2011 Tuscany Vintage

A warm, rainy end of winter opened into a mild, wet spring lasting until late May and early June, which gave the vines good water reserves; the vines developed somewhat earlier than the norm. Late June and early July were very hot, speeding up the final stages of grape development. A very hot, arid August, helped by big night and day temperature differences in September, gave a further spur to ripening. WineNews.it called the August heat wave around Ferragosto a 'vampa' (a blast of heat, translated) that hit central and northern Italy hardest. In Montalcino, Franco Biondi Santi of the Tenuta del Greppo began picking on 8 September, and by 23 September the Chianti Classico and Vino Nobile consorzio presidents were picking the grapes for their best selections, with Marco Pallanti noting that the drop in temperatures arrived as that picking was under way. Late September rains lowered temperatures, especially in the higher vineyards, so fermentation ran slower. Crops were smaller: Chianti Classico had 10% less fruit than in previous years, and Tuscan producers and consultants put the drops at 15% to as much as 30%.

• Winter and spring: warm, rainy end of winter, then a mild, wet spring until late May and early June, with good water reserves
• Summer: very hot late June and early July, then a very hot, arid August; the mid-August heat wave hit central and northern Italy hardest
• Harvest: Biondi Santi began on 8 September in Montalcino; late September rains cooled Chianti Classico, especially the higher vineyards
• Yields: Chianti Classico 10% less fruit than in previous years; Bolgheri down 15% (Paolo Valdastri); Biondi Santi saw a decrease of as much as 30%

Separate verdicts came from each denomination in late September 2011. In Chianti Classico, Consorzio president Marco Pallanti called the quality of the grapes extraordinary and said that if the weather held it could prove a better harvest than expected. In Montalcino, Consorzio del Brunello president Ezio Rivella spoke of conflicting reports, but said the year gave important elements to work with, especially on the north side of the denomination, where the wines did not have excessive alcohol and had interesting acidity; things were more critical where the heat was more intense. Enrico Viglierchio of Castello Banfi called it a complex harvest in which bunch selection was fundamental, bringing a drop in quantity of at least 15%. In Montepulciano, Consorzio president Federico Carletti said careful bunch selection was needed, but that hot years have always favored the quality of Nobile. For Bolgheri, Consorzio consultant Paolo Valdastri reported surprising quality after a great deal of selection work and a 15% drop in quantity. Lamberto Frescobaldi said the heat favored cooler zones such as Chianti Rufina and the higher parts of Chianti Classico.

• Chianti Classico: grape quality 'extraordinary' (Consorzio president Marco Pallanti, translated)
• Montalcino: Consorzio president Ezio Rivella singled out the north side of the denomination; more critical where the heat was more intense
• Montepulciano: careful bunch selection needed, but hot years have always favored Nobile (Consorzio president Federico Carletti)
• Bolgheri: surprising quality, heavy selection and a 15% drop in quantity (Consorzio consultant Paolo Valdastri)

The Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico said the good weather might make 2011 a great year for the Black Rooster, and that the wine in the cellar has fine acidity and 'crunchy' tannins that seem to guarantee a vintage to be enjoyed in the years to come. Montalcino and Montepulciano were more guarded: WineNews.it summed up Rivella's view of Montalcino as a good harvest, but not an exceptional one, and Carletti said 2011 would certainly not be the vintage of the century for Nobile. In Montalcino, Biondi Santi described wines that promised very well, with substantial alcohol but also sustained acidity, from a harvest that highlights the differences between zones. Frescobaldi called it no year for early varieties such as Merlot, while Sangiovese promised very well. Across Italy, WineNews.it expected concentrated, alcoholic wines with notable acidity, and headlined the national harvest as good, but not one to remember.

• Chianti Classico (Consorzio): fine acidity and 'crunchy' tannins in the cellar
• Montalcino: a good harvest, but not exceptional (WineNews.it on Rivella's view); substantial alcohol with sustained acidity (Biondi Santi)
• Merlot: not favored by the heat; Sangiovese promised very well (Lamberto Frescobaldi)
• Italy-wide: WineNews.it expected concentrated, alcoholic wines with notable acidity