2013 Tuscany Vintage

Chianti Classico saw high rainfall across the first three months of 2013, with temperatures often below the seasonal average and a real winter that brought temperatures near zero. Spring came late and flowering was late. In Montalcino, the spring and early summer were rather rainy. Across Tuscany, the wet spring brought fungal disease pressure, particularly during flowering, and spring rains encouraged mildew and affected flowering in some areas. The growing cycle had a bizarre start, with temperatures rising from mid-July throughout the region; in Chianti Classico the real heat arrived in the middle of July and hastened ripening, followed by typical seasonal temperatures. August was cool, which further slowed the already delayed vines, and veraison began 10 to 15 days behind recent years, still unfinished in some zones on 20 August. In Montalcino, a late-August report described a warm but not torrid summer without drought problems, and Consorzio president Fabrizio Bindocci said the vines were at least 10 days behind, with harvest not before mid-September. September warmed, allowing good ripening and keeping the grapes healthy; the Chianti Classico Consorzio called it a perfect September, and in Montalcino September and October brought a lot of sun and excellent ventilation. October then brought several rains across Tuscany that, in many cases, diluted quantity and quality for grapes still on the vine, and hail damaged some zones. Sangiovese was picked from the end of September to mid-October and Cabernet Sauvignon on 7 October, and the Tuscan harvest ended around mid-October. Tuscan volume rose about 5 percent on 2012, and Montalcino rose 10%.

• Chianti Classico: heavy rain in the first three months, temperatures near zero, a late spring and late flowering
• Tuscany: wet spring and fungal pressure at flowering; veraison 10 to 15 days late
• Sangiovese picked end of September to mid-October; several October rains diluted late-picked fruit
• Volume: Tuscany up about 5 percent on 2012, with hail in some zones; Montalcino up 10%

On 22 February 2014, at a ceremony in the Church of Sant'Agostino, the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino awarded the 2013 vintage four stars. The Consorzio said the season "certainly was not an easy one for wine" and that the rating showed producers achieving satisfaction "even in non-optimal conditions." Chairman Fabrizio Bindocci described the harvest as typical "twentieth-century style", with gradual and late ripening, and in August had likened the season's climate to the 1979 harvest. The Consorzio expects high quality wines "with an exceptional aptitude for very long ageing and an exquisite elegance and finesse," from grapes with a good alcohol-acidity balance. Oenologist Paolo Vagaggini, speaking at the ceremony, said "2013 is an old style vintage" and that the grapes reached maturity later than in past years, favoring perfume, elegant tannins and the typical acidity of the harvests of the Eighties. He set it apart from what he called the three great five-star vintages, 2007, 2010 and 2012.

• Four stars from the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, awarded 22 February 2014
• "Twentieth-century style" harvest with gradual, late ripening, in chairman Fabrizio Bindocci's words
• Sunny, well-ventilated September and October after a rather rainy spring and early summer
• Quantity up 10% on 2012

Montalcino harvests ran well past 15 October, with rain in between. At Val di Suga, oenologist Andrea Lonardi said mid-October was the deadline: fruit picked before 15 October, ahead of the second rain, was of very high quality, while the second wave of bad weather brought an important change in quality. At Baricci, Francesco Buffi said the harvest took "nervi saldi" (translated: steady nerves); the estate chose to wait, and its grapes reached the cellar properly ripe. At Canalicchio di Sopra, Francesco Ripaccioli described grapes with an excellent balance of alcohol and acidity, picked late from the end of September. Quantity varied by estate: Caprili had a 10 percent increase, while Col d'Orcia agronomist Giuliano Dragoni spoke of reductions reaching 20 percent.

• Val di Suga (Andrea Lonardi): fruit picked before 15 October, ahead of the second rain, was of very high quality
• Baricci (Francesco Buffi): waited rather than pick unready grapes, and brought them in properly ripe
• Canalicchio di Sopra (Francesco Ripaccioli): late picking from the end of September, alcohol and acidity in balance
• Quantity: up 10 percent at Caprili, reductions reaching 20 percent at Col d'Orcia

In the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico's own report, technical and winemaking work in the months before harvest reached quality standards. Early samples of Sangiovese already showed good sugar and acidity, and after the harvest grape quality was above average in the Gallo Nero areas, with excellent polyphenol maturity in perfect balance with the acidity structure of the grapes. Sugar concentration in the musts was not extremely high. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations developed regularly without any problem, taken as proof that the grapes were healthy. The wines of Chianti Classico 2013 are very balanced in aromas and mouth structure, with polyphenols, extract, tannins and glycerine balanced and harmonious, no element dominating, and alcohol levels that are not extreme.

• Grape quality above average in the Gallo Nero areas
• Excellent polyphenol maturity in balance with acidity; must sugar not extremely high
• Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations regular, without problems
• Wines very balanced in aromas and structure, with alcohol levels that are not extreme

Wine Spectator named Montepulciano as the challenging area of Tuscany in 2013, where the clay soils delayed ripening. The Tuscan red harvest began in mid-September in Bolgheri and Morellino di Scansano, alongside white grapes for Vernaccia di San Gimignano, then moved on to grapes for Chianti, Chianti Classico, Carmignano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino, ending around mid-October with Cabernet and Petit Verdot. Production was uneven, with differences even within single estates, and Tuscan output was expected to be around 2,200,000 hectolitres. Crop sizes varied significantly by area: some saw above-average gains, while others saw reductions of up to 30 percent.

• Montepulciano: clay soils delayed ripening
• Bolgheri and Morellino di Scansano reds: picking began mid-September
• Last picked: Cabernet and Petit Verdot, around mid-October
• Crop size ranged from above-average gains to reductions of up to 30 percent, by area

Wine Spectator's November 2013 report called 2013 a very good to excellent harvest for most grape varieties in Tuscany. Long, slow ripening kept acidity levels fresh and promoted tannin maturation without excessive sugar, and the wines generally showed lower-than-average alcohol. Assoenologi expected Tuscany to be a good vintage with some peaks of excellent, and its first analyses of Brunello found good aromatic complexity and good acid structure. WineNews, writing about Italy's great reds in general, called 2013 a good year though certainly not a five-star one, with high acidity and balanced phenolic ripeness pointing to staying power. Italy-wide, production was estimated at 47 to 48 million hectolitres, 15 percent above 2012.

• Wine Spectator on Tuscany: very good to excellent for most varieties, with lower-than-average alcohol
• Assoenologi on Tuscany: a good vintage, with some peaks of excellent
• WineNews on Italy's great reds: good, not a five-star year, with high acidity for staying power
• Italy: 47 to 48 million hectolitres, up 15 percent on 2012