Tuscany Vintage Flashcards

1
Q

Tuscany: 1970

A

Excellent across the board, but particularly exceptional in Montalcino.

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2
Q

Tuscany: 1971

A

Exceptional as well; some hail in Chianti but with strict selection the quality was very high.

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3
Q

Tuscany: 1972

A

Total washout.

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4
Q

Tuscany: 1973

A

Light and early-maturing; damaged by rain at harvest.

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5
Q

Tuscany: 1974

A

Generally poor; Chianti is better than the other DOCGs.

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6
Q

Tuscany: 1975

A

Very hot and dry summer; ripening uneven especially in Chianti but some very good wines there. One of the best vintages of the century for Brunello. Overall big wines with lots of alcohol, color, extract, and acidity.

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7
Q

Tuscany: 1976

A

Calamitous. Destroyed by rain.

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8
Q

Tuscany: 1977

A

Very good - much better than elsewhere in Italy. Balanced and elegant.

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9
Q

Tuscany: 1978

A

Generally excellent, if leaner and more austere than 1979.

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10
Q

Tuscany: 1979

A

Big, big production numbers. Chianti was good if early-drainking, but Brunellos were excellent - ripe and powerful.

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11
Q

Tuscany: Excellent vintages of the 1970’s

A
1970
1971
1975 (Brunello)
1977
1978
1979
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12
Q

Tuscany: Poor vintages of the 1970’s

A

1972
1973
1974
1976

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13
Q

Tuscany: 1980

A

Late harvest, variable quality.

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14
Q

Tuscany: 1981

A

Good but not great; early maturing.

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15
Q

Tuscany: 1982

A

Long, hot, and dry summer and fine weather at harvest. Fuller-bodied, more tannic and austere than the 1983’s; most exceptional in Brunello di Montalcino.

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16
Q

Tuscany: 1983

A

Relatively big harvest; elegant, balanced wines with lovely fruit.

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17
Q

Tuscany: 1984

A

Total washout.

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18
Q

Tuscany: 1985

A

Outstanding vintage; high acidity and extract. Very long lived.

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19
Q

Tuscany: 1986

A

Good vintage; overshadowed by 1985. Lighter in body than the previous vintage.

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20
Q

Tuscany: 1987

A

Mixed vintage, early drinking in Chianti. Better in Montalcino.

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21
Q

Tuscany: 1988

A

Best vintage of the 1980’s? Production down by up to 30%, but very high quality. Rich, powerful wines.

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22
Q

Tuscany: 1989

A

Difficult year with too much rain in September. Low concentration.

23
Q

Tuscany: Excellent vintages of the 1980’s

A
1982
1983
1985
1986
1988
24
Q

Tuscany: Poor vintages of the 1980’s

A

1980
1984
1987
1989

25
Q

Tuscany: 1990

A

Hot year with low yields; exceptional across the board. Powerful and hard-edged - last “traditional” vintage in Tuscany before the style fully shifted. Very long lived.

26
Q

Tuscany: 1991

A

Too much rain at harvest; many fungal problems. Difficult.

27
Q

Tuscany: 1992

A

Very wet and rainy. Generally terrible.

28
Q

Tuscany: 1993

A

Rainy October in Chianti but most grapes were in already; solid vintage in Monalcino, if more austere and nervy than other vintages.

29
Q

Tuscany: 1994

A

Good but not great; round and soft. Significantly better than the three prior vintages.

30
Q

Tuscany: 1995

A

Small quantity but excellent quality; one of the three best vintages of the decade. Very elegant.

31
Q

Tuscany: 1996

A

Cool summer and variable fall; lighter-styled, early-maturing wines.

32
Q

Tuscany: 1997

A

Like 1995, small quantity but esceptional quality; vintage of the decade. Very luscious.

33
Q

Tuscany: 1998

A

Drought in summer followed by overmuch rain in the fall; diluted crop. Variable. Light and fruity.

34
Q

Tuscany: 1999

A

Big crop, high quality. Similar to 1999 but a touch lighter and more acid-driven.

35
Q

Tuscany: Excellent vintages of the 1990’s

A

1990
1995
1997
1999

36
Q

Tuscany: Poor vintages of the 1990’s

A

1991
1992
1996
1998

37
Q

Tuscany: 2000

A

Hot vintage, early maturing. Soft, round, and fruity.

38
Q

Tuscany: 2001

A

Production down due to April frosts. Good quality, if full-bodied and somewhat soft acidity.

39
Q

Tuscany: 2002

A

Cool and very, very rainy; choice was between picking underripe and picking rotten.

40
Q

Tuscany: 2003

A

Drought and heat stress dropped quantity by !5% or so. Dense, full-bodied, high alcohol, lowered acidity. Overbalanced.

41
Q

Tuscany: 2004

A

High quantity, perfect growing season, exceptional quality. Italy’s version of France’s 2005.

42
Q

Tuscany: 2005

A

Cold and wet, widespread rot. Difficult.

43
Q

Tuscany: 2006

A

Generally excellent; long growing season, well-balanced wines.

44
Q

Tuscany: 2007

A

Hot, dry season; high alcohol, high acidity. “Tremendous,” says Jancis.

45
Q

Tuscany: 2008

A

Cool year, wide diurnal shift. Excellent, but firmly structured and more on the austere side.

46
Q

Tuscany: 2009

A

Exceptionally hot summer; high alcohol and sometimes jammy wines. Originally well-regarded, but may not last.

47
Q

Tuscany: 2010

A

Very late harvest due to a late and wet spring. Incredibly highly regarded for Brunello.

48
Q

Tuscany: 2011

A

Irregular weather: hot and cold alternating month by month, with incredible heat in August. Rich and high alcohol, but not necessarily fresh.

49
Q

Tuscany: 2012

A

Another intensely hot vintage, but this year the result is medium-bodied and fresh wines due to rainfall in August.

50
Q

Tuscany: 2013

A

“Classic vintage” (aka cooler than the preceeding three years); harvest in October. Very promising; fresh, elegant.

51
Q

Tuscany: 2014

A

Like Piedmont, major hail damage. Better weather in the fall saved the vintages, but wines are light and early-maturing.

52
Q

Tuscany: 2015

A

Irregular spring, hot and dry summer. Hail in August. Yields are down, but concentration looks good.

53
Q

Tuscany: Poor vintages of the 2000’s

A

2002
2005
2014