2016 Barolo & Piedmont Vintage

The Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani called 2016 one of the longest-lasting vintages in recent years. January and early February were mild with low rainfall. From the end of February through March temperatures dropped and plenty of rain built good water reserves in the soil, though less than the year before, and that late cold delayed the restart of the vegetative cycle by around ten days for all varieties compared with 2015. Spring began with a considerable amount of rain but no disease damage, and average temperatures stayed modest, mainly because of low overnight minimums. Late spring was cooler than usual, especially at night, which pushed flowering two weeks later and set up a later-than-average harvest. The growing season in Piedmont was mostly dry and warm, with enough rain at the right times. There was no drought pressure, and summer peak temperatures did not spike as they had in 2015. No peaks above 35 C were recorded during the hot period. The late start was made up during August and September, and the second half of September was key for phenolic ripening; August rains prompted great phenolic ripeness. A violent storm on 26 July brought strong winds and hail to parts of the Barolo zone, though hail was less intense and widespread than in 2015 and all the grapes were healthy. White varieties were picked from 5 to 20 September. Dolcetto followed immediately after 20 September, then Nebbiolo without a break through to the middle of October, in the classic order of Barbaresco and Nebbiolo d'Alba first, then Barolo. Nebbiolo picking ran from the last week of September through the third week of October, and some producers picked their last Nebbiolo as late as the last week of October. Piedmont's crop was average to slightly higher in quantity, and producers in all zones described it as high in both quality and quantity.

• Mild, dry January and early February; a cold, wet end of February and March delayed the vegetative cycle by around ten days
• Cool late-spring nights pushed flowering two weeks later; no summer peaks above 35 C
• A violent storm on 26 July brought strong winds and hail
• Whites picked 5 to 20 September; Nebbiolo from the last week of September into October, Barbaresco and Nebbiolo d'Alba before Barolo

The 26 July hail touched a wide area, affecting the lower parts of Castiglione Falletto, Bussia in Monforte, and parts of Cannubi, Brunate and Rocche dell'Annunziata in Barolo and La Morra, before passing through Verduno, with extensive damage also in parts of Monferrato, particularly Nizza. Because of the storm, some producers harvested as much as 10 percent less fruit than average. The damage was patchy: Renato Ratti's yields ran about 10 percent above normal, and no rain fell on its Costigliole vineyards a few miles away. La Morra was the only Barolo commune not to benefit from the bumper crop, because of hail losses, though quality did not seem compromised. Chiara Boschis of E. Pira & Figli in Barolo farms organically and typically produces 30 to 40 percent less than the law allows; in 2016 she produced only 15 percent less. Across the Tanaro in Roero, Stefano Ferrio of Cascina Ca'Rossa had to buy new tanks mid-harvest for the abundant fruit. In Alto Piemonte, results were consistent with the Langhe in quality and quantity, though some parcels in Lessona and Bramaterra lost crop to frost and others to the late-May hail, and the more humid zones had some downy mildew. Canopy management and treatment timing were crucial.

• Hail on 26 July: lower Castiglione Falletto, Bussia in Monforte, parts of Cannubi, Brunate and Rocche dell'Annunziata, then Verduno
• La Morra: the only Barolo commune not to benefit from the bumper crop, due to hail losses
• Roero: fruit so abundant that Cascina Ca'Rossa bought new tanks mid-harvest
• Alto Piemonte: frost and late-May hail losses in parts of Lessona and Bramaterra; downy mildew in humid zones

Decanter reported an early consensus across Piedmont that 2016 stood to be a very promising, and potentially exceptional, vintage, with sugar concentration to rival the richness of 2015 but greater structure and livelier acidity. Where 2015 was picked early and in a rush, the 2016 harvest was classically timed and relatively stress-free. Neive-based Barbaresco vintner Andrea Sottimano said, 'The grape skins are the best I've seen in many years, much like they were in 2010.' In Barbaresco, Nebbiolo reached good sugar quite soon at Cigliuti but phenolic ripeness lagged, so the family waited another two weeks and picked Nebbiolo from 3 to 8 October. Some vintners compared 2016 to 2004 and others to 2001, per Wine Spectator. After fermentation the wines were aromatic and well-balanced, with the Nebbiolo in particular well-structured for aging. Malic acid in Nebbiolo measured below 1 g/L, a marker of full ripening, and the Consorzio expected wines with excellent balance, big bouquets and great structure, in some cases with lower alcohol than 2015.

• Sugar to rival 2015, with greater structure and livelier acidity
• Some vintners compared 2016 to 2004, others to 2001
• Malic acid below 1 g/L in Nebbiolo, a marker of full ripening
• The Consorzio expected excellent balance, big bouquets and great structure, sometimes with lower alcohol than 2015