2010 Tuscany Vintage

In Chianti Classico, the Consorzio Chianti Classico reports temperatures often below average for the same periods in recent years. A winter worthy of the name took temperatures in Chianti close to freezing, and a cool, rainy spring followed, so the vines blossomed somewhat later than usual. Wine & Spirits described that spring as unusually cool but normally wet. In Panzano, Michael Schmelzer of Monte Bernardi told JancisRobinson.com that a lack of sunlight from winter to mid spring delayed the start of vine growth by as much as three weeks, especially in older vineyards. In Montalcino, the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino reports that below-average spring temperatures and frequent rain delayed budbreak and drove strong vegetative growth, with some problems at fruit set. Heat in late June and early July helped the Chianti Classico vines rebalance, but ripening continued more slowly through August and September under lower than average temperatures; Wine & Spirits called June and July very hot. Montalcino's summer was fine and stable, with only some August rain that tempered the heat, though veraison still came about ten days behind the average of the previous decade. Monte Bernardi was hit by two hailstorms, in May and at the end of July, and Schmelzer reports frequent rains toward the end of the season that raised disease and mould pressure. The Montalcino harvest began 8 to 14 days late. On yields, the Brunello Consorzio estimates a slight reduction of about 10% in Montalcino, while Schmelzer put the loss in his younger vines at 20%, which he called probably more representative of the average crop loss for the area.

• Chianti Classico: near-freezing winter, cool and rainy spring, flowering somewhat later than usual (Consorzio Chianti Classico)
• Montalcino: cool, wet spring delayed budbreak; fruit-set problems cut production by about 10% (Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino)
• Summer: heat in late June and early July in Chianti Classico, then below-average temperatures in August and September; in Montalcino, fine, stable weather with some August rain
• Harvest: Montalcino began 8 to 14 days late, after veraison ran about ten days behind the average of the previous decade

The Brunello Consorzio's harvest report gathers producer views on timing. Giancarlo Pacenti of Siro Pacenti, vice president of the Consorzio, said picking returned to classic dates: the end of September in the south of Montalcino and mid October in the north. Fabrizio Bindocci of Tenuta Il Poggione recorded a summer high of 35.4 C on 16 July and hand-picked Sangiovese from mid September to mid October; he said the summer rains caused no disease problems for the grapes, though they called for extra care and more thinning in July and August. Edoardo Virano of Col d'Orcia said the Sangiovese harvest began in the second ten days of September and ran to 20 October. In Chianti Classico, the Consorzio credits careful vine-tending with keeping the grapes in fine condition at harvest, and Giovanni Manetti of Fontodi told Wine & Spirits that 2010 was a much smaller crop than 2009.

• Montalcino, Siro Pacenti (Giancarlo Pacenti): harvest back to classic dates, end of September in the south, mid October in the north
• Montalcino, Tenuta Il Poggione (Fabrizio Bindocci): summer high of 35.4 C on 16 July; Sangiovese hand-picked mid September to mid October
• Montalcino, Col d'Orcia (Edoardo Virano): Sangiovese picked from the second ten days of September to 20 October
• Chianti Classico, Fontodi (Giovanni Manetti, to Wine & Spirits): a much smaller crop than 2009

The Brunello Consorzio's report describes new wines with alcohol at an excellent level, in some cases rather high, and total polyphenols, anthocyanins and extract that were very high and rarely found in Sangiovese. Wine & Spirits quoted the Consorzio Chianti Classico calling 2010 'a vintage rich in aromas and scents and a great structure conferred by optimal acidity levels, raising hopes in a Chianti Classico for aging.' Chianti Classico producers split when comparing it with 2009: Jacopo di Battista of Querceto di Castellina preferred 2010 as a bit more elegant, a bit less alcoholic and a little lighter, Roberto Stucchi of Badia a Coltibuono called it less classic, lighter, fleshier and more immediate, and Manetti called it very rich and very muscular. Alan Tardi, tasting the first releases for Wine & Spirits in 2012, judged them a good, solid, but not outstanding vintage.

• Montalcino (Brunello Consorzio): very high total polyphenols, anthocyanins and extract, rarely found in Sangiovese
• Chianti Classico (Consorzio, quoted by Wine & Spirits): rich in aromas and scents, with great structure from optimal acidity levels
• Producers split on 2010 versus 2009: Querceto di Castellina preferred 2010; Badia a Coltibuono found it less classic but a very good vintage
• Wine & Spirits (Alan Tardi, 2012): first releases good, solid, but not outstanding