2019 Tuscany Vintage

Across Tuscany, 2019 was a year of broadly favorable conditions, though the precise experience varied considerably by denomination and subzone. In Montalcino, the season was warm without excessive heat spikes, with rain arriving at just the right moments. A cool but relatively mild winter gave way to a wet spring, with around 100 millimeters of rain and average temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius from March through May helping budbreak proceed on schedule. June and July turned hot and dry, with a two-day storm at the end of July delivering approximately 70 millimeters of rain. August remained warm, averaging 30 to 35 degrees Celsius. September brought a gradual cooling and largely sunny harvest conditions, with cool nights from mid-month onward allowing a slow and even finish. In Chianti Classico, the picture was more mixed: heavy rain in May extended vegetative growth, some areas experienced hail, and the harvest was later than usual, with Sangiovese arriving at wineries between September 20 and mid-October.

• Montalcino spring rainfall of approximately 100mm from March to May supported healthy budbreak and vine water reserves for summer
• End-of-July storm in Montalcino delivered around 70mm over two days, relieving summer heat stress at a critical moment
• August temperatures in Montalcino averaged 30 to 35 degrees Celsius; early August briefly peaked at 37 to 38 degrees Celsius
• Chianti Classico was marked by heavy May rain, localized hail events, and a late harvest extending into mid-October in some areas

Brunello di Montalcino was the undisputed highlight of the Tuscany vintage, with quality spread evenly across the entire DOCG zone regardless of compass direction. In a fascinating contrast to fiercely hot years, where northern and higher-altitude sites typically outperform, 2019 proved to be a geographic leveler: top scores came from the north, southwest, northeast, southeast, and the center of the zone in near-equal measure. For Chianti Classico, the vintage was more variable. It was an uneven year marked by localized shock events including hail in Gaiole and heavy spring rain across the zone, resulting in higher yields, lower alcohol levels, and wines that critics assessed with some divergence. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano had a classic, fresh, and intense vintage, with the season delivering good fruit maturation. Bolgheri and the coastal Super Tuscan zones also benefited from the warm, dry conditions that prevailed through the summer.

• Brunello 2019 was a geographic leveler: top-scoring wines came from all four quadrants of the Montalcino DOCG zone in near-equal measure
• Chianti Classico faced localized hail (notably in Gaiole) and May rain, leading to higher yields and mid-weight wines with some unevenness in quality
• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano delivered a fresh and intense vintage; the Dei estate 2019 earned a place in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2023
• The Consorzio Chianti Classico declared 2019 'an excellent vintage year' highlighting concentrated extract, anthocyanins, polyphenols, and varietal aromas

Brunello di Montalcino 2019 attracted some of the highest critical scores in recent memory. James Suckling awarded 100 points to both the Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Giovanni Neri 2019 and the Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli 2019, citing their incredible clarity of fruit, fine tannins, and sense of place. Kerin O'Keefe also awarded 100 points to four producers: Conti Costanti, L'Aietta Alberelli, Le Chiuse, and Ciacci Piccolomini. The Casanova di Neri Cerretalto single-vineyard Brunello 2019 was hailed by James Suckling as potentially the wine of the vintage. Other widely praised producers included Baricci, Capanna, Fuligni, Poggio di Sotto, Salvioni, Gaja's Pieve di Santa Restituta Sugarille, Le Potazzine, and Pian dell'Orino. In Chianti Classico, Castello di Ama produced some standout wines. Among Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, producers including Salcheto and Dei received strong critical recognition.

