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The vintages
2010
In the area of Grosseto the winter period was characterized by temperatures below the average for the period and abundant rainfall which led to an import water reserve in the soil which was available to the cultivation during the summer months. The accumulation of rain in the first quarter was 306mm. The spring months that followed were characterized by the alternation of rain and sunny spells which lasted until mid-June, after which there was a net change in the weather, with the entry of a field of high pressure that brought a period of stable sunny weather. The phenological stages of budding, flowering and fruit set were very smooth with no problems whatsoever, giving a good quantity and quality of clusters. The month of July was the hottest period, with a maximum temperature which reached 37.3 in the last week of the month and total absence of rain. August was characterized by temperatures below the average for the last decade; there were two storms (cumulative total 33mm of rain), which generally slowed down the ripening of the grapes (all varieties); this situation continued throughout the period of September until the first week of October, giving rise to perfectly ripe grapes not only from a polyphenolic point of view but also regarding the sugar /acidity levels. The harvest began with a delay of about seven days compared to the average of the previous years. We started with the Alicante grapes which were harvested in the first week of September and we ended on October 14th with the last parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage is considered exceptional even here where, unlike the Chianti Classico region, we add to the quality of the grapes and musts also the quantity produced.
Rainfall*: 374,3 mm (14.7 inches)
Temperature index*: 3724,8°C
Evaluation*: Outstanding
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2009
The winter season was in line with the trend of temperatures in Tuscany where we had temperatures slightly below average, and rainfall above average. It was very rainy and stormy until the second week of March with a monthly average rainfall of 150mm. The spring phase was in line with our average of the past years, and until the first week of July there were no particular climatic conditions allowing optimal vegetative growth of the vines. From July 10th on the other hand we had temperatures above average with very little precipitations (none at all in July) until the first week of September. Heat and water stress, combined with the high level of light intensity led us to make a greater series of irrigation compared to the previous years. The ripening of the grapes was therefore anticipated, particularly Alicante, which was harvested from August 18th. The harvest continued regularly throughout the month of September and ended on October 2nd with the last grapes of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Grape quality was good, both for the balance of acidity/sugar levels and the concentration and finesse of the tannins; the use of micro-irrigation significantly reduced the metabolic stress to the plants.
Rainfall*: 277,4 mm (10.9 inches)
Temperature index*: 3915°C
Evaluation*: Good
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2008
The winter period was characterized by normal average temperatures, with precipitation slightly above average, particularly concentrated in the month of March. The phenological stage of the bud was in line with previous years, while there was a slight delay with respect to the stage of flowering and the growth of the bunches. The months of May and June were characterized by frequent and abundant rainfall. The continued unstable conditions created increased risks of diseases, specifically mildew. The end of June saw a net change of weather parameters, with periods of low relative humidity and temperature peaks that reached 37 ° C in the last week of July. These conditions led to the recovery of 6 / 7 days of delay to the phenological phases, beginning with the color change of the alicante in the last week of July. The months of August and September were marked by an absence of rainfall and average temperatures in September slightly above the seasonal average. The gathering took place in optimum weather conditions but with a reduction in production due to the strong "casting" in the process of flowering (late May). The grapes have produced an excellent balance between acidity and sugar and phenolic ripeness is not completely homogeneous. The beginning of the harvest took place August 25 with alicante and ended October 2 with the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Rainfall*: 329,2 mm (13 inches)
Temperature index*: 3747°C
Evaluation*: Very good
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2007
In winter the temperature was far above average with rainfall between January and March below the average of the area. This caused the advancement of the phenological stage of germination by approximately 8/10 days compared with the average recorded in previous years. The spring months of April, May and June had little precipitation except for the first ten days of May, where there was about 50 mm of rain. The rains contribuited to allowed a uniform growth of plants. This period was also characterized by a low relative-humidity that drastically reduced the risk of mildew infection. The months of July, August and September were characterized by normal average temperatures but by low rainfall. The harvest began on August 22 with the Alicante, and continued throughout September until October 7 ending with the Cabernet Sauvignon. With an outstanding seasonal climate, the grapes were characterized by optimal concentrations of polyphenols and anthocyanins, tannins in the mouth were very balanced and elegant, with an excellent sugar – acid balance.
