Montalcino Report

Double-Cane Guyot VS. Spur-Pruned Cordon Training

Last week we have implemented a monitoring in the vineyards and we have seen that the "allegagione" (fruit set) has been excellent.

In the photo, you can see bunches with uniformly sized berries. Especially in the vineyards with double-cane Guyot training, we have an abbundance of grapes that will certainly force us to carry out a green harvest.

In the vineyards with pruned-spur cordon trained vines, instead, the number of bunches is within the average and for this reason there will be no green harvest.

Flowering Completed, A Good Olive Harvest Is Predicted

Despite the fact that the adverse progression of the season (rains and unusual temperatures) has been going on for months, both the olive trees and the vines have completed or are completing their flowering.

This phase is extremely delicate and can cause great damages if the flowers abort and the fruit does not develop.

Fortunately, as can be seen in the photos, the olive trees have transformed the flowers into many olives. If everything proceeds in the right manner, we should have an abundant harvest.

Our Recommendation To Eat In Montalcino: Trattoria Il Pozzo

The summer is almost here and many of our friends in the U.S.A. are inquiring about where we like to eat in Montalcino.

One of our favorite "trattorie" is the Trattoria Il Pozzo in the village of Sant'Angelo in Colle where we live.

Herewith the website and address and telephone number:

website

Trattoria Il Pozzo
Piazza del Pozzo 2
Sant’Angelo in Colle

+390577844015

There my father and I eat the "pici" with ragù di cinghiale.

And we eat the "bistecca fiorentina", always accompanied, it goes without saying, by Brunello di Montalcino by Tenuta Il Poggione.

Could 2013 Be Another 1979? All Things Being Equal

In recent weeks, the inclement weather on alternate days has flagellated also the zone of Montalcino. Saturday, on the peak of the Mt. Amiata, numerous centimetres of snow have fallen while at the foot, it has hailed.

The temperatures have descended to 5° C. and this, together with the inclement weather, has slowed the vegetative development of the vines which are beginning to flower.

Many years had passed since such a rainy and persistent springtime. In my father's memory, one must go back to the vintage of the 1979, which had a similar springtime.

Recently, we have retasted this vintage and the judgment was "optimal".

For this reason, "all things being equal", if the sun will arrive, the vintage 2013 should be equally optimal.

Brunello In Our Hearts: A New Book On The Appellation

Please click the image below to view the video on RepubblicaTV.

@OddBacchus On Tenuta Il Poggione Brunello & A Short History Of The Appellation

Herewith a link to a review of the Tenuta Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino and a short history of the appellation by one of the top wine bloggers in the United States of America Rob Frisch.

"I was particularly impressed that these wines weren’t simply fruit and oak bombs. Both Brunellos blossomed when paired with some lamb, their ample acids keeping things balanced and food-friendly."

Rob Frisch
Odd Bacchus

Click here for his article.

@WineSpectator @BSandersonWine: 92 Points Brunello 2007 Paganelli Riserva

IL POGGIONE Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Paganelli Riserva 2007

Score: 92

Rich and medium-weight, with cherry, berry, leather and spice notes converging on the long, juicy finish. Balanced in a sleek, compact manner, ending with fresh touches of mineral. Best from 2016 through 2032. 5,667 cases made. –BS

Wine Spectator May 31, 2013

New Vineyards And Grafts Growing Well

The vineyards planted in January 2012 are growing very well. In this case, the abundant water in the soil makes the vines grow very rapidly.

Also the vineyard grafted with Sangiovese is developing its new buds.

Indications Of An Abundant Vintage

From the visual monitoring of the vineyards and the olive groves, it would seem that we will have a vintage with many grapes and many olives. But we won't have any certainty until after the fruit set.

As far as the grapes are concerned, in order to fall within the parameters prescribed by the appellation, we will need to intervene drastically with the pruning of the bunches.

Difficult Climatic Progression In This Period

In the last period, the climatic progression has been very difficult inasumuch as it has rained often. Light rains and then sunshine but also more consistent rains with rainfall of 40 millimeters.

The minimum temperatures of yesterday and today have fallen from 15° C. to 10° C.

The abbundant rain makes the grass grow, besides the vines. And the work in the vineyards has to continue at a fast pace to keep up. Moreover, the continuous rains force us to make treatments against the fungal disease peronospora more frequently.