• James Suckling awarded 100 points to Casanova di Neri Giovanni Neri 2019 and Valdicava Vigna Montosoli 2019 for clarity of fruit and terroir transparency
• Kerin O'Keefe awarded 100 points to Conti Costanti, L'Aietta Alberelli, Le Chiuse, and Ciacci Piccolomini in her 2019 Brunello tasting
• Casanova di Neri Cerretalto 2019 was described by James Suckling as seductive with incredible depth and possibly the wine of the vintage
• Among Brunello producers widely praised across multiple critics: Baricci, Capanna, Fuligni, Poggio di Sotto, Salvioni, and Le Chiuse

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino wines are structured for the long term but possess an inviting personality even in youth. James Suckling recommended three to five years of bottle age for the 2019 Brunellos to come into their own, while noting the wines show real energy and structure right now for those who enjoy them young. Decanter's Michaela Morris concluded that the strength of the vintage is that the wines will be enjoyable at any stage along the way, with most accessible now but possessing structure for mid- to long-term ageing. The vintage is broadly compared to other great Brunello years including 2016, 2010, and 2006. Chianti Classico 2019 annatas offer approachable, aromatic drinking now through the mid-2020s, while Riservas and Gran Seleziones from top estates have genuine medium-term cellaring potential. Vino Nobile 2019 from leading producers is best from the mid-2020s onward.

• Brunello di Montalcino 2019: already showing well in youth but best approached with three to five or more years of additional cellaring per James Suckling
• Decanter's Michaela Morris: the 2019 Brunellos will be enjoyable at any stage, with most accessible now but built for mid- to long-term ageing
• Chianti Classico 2019 annatas: drink through the mid-2020s; Riserva and Gran Selezione wines suited to medium-term cellaring at top estates
• Vintage compared to classic Brunello years 2016, 2010, and 2006 by multiple critics, with some preferring 2019 over 2016

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino wines showed more polyphenolic matter than usual, and it clung through the long mandatory aging process of at least two years in wood and four months in bottle. The smooth, even ripening of the season resulted in wines with glossy, suave textures and a strong backbone of acidity present across all winemaking styles. A growing trend in Montalcino in 2019 saw producers moving away from new barriques toward used barrels and larger-format casks (botti), which critics noted as enhancing the transparency and honesty of the Sangiovese character. The 2019 season in Montalcino also saw an increase in single-vineyard Brunello bottlings, reflecting producer confidence in the vintage's ability to express site differences. In Chianti Classico, the high-yielding season produced wines with slightly lower alcohol than recent vintages and somewhat grainy tannins in less successful examples, though the best estates delivered wines of genuine freshness and aromatic precision.

• Brunello 2019 showed notable polyphenolic concentration preserved through long mandatory wood aging of at least two years in barrel
• A growing number of Montalcino producers used larger-format botti and used barrels rather than new barriques, enhancing Sangiovese's typicity and transparency
• The number of single-vineyard Brunello bottlings increased in 2019, reflecting producer confidence in the vintage's terroir expression
• Chianti Classico 2019 featured lower-than-average alcohol levels and higher yields; wines with the most aromatic precision came from well-managed higher-altitude sites

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino was a generous vintage in terms of quantity, producing 98,407 hectoliters, the largest harvest between 2019 and 2023. This combination of high volume and outstanding quality means there are genuine bargains to be found, with new producers appearing in top-scoring brackets alongside established names. Critics including World of Fine Wine noted that several wines that scored only 89 points in the 2016 tasting rose to top-11 scores in 2019, suggesting a leveling effect that rewards exploration beyond famous labels. Chianti Classico 2019 offers broadly accessible pricing relative to the Brunello denominations, with a good range of aromatic, food-friendly wines at the Annata tier. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2019, recognized by Wine Spectator's Top 100, presents compelling value for those seeking Sangiovese-based wines with structure and complexity at a lower price point than Brunello.

• Brunello 2019 produced 98,407hl, the largest harvest between 2019 and 2023, meaning supply is relatively strong and value can be found
• Several producers scored higher in 2019 than in the celebrated 2016 vintage, creating opportunities to discover quality from lesser-known estates
• Chianti Classico 2019 offers approachable pricing at the Annata level with fresh, aromatic Sangiovese from a high-yielding season
• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2019 provides a value entry point into classic Tuscany Sangiovese, with recognition in major critic lists including Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2023