Rainfall*: 210 mm (8.27 inches)
Temperature index*: 4144°C
Evaluation*: Outstanding
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2006
The 2006 vintage at Belguardo was characterized by the high quality of the grapes and by a slight – 4-5% - increase in production per acre of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Nero. Perfectly ripe grapes gave musts of outstanding quality, rich in sugar and deep in color, and with notably concentrated and elegant tannins.
April and May were dry months with temperatures slightly below seasonal averages, conditions which contributed both to uniform budding and an initial phase of uniform growth and development in the vineyard.
The vines and the grapes enjoyed excellent health during this period, aided by the dry climate which eliminated the threat of outbreaks of powdery or downy mildew. The arrival of occasional Atlantic rainstorms in August was accompanied by a drop in temperatures, particularly in the middle of the month. This led to a rapid acceleration of the ripening of the grapes, particularly of the tannins and coloring material. The harvest, in fact, began in late August (on the 28 th ) with the Merlot and subsequently, and immediately on its heels, with the Alicante. A period of bright sunshine and high temperatures continued throughout the months of September and October. The harvest concluded with the picking of the last grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon during the first days of October. A fine vintage for early-ripening grapes and a very fine one for later-ripening varieties
Rainfall*: 375 mm (14.8 inches)
Temperature index*: 4348°C
Evaluation*: Outstanding
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2005
The winter was characterized by normal rainfall and temperatures. The excellent weather which followed during the spring allowed the flowering and then the bud set to proceed in an ideal fashion. The end of July was marked by elevated temperatures (34° centigrade / 93° Fahrenheit), a phenomenon which slightly stressed the vines and undoubtedly accelerated the changing of the color. The period between mid-August and mid-September instead, was characterized by slightly below average temperatures and twelve centimeters (close to five inches) of rain . The sea breezes played a significant role in this period, maintaining the humidity at relatively low levels and avoiding the development of mould and rot. The harvest began in late August for the Merlot and the Alicante, in the latter part of September for the Sangiovese, and in the second week of September for the Cabernet. The grapes, in general, were rich in color and with an elegant and intense aroma. The skins showed an important concentration of polyphenols and, to the taste, evidenced tannins of notable softness and roundness.
Rainfall*: 358 mm (14.1 inches)
Temperature index*: 4163,5°C
Evaluation*: Very good
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2004
Year 2004 was characterised by normal weather conditions during winter and spring, with both temperatures and rainfall well within the seasonal average. Summer was instead characterised by unusual weather: abundant rainfall and cool temperature contributed to a delaied ripening process. Temperatures begun to rise again after the middle of September and remained warm during the entire month of October, this led to exceptionally positive physiological ripening of the grapes in the various parts of the zone and allow to delay the beginning of the harvest, which started on September 13th with the Merlot; the Sangiovese harvest, instead, began on October 5th and the Cabernet Sauvignon on October 19th. The overall quality of the grapes was very good indeed, with concentrated and elegant musts, intense in color and rych in polyphenols with supple and velvety tannins.
Rainfall*: 284,2 mm (11.1 inches)
Temperature index*: 3520,6°C
Evaluation*: Outstanding
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2003
The winter was characterised by higher than average rainfall, followed by a dry spring with high temperatures and a very hot summer with lower thermal excursions. These conditions lead to earlier than usual bud break and whole phenologic cycle. The harvest began on August 19 th with the Merlot grapes and continued regularly with the Sangiovese without interruption, concluding on 15 th September with the Cabernet Sauvignon. Thanks to a selective hand picking, the employment of the irrigation to aid drop and the abundant use of dry ice during the harvest, the grapes showed perfect at the phytosanitary level, very concentrated in sugar, but with a 10% drop in yield partly balanced by producing new vineyards.
