Montalcino Report

Harvest Report 2011: The Harvest Has Been Completed 7 October

Yesterday, 7 October, we have completed the harvest, picking the Sangiovese grapes for the production of Brunello di Montalcino in the high zone of Sant'Angelo in Colle, in the vineyards "Costa" and "Fonterenza" to be precise.

Healthy, ripe grapes that will give the Brunello 2011 elegance, aromas, acidity, thanks to the location of the vineyards at 400 meters above the sea level.

We have arrived at the end of a long harvest that begin with the picking of the white grapes on 22 August.

The climatic progression of this year passed from a cool and rainy July to a torrid August without rain. A progression that continued even in September and that made us work diligently in the vineyard to select the grapes and to pick those more advanced in their ripening, which were at risk and were being dried, leaving in the vineyard those which were not good.

The vines located at different altitudes, with ages that vary between 15 and 47 years, have responded well to the climatic progression and we can say that not only for the Riserva I Paganelli, but also for the Brunello di Montalcino vintage and for the Rosso di Montalcino, the quality is very high. Rightly, we must wait for the wines to finish the malolactic fermentation before we pass judgment. But our experience, as we have already tasted them, tells us that the quality is there and that it is very good.

A thanks, as always, to our workers who have worked hard in the vineyard up until the very end, selecting and picking only the best bunches.

Harvest Report 2011: Potential Anthocyanins, Seeds Are Ripe, Excellent Vintage Still Expected

Yesterday we have completed the organic fertilizing of the land using manure pellets. They are easy to distribute and they are an excellent substitute for barnyard manure. At the same time, in order to avoid that it be burned by the sun, it was also buried by tilling the land.

We continue to harvest the Sangiovese to produce the Rosso di Montlacino. On Monday, we will begin to harvest the Sangiovese to produce the Brunello di Montalcino. Yesterday, the analytical monitoring has comforted us. The choice to wait to make the harvest has given the hope-for results. The potential anthocyanins have risen to 1428.00 and the extractible anthocyanins to 1017.00. The ripeness of the seeds is excellent. We are still convinced, that at least for us in Sant'Angelo in Colle, 2011 will be an excellent vintage.

Harvest Report 2011: Picking the Sangiovese for the Rosso di Montalcino

Today, 20 September, we have begun again to harvest the Sangiovese grapes with which we will make the Rosso di Montalcino.

This morning at 7:00 a.m., the low temperature was around 10° C. (50° F.). The high is rising but we will not exceed 23-23° C. (72-73° F.). From tomorrow, however there is a forecast of an increase in the temperatures.

The analytic data for the grapes are very good and now the extractable anthocyanin has risen to excellent levels to obtain analytically excellent wines also in terms of their color.

Harvest Report 2011: Weather Is Warm But Great Vintage Expected

We are continuing to harvest the Sangiovese for the IGT wines "in slow motion" as the Sangiovese for the Brunello and the Rosso di Montalcino is continuing to ripen on the vine.

The climate is warm with maximum of 29° C. (84° F.) and minimum of 16° C. (61° F.). Apart from the wave of sweltering heat in August, we are always convinced that this will be a great vintage.

Harvest Report 2011: We Have Begun Harvesting Sangiovese for Rosso di Montalcino; Rain Predicted for Next Week

We have begun to harvest the Sangiovese grapes with which we will produce Rosso di Montalcino. The analytic data are excellent and the grapes, aside from a few bunches that were uncovered and struck by the sun and therefore discarded, have a balanced ripening with an excellent alcohol/acidity ratio.

Again today the temperature has registered 31° C. (88° F.) with a low of 18° C. (64° F.). The meteorologic data predict rain for the beginning of the next week which would be surely useful to mitigate the temperature. It would be important that after the rain, the serene weather returned and the inclement weather did not continue.

On 11 August we wrote that the excellent seasonal progression was slowly bringing the grapes to ripeness and pre-announcing an excellent 5-star vintage. We have also writen that as long as the grapes are not in the cellar, it is premature to make predictions because then the climate can reserve ugly surprises for us. We cross the fingers and we continue to work to the best of our ability.

Harvest Report 2011: We Have Concluded the Thinning of the Grapes

In this period of August we have finished the thinning of the Sangiovese grapes that we will vinify for the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Vigna Paganelli, for the Brunello di Montalcino for this vintage and for the Rosso di Montalcino.

