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: Harvesting Paganelli the "cru" of Tenuta Il Poggione

Today we have begun the harvest of grapes in the Paganelli vineyard, with which we will produce the Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli.

The analytical results in the vineyard and in the laboratory tell us that the grapes have arrived at the apex of quality and it is now time to harvest. In the vineyard, we continue to select the grapes manually and those bunches which are not qualitatively perfect are cut and dropped on the ground as food for the animals.

Only the best fruit is delivered to the cellar for the production of our winery's "cru".

Again, this year, the Paganelli vineyard has shown its qualitative potentiality, in an anomalous summer, where it was the vine that made the difference.

Harvest Report 2011: The Grapes Have Held Up Well to the Heat of an Endless Summer

We are now harvesting the Sangiovese grapes in the central zone of our estate next to our farmhouse/agriturismo (called the "Capannacce") in the "vigneto delle olivastre" (the "vineyard of the wild olive trees"). These grapes will be used to produce our Brunello di Montalcino. The grapes are at the correct point of ripeness and also have ripe seeds.

The vines have held up well to the heat of a summer that does not wish to end, as can be seen in the new vegetation.

During the hottest hours of the day, we continue to have temperatures up to 28° C. (82° F.), while during the night the temperatures descend to as low as 16° (61°). The bunches still have turgid berries.

In the cellar, the must from the Sangiovese harvesting the day before yesterday is fermenting and we have already obtained good color.

Harvest Report 2011: Very Light Rain at Il Poggione On Saturday

Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon it has rained on the Mt. Amiata and surroundings, while only a few millimeters of rain fell on our estate.

Sunday evening, as can be seen in the photo, the weather appeared to promise rain. But none arrived.

Today, as planned, we have re-initiated the harvest of the Sangiovese for the production of Brunello di Montalcino.

The grapes are at the right point of ripeness, with excellent parameters.

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: The White Grapes Harvest Has Been Completed and We Are Waiting for the Sangiovese

Today, we have finished harvesting the white grapes and we have momentarily stopped in the wait for the Sangiovese grapes for the Brunello di Montalcino to arrive at the correct degree of ripening.

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: No Rain in Montalcino and the Harvest Continues

Yesterday, 5 September, we have continued the harvest, picking the Sangiovese with which we will make the IGT Toscana.

The seasonal progression is stable. The rain that fell in the North Italy did not arrive in Montalcino and it stopped on Mt. Amiata where it rained yesterday. A rainfall in the vineyards would have surely been useful, but one cannot command the climatic progression and we must take that which comes.

The temperatures of yesterday have been maximum 29.2° C. (84.6° F.) and minimum 19.3° C. (66.7° F.).

As is illustrated in the photos, the solids have been removed from the Vermentino and Sangiovese Rosè (the impurities, the mucilage, pieces of the skins, and other components are removed) and now they are slowly fermenting at low temperature at 12° C. (54° F.).

As is illustrated in the video, we have also begun the racking off of the Merlot, which was the first to be harvested.

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.