 1997; D'Attoma expected more elegance than 1998