Only a few of us have remained at the winery to work because a good part of the staff has already left for their vacations and will not re-enter to work until August 22.

The Sangiovese grapes have progressed to maturity, thanks in party to the favorable seasonal progression. High temperatures of 28-30° C. (82-86° F.) and lows of 16-19° C. (61-66° F.).

The state of health is optimal and we foresee a five-star vintage.

But, as always in the vineyards, one can make forecasts but then in reality it is the seasonal progression that makes the difference. We grape growers have done everything that we can to ensure the high quality of the grapes.

Elections of the Brunello di Montalcino Consortium

Yesterday the election for the Brunello di Montalcino consortium board members took place and the following board members have been elected by the Brunello producers themselves:

Bindocci Fabrizio, Buratti Rudy, Cinelli Colombini Donatella, Cortonesi Andrea, Cortonesi Marco, Lambardi Maurizio, Lisini Baldi Carlo Arturo, Losappio Bernardo, Morlacchetti Ermanno, Orzalesi Guido, Pacenti Giancarlo, Palazzesi Elia, Ratto Fabio, Ripaccioli Francesco, Rivella Ezio.

Among these board members, the President and the three Vice Presidents will be chosen within 20 days.  

Benvenuto Brunello Day 1

Day 1 of Benvenuto Brunello

I was pouring Rosso di Montalcino 08, Brunello 05 and Riserva 04 together with Paolo, our "Ragioniere Anziano".

Journalist day today and tomorrow nad Sun and Mon will be for the trade.

 
 

New lower maximum yields for 2009 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Rosso di Montalcino DOC

There has been a lot of writings about Brunello di Montalcino in the recent weeks. The Italian "Fiamme Gialle" or "Yellow Flames" (because they have yellow flames on their uniforms), the Guardia di Finanza, which is the treasury department of Italy, organized a press conference on July 18 wherein they announced the findings of the investigation of Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico producers who were not following the rules. My father Fabrizio Bindocci and I are glad that the investigation has been concluded and that we can move forward. We have always believed that Brunello di Montalcino should be made with 100% Sangiovese grapes and even if it is true that some may have broken the rules, we love our appellation and we know that the greater majority of Brunello producers make real Brunello, from Sangiovese in purity. 

So much has been said in the newspapers and the blogs and so has been overshadowed some very important news about Brunello di Montalcino.

Earlier this month, the Regione Toscana (the Tuscany Region government) has announced that for the 2009 vintage the maximum yields for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Rosso di Montalcino DOC will be lowered.

The decision was made in June and the news became official in the Bollettino della Regione Toscana on July 8. 

Beginning with 2009 vintage, the maximum yield for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG will be 7 tons per hectare or 47.6 hectoliters per hectare and the maximum yield for Rosso di Montalcino DOC will be 8 tons per hectare or 56 hectoliters per hectare. This is a reduction of 1 ton for Brunello: until this year the maximum yield for Brunello was 8 tons per hectare (see the "disciplinare" here).

My father Fabrizio and I believe this is a positive evolution for Brunello di Montalcino because it will make it so that the overall quality of Brunello will be better and it will also help to stabilise the prices of Brunello for everyone. 

We hope you are all enjoying your summer and we will be going to Castiglioncello soon for our vacations at the seaside! 

Tuscan cooking and Il Poggione in Cincinnati Ohio

My father and I were really happy to hear from our friends Nicola Pietoso our fellow Tuscan and one of his wine buyers Pete Sedgwick (in the picture above) at Via Vite and Nicola's in Cincinnati where Nicola and his son the chef Cristian make some classic favorite dishes from Firenze, like veal and ricotta meatballs "alla Cibreo" like the ones they make at the famous Trattoria Cibrèo in Firenze by Fabio Picchi. Nicola's was called the number 2 top 10 restaurant in Cincinnati this year.

Pete who is the general manager and also one of the wine buyers wrote us:

“Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino goes really well with our signature dishes, like the penne alla bolognese and braised lamb shank, any type of hearty, braised meat, and rich pastas… Since its price point is really good, it’s more accessible to people who don’t know Italian wine yet.”

We are very happy that people are eating good Tuscan cooking in Cincinnati and drinking traditional Rosso di Montalcino made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso grown in our vineyards in Sant'Angelo in Colle!