Rainfall*: (data not available)
Temperature index*: (data not available)
Evaluation*: (data not available)
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
Legend
Rainfalls: of rainfall betweenApril 1st and September 30th
Temperature index: sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th
Evaluation: Poor - Mediocre - Sufficient - Good - Very good - Outstanding
In the area of Grosseto the winter period was characterized by temperatures below the average for the period and abundant rainfall which led to an import water reserve in the soil which was available to the cultivation during the summer months. The accumulation of rain in the first quarter was 306mm. The spring months that followed were characterized by the alternation of rain and sunny spells which lasted until mid-June, after which there was a net change in the weather, with the entry of a field of high pressure that brought a period of stable sunny weather. The phenological stages of budding, flowering and fruit set were very smooth with no problems whatsoever, giving a good quantity and quality of clusters. The month of July was the hottest period, with a maximum temperature which reached 37.3 in the last week of the month and total absence of rain. August was characterized by temperatures below the average for the last decade; there were two storms (cumulative total 33mm of rain), which generally slowed down the ripening of the grapes (all varieties); this situation continued throughout the period of September until the first week of October, giving rise to perfectly ripe grapes not only from a polyphenolic point of view but also regarding the sugar /acidity levels. The harvest began with a delay of about seven days compared to the average of the previous years. We started with the Alicante grapes which were harvested in the first week of September and we ended on October 14th with the last parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage is considered exceptional even here where, unlike the Chianti Classico region, we add to the quality of the grapes and musts also the quantity produced.
Rainfall*: 374,3 mm (14.7 inches)
Temperature index*: 3724,8°C
Evaluation*: Outstanding
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2009
The winter season was in line with the trend of temperatures in Tuscany where we had temperatures slightly below average, and rainfall above average. It was very rainy and stormy until the second week of March with a monthly average rainfall of 150mm. The spring phase was in line with our average of the past years, and until the first week of July there were no particular climatic conditions allowing optimal vegetative growth of the vines. From July 10th on the other hand we had temperatures above average with very little precipitations (none at all in July) until the first week of September. Heat and water stress, combined with the high level of light intensity led us to make a greater series of irrigation compared to the previous years. The ripening of the grapes was therefore anticipated, particularly Alicante, which was harvested from August 18th. The harvest continued regularly throughout the month of September and ended on October 2nd with the last grapes of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Grape quality was good, both for the balance of acidity/sugar levels and the concentration and finesse of the tannins; the use of micro-irrigation significantly reduced the metabolic stress to the plants.
Rainfall*: 277,4 mm (10.9 inches)
Temperature index*: 3915°C
Evaluation*: Good
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2008
The winter period was characterized by normal average temperatures, with precipitation slightly above average, particularly concentrated in the month of March. The phenological stage of the bud was in line with previous years, while there was a slight delay with respect to the stage of flowering and the growth of the bunches. The months of May and June were characterized by frequent and abundant rainfall. The continued unstable conditions created increased risks of diseases, specifically mildew. The end of June saw a net change of weather parameters, with periods of low relative humidity and temperature peaks that reached 37 ° C in the last week of July. These conditions led to the recovery of 6 / 7 days of delay to the phenological phases, beginning with the color change of the alicante in the last week of July. The months of August and September were marked by an absence of rainfall and average temperatures in September slightly above the seasonal average. The gathering took place in optimum weather conditions but with a reduction in production due to the strong "casting" in the process of flowering (late May). The grapes have produced an excellent balance between acidity and sugar and phenolic ripeness is not completely homogeneous. The beginning of the harvest took place August 25 with alicante and ended October 2 with the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Rainfall*: 329,2 mm (13 inches)
Temperature index*: 3747°C
Evaluation*: Very good
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2007
In winter the temperature was far above average with rainfall between January and March below the average of the area. This caused the advancement of the phenological stage of germination by approximately 8/10 days compared with the average recorded in previous years. The spring months of April, May and June had little precipitation except for the first ten days of May, where there was about 50 mm of rain. The rains contribuited to allowed a uniform growth of plants. This period was also characterized by a low relative-humidity that drastically reduced the risk of mildew infection. The months of July, August and September were characterized by normal average temperatures but by low rainfall. The harvest began on August 22 with the Alicante, and continued throughout September until October 7 ending with the Cabernet Sauvignon. With an outstanding seasonal climate, the grapes were characterized by optimal concentrations of polyphenols and anthocyanins, tannins in the mouth were very balanced and elegant, with an excellent sugar – acid balance.
