2015 Tuscany Vintage

In Chianti Classico, the winter was mitigated by some cold days below zero, then came a very mild spring with medium-high temperatures that allowed regular budding. In Montalcino, the winter had scant rain, followed by temperatures broadly in line with the average and limited rain that kept the vines in excellent vegetative balance into summer, without phytosanitary problems. In Tuscany, a mild, rainy spring recharged groundwater supplies. Summer was hot: low rainfall and high temperatures in July and August were balanced by good night temperature shifts, with daytime averages of 91 to 95 degrees F, dipping as much as 30 degrees at night. In Montalcino, above-average July temperatures brought veraison forward until rain at the end of the month restored balance, and August's wide day-night temperature range concentrated aromas and dry extract in the skins. Rain in mid-August refreshed the vines for the final stage of ripening. September and October in Montalcino brought limited rain and good ventilation through to harvest. Picking started with white grapes in the first week of September, Maremma reds on 3 September, Montalcino Sangiovese on 21 September and Chianti Classico on 29 September. Yields were down roughly 10 to 30 percent in many areas, depending on the estate, thanks to smaller berries and clusters.

• Chianti Classico: some sub-zero winter days, a very mild spring, low July and August rain with high temperatures
• Montalcino: scant winter rain, an above-average July eased by rain at month's end, a wide August day-night range
• Tuscany: mild, rainy spring and rain in mid-August
• Sangiovese picking began 21 September in Montalcino and 29 September in Chianti Classico

Wine Spectator found Sangiovese looking good in Montalcino, Chianti Classico and Montepulciano (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano), while the weather was a little more irregular on the coast, in Bolgheri and Maremma, and white grapes struggled in many areas. The Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico calls 2015 a high-quality vintage that highlights the features of Sangiovese: extract, anthocyanins, polyphenols and concentrated varietal aromas. At harvest in September 2015, Brunello Consorzio president Fabrizio Bindocci said the grapes were at the right point of ripeness, with an optimal balance of acidity and sugars, and that 2015 could rank among the best vintages ever. Speaking to WineNews as picking began, Chianti Classico Consorzio president Sergio Zingarelli expected perhaps a little less quantity, but the quality of a very great vintage.

• Chianti Classico: rated excellent by its Consorzio
• Montalcino: five stars from the Brunello Consorzio
• Montepulciano: Wine Spectator found Sangiovese looking good
• Bolgheri and Maremma: Wine Spectator found the weather a little more irregular

The Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino gave 2015 five stars soon after the harvest. When the wines were unveiled at Benvenuto Brunello in February 2020, a commission of 40 experts tasted almost 50 samples, and the Consorzio called 2015 a historic vintage. It described intense aromas of ripe fruit, soft tannins in balance with freshness, ripe red fruit and a long, elegant finish, and said the wines should give great results even decades on. It also noted natural acidity above the average even for a vintage with high summer temperatures, and about 10.5 million bottles expected. At harvest, Ermanno Morlacchetti, enologist at Castelgiocondo, reported early flowering and veraison and grapes already ripe and concentrated, while Paolo Bianchini of Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona said the yield was lower than in other years but the fruit of excellent quality.

• Five stars from the Consorzio, awarded after the harvest
• Called a historic vintage at Benvenuto Brunello, February 2020
• The Consorzio noted natural acidity above the average for a hot-summer year
• About 10.5 million bottles expected

Wine Spectator framed 2015 against 2014, when Tuscany endured a wet, humid summer that led to a lot of leaves and mildew in the vineyards, and some regions grappled with an invasive fruit fly. After that, it reported, a warm, balanced summer and well-timed rains produced promising Sangiovese, though with so much heat it was important to preserve acidity in the white varieties.

• 2014: wet, humid summer with mildew
• 2015: warm, balanced summer and well-timed rains