2007 Tuscany Vintage
Decanter rated Tuscany 2007 at 4/5: a mild, dry winter and record spring heat gave a growing cycle about three weeks early, central Italy had a hot July, and the harvest finished down 10% on the average.
According to Decanter's vintage guide, Tuscany's 2007 growing cycle ran around three weeks earlier than usual after an unusually mild, dry winter and record temperatures in March and April. Central Italy then had one of the hottest Julys in the past five years, so August rain was welcome in slowing the accelerated ripening. The bulk of the Sangiovese was picked a fortnight early, in the second week of September, from extremely healthy grapes, with yields down 10% on the average. Decanter singled out Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano as the stars of the vintage.
Growing season
According to Decanter's vintage guide, Tuscany's growing cycle in 2007 was around three weeks earlier than usual, thanks to an unusually mild, dry winter and record temperatures in March and April. Decanter reports that central Italy also had one of the hottest Julys in the past five years, which made the August rainfall particularly welcome, as it helped take the edge off the accelerated maturation. A super-early harvest followed: Decanter says the bulk of the Sangiovese was harvested a fortnight early, during the second week of September, and later-ripening varieties were gathered in by mid-October. Fine weather at the final stage of ripening let producers pick at optimum ripeness, risking a little extra hang-time where needed. Decanter found the grapes generally extremely healthy, with yields down 10% on the average.
- Winter and spring: unusually mild and dry, with record temperatures in March and April; growing cycle about three weeks early (Decanter)
- Summer: one of the hottest Julys in the past five years in central Italy; welcome rain in August (Decanter)
- Harvest: bulk of the Sangiovese a fortnight early, in the second week of September; later-ripening varieties by mid-October (Decanter)
- Yields: down 10% on the average, from generally extremely healthy grapes (Decanter)
- Decanter rating for Tuscany 2007: 4/5, with the advice to keep; "Very good vintage, bordering on five stars for some appellations"
- Growing cycle around three weeks earlier than usual after an unusually mild, dry winter and record March and April temperatures (Decanter)
- Central Italy had one of the hottest Julys in the past five years; August rain helped take the edge off the accelerated maturation (Decanter)
- Bulk of the Sangiovese harvested a fortnight early, in the second week of September; later-ripening varieties in by mid-October (Decanter)
- Grapes generally extremely healthy, with yields down 10% on the average (Decanter)
- Stars of the vintage per Decanter: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano
Denominations and style
Decanter's guide rates Tuscany 2007 at 4/5 and calls it a very good vintage, bordering on five stars for some appellations, with top wines showing fresh, fine fruit, expressive aromas and good tannic structure. It says the reds carry relatively high alcohol from the hot, dry season but good acidity too, which bodes well for ageing. In Montepulciano, Decanter named Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano the stars of the vintage: well-balanced, concentrated wines with excellent aromatic profiles. In Bolgheri, it reports that the extra hang-time at the end of the season produced some intense Cabernet-based wines, with the Merlot also promising.
- Tuscany overall: 4/5 from Decanter, with the advice to keep
- Tuscany reds: relatively high alcohol but good acidity, a good sign for ageing (Decanter)
- Montepulciano: Vino Nobile and Rosso di Montepulciano the stars of the vintage (Decanter)
- Bolgheri: some intense Cabernet-based wines; Merlot also promising (Decanter)
Every concept in this article fits on a card.
Mistral WineCards. Deck ONE: Global. 55 wine education cards covering grapes, regions, terroir, and winemaking. $35.
Get the DeckOpen one bottle, taste it for weeks.
The Coravin Pivot+ is the simpler Coravin, for wines you will finish inside a few weeks, which is how I taste a producer across vintages without finishing every bottle. It takes five seconds to use.$199.
See the Pivot+- Decanter rated Tuscany 2007 at 4/5 (keep): a very good vintage, bordering on five stars for some appellations.
- Weather sequence (Decanter): mild, dry winter; record March and April heat; one of the hottest Julys in five years in central Italy; welcome August rain.
- Early year: growing cycle about three weeks early; bulk of the Sangiovese picked a fortnight early, in the second week of September; yields down 10% on the average.
- Decanter's stars of the vintage were Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano; Bolgheri gave some intense Cabernet-based wines.
Take your wine study further
Flashcards, blind tastings, and a tasting journal in the Wine with Seth app.
Try the app free