Rainfall*: 210 mm (8.27 inches)
Temperature index*: 4144°C
Evaluation*: Outstanding
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2006
The 2006 vintage at Belguardo was characterized by the high quality of the grapes and by a slight – 4-5% - increase in production per acre of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Nero. Perfectly ripe grapes gave musts of outstanding quality, rich in sugar and deep in color, and with notably concentrated and elegant tannins.
April and May were dry months with temperatures slightly below seasonal averages, conditions which contributed both to uniform budding and an initial phase of uniform growth and development in the vineyard.
The vines and the grapes enjoyed excellent health during this period, aided by the dry climate which eliminated the threat of outbreaks of powdery or downy mildew. The arrival of occasional Atlantic rainstorms in August was accompanied by a drop in temperatures, particularly in the middle of the month. This led to a rapid acceleration of the ripening of the grapes, particularly of the tannins and coloring material. The harvest, in fact, began in late August (on the 28 th ) with the Merlot and subsequently, and immediately on its heels, with the Alicante. A period of bright sunshine and high temperatures continued throughout the months of September and October. The harvest concluded with the picking of the last grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon during the first days of October. A fine vintage for early-ripening grapes and a very fine one for later-ripening varieties
Rainfall*: 375 mm (14.8 inches)
Temperature index*: 4348°C
Evaluation*: Outstanding
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2005
The winter was characterized by normal rainfall and temperatures. The excellent weather which followed during the spring allowed the flowering and then the bud set to proceed in an ideal fashion. The end of July was marked by elevated temperatures (34° centigrade / 93° Fahrenheit), a phenomenon which slightly stressed the vines and undoubtedly accelerated the changing of the color. The period between mid-August and mid-September instead, was characterized by slightly below average temperatures and twelve centimeters (close to five inches) of rain . The sea breezes played a significant role in this period, maintaining the humidity at relatively low levels and avoiding the development of mould and rot. The harvest began in late August for the Merlot and the Alicante, in the latter part of September for the Sangiovese, and in the second week of September for the Cabernet. The grapes, in general, were rich in color and with an elegant and intense aroma. The skins showed an important concentration of polyphenols and, to the taste, evidenced tannins of notable softness and roundness.
Rainfall*: 358 mm (14.1 inches)
Temperature index*: 4163,5°C
Evaluation*: Very good
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2004
Year 2004 was characterised by normal weather conditions during winter and spring, with both temperatures and rainfall well within the seasonal average. Summer was instead characterised by unusual weather: abundant rainfall and cool temperature contributed to a delaied ripening process. Temperatures begun to rise again after the middle of September and remained warm during the entire month of October, this led to exceptionally positive physiological ripening of the grapes in the various parts of the zone and allow to delay the beginning of the harvest, which started on September 13th with the Merlot; the Sangiovese harvest, instead, began on October 5th and the Cabernet Sauvignon on October 19th. The overall quality of the grapes was very good indeed, with concentrated and elegant musts, intense in color and rych in polyphenols with supple and velvety tannins.
Rainfall*: 284,2 mm (11.1 inches)
Temperature index*: 3520,6°C
Evaluation*: Outstanding
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
2003
The winter was characterised by higher than average rainfall, followed by a dry spring with high temperatures and a very hot summer with lower thermal excursions. These conditions lead to earlier than usual bud break and whole phenologic cycle. The harvest began on August 19 th with the Merlot grapes and continued regularly with the Sangiovese without interruption, concluding on 15 th September with the Cabernet Sauvignon. Thanks to a selective hand picking, the employment of the irrigation to aid drop and the abundant use of dry ice during the harvest, the grapes showed perfect at the phytosanitary level, very concentrated in sugar, but with a 10% drop in yield partly balanced by producing new vineyards.
Rainfall*: (data not available)
Temperature index*: (data not available)
Evaluation*: (data not available)
(*) see legend at the foot of the page
Legend
Rainfalls: of rainfall betweenApril 1st and September 30th
Temperature index: sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th
Evaluation: Poor - Mediocre - Sufficient - Good - Very good - Outstanding
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