Events

Tuscany: season of new wines
"Vinnaya Karta" №5(75) May 2006

Every winter three Tuscan consortia: Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino — present their new wines to the press and professional buyers.

This is the first year when the most prestigious event for Chianti Classico wines is organized by a new consortium that resulted from the merger of two formerly independent organisations — Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico and Consorzio del Gallo Nero. The new organisation is currently working on setting general standards for members. Also a promotional programme highlighting a renewed image of wines is being created. It will strengthen positions of black rooster as a symbol of Chianti Classico wines.

The tasting in Florence was called "Anteprima 2005", thus focusing attention on the wines of the latest vintage. The 2005 was officially rated at four stars. Similarly to the previous year, the harvest was late but weather conditions and maturation process differed dramatically. After cold snowy winter vines developed under the normal pattern, flowering and setting was balanced. Yet cool rainy weather in the end of July and in August delayed ripening. Favourable differences between day and night temperatures in September led to good aromatics in the grapes. Harvesting took place from the end of September to 20 October. Unstable conditions stretched the picking dates, and only strict selection allowed to get wines with necessary concentration.

- It was a particular millesime. The weather was dry for 6 months, flowering was not high. It meant that wine production was lower and can be compared with 2003. Then it started to rain. This year we could not make our vineyard selection wines, — said Marco Pallanti of Castello di Ama.

Tasting of 2005 barrel samples showed that many producers got ripe fruity wines. Promising are Chianti Classicos 2005 from such estates as Fattoria La Loggia, Carpineto, Villa Calcinaia, Casina di Cornia, Castello di Monterinaldi, Castello di Ama, Castello di Meleto, Dievole, Mannucci Droandi and others. In general, wines have medium structure with good balance between alcohol and acidity.

Chianti Classicos 2004 are being released on the market now.

- A very good vintage. This is return back to classics after hot 2003. The crop was ripe and balanced on all parametres, — said Francesco Vitulli, export manager of Tenimenti Angelini that owns San Leonino estate.

Sebastiano Capponi of Villa Calcinaia compares the vintage with 1999. Among Chianti Classico 2004 Castello di Querceto, Isole e Olena, Casina di Cornia, San Leonino, Castello di Monterinaldi, Terrabianca, Castello di Ama deserve a special mention.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

It looked like all population of small Montepulciano was celebrating the tasting of new wines. The main events took place in the medieval castle where a small art exhibition ran parallel to the wine tasting.

Nobile Montepulciano 2003 wines, ready to go on the market, were at the centre stage. Most of them will require additional time to reach their full potential. It is especially true of powerful, concentrated wines such as Poliziano and La Braccesca. There were also examples of wines which offer immediate drinking pleasures as well as aging potential: Avignonesi, Boscarelli, Contucci, Fassati, Trerose, Tenuta Valdipiatta.

- The 2003 started with a good winter and a fresh spring, however, the summer had been extremely hot with very few rains. The grapes were healthy but risked to suffer and be damaged by very high temperature. We took special measures against overmaturation in Fassati. As a result, we have wines with good body and structure, with rich flavours and complexity, — commented Chiara Gianotti of Fassati.

The Anteprima event featured several newcomers among estates and wines. La Bandita e Lunadoro estate made a good debut. Boscarelli Merlot IGT and Tenuta Valdipiatta Tosca Chianti Colli Senesi wines were among best new releases.

Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino is, as usual, one step ahead of others. Its latest initiative is electronic ID cards for all wines of the region. Now one can enter the number on the label at the consortium’s website (www.consorziobrunellodimontalcino.it) and find information regarding volume of production of the batch, producer’s contact details, technical characteristics of wines, etc. The information is available for Brunello di Montalcino as of 1999 vintage, Rosso di Montalcino as of 2003 and for the latest vintages of Moscadello di Montalcino and Sant’Antimo.

- This is an important step towards transparency and complete traceability: firstly, consumers are guaranteed that the label truly matches the bottle. Furthermore, it creates a direct bond between consumers and winemakers, — noted Stefano Campatelli, director of Brunello di Montalcino Consortium.

Benvenuto Brunello mainly presented Rosso di Montalcino 2004, Brunello di Montalcino 2001 and Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2000. The 2001 vintage was especially good. Leaders among the tasting included many names of traditional and modern winemaking school — Altesino, Barbi, Casanova di Neri, Castel Giocondo, Col d’Orcia, Fanti, La Fuga, Lisini, Siro Pacenti, Solaria and others.

- Weather conditions in 2001 were very-very good, except, perhaps for spring frost that lowered the crop. The vintage was easy — those who didn’t get good wine should think of another job! The quality of wines is superb — on par with outstanding 1988 and 1990. Thanks to forward fruit they seems ready for drinking, but high acidity will provide for their long aging. Our wines have very good complexity, and they are very smooth already, — commented Giovanni Folonari of La Fuga.

Giancarlo Pacenti of Siro Pacenti added:

- At Siro Pacenti the vintage was superb. Wines feature excellent freshness and intensity of aromas and are superior to 1999. They are complex brunellos with refined, silky and at the same time tight tannins and are suitable for long aging.