Tuscany Flashcards
2019
Bolgheri: 96 - Cool wet spring, ideal conditions at harvest
Chianti Classico: 95 - more rain than coast, balanced and structured with aging potential
2018
Chianti Classico: 93 - cool and rain, supple and charming
Bolgheri: 92 - cool and rain, fruity and vibrant, approachable early
Brunello: 93 - rainy and cold, fresh and elegant
2017
JR says frost, heat and drought, low yields
Brunello: 92 - dry and warm, balanced and fresh to drink in near term
Chianti Classico: 93 - heat and drought, best are fresh, balanced with dense tannins
Bolgheri: 93 - heat and drought, dense and concentrated
Best vintages in Tuscany 2015-2020
2016 Brunello WS: 99 = textbook, elegance, harmony, balance
2016 Chianti Classico WS: 97 = vibrant and elegant
2016 Bolgheri: 96 = extreme weather, hot summer
2015 Chianti Classico WS: 97 = long lived, powerful, concentrated
2015 Bolgheri WS: 97 = Ripe and opulent
2015 in Brunello still amazing (97) = ripe and rich, 2016 a bit better
Worst vintages in Tuscany 2015-2020
2017 and 2018
2017 = heat and drought
2018 = rainy
2014
Like Piedmont, major hail damage. Better weather in the fall saved the vintages, but wines are light and early-maturing.
Bolgheri: 89 = lighter style
Chianti Classico: 88= slim and elegant
Brunello: 89 = some producers declassified cause hard to ripen grapes
2013
“Classic vintage” (aka cooler than the preceeding three years); harvest in October. Very promising; fresh, elegant.
Brunello: 93 = elegant, balanced and vibrant
Chianti Classico: 93 = Sleek, vibrant wines with bright, focused fruit flavors
Brunello: 94 = fresh, aromatic, elegant wines
2012
Another intensely hot vintage, but this year the result is medium-bodied and fresh wines due to rainfall in August.
Chianti Classico: 89 = Firm, structured, rich with elegance
Bolgheri: 90 = dense, compact, fresh
Brunello: 96 = Rich, concentrated, ripe fruit
2011
Irregular weather: hot and cold alternating month by month, with incredible heat in August. Rich and high alcohol, but not necessarily fresh.
Chianti Classico: 93 = rich, ripe, elegant
Brunello: 91 = fruit forward, The best are lively and balanced; ripe and dense in the south
Bolgheri: 95 = Ripe, fruity wines, with a mix of power, density and flesh
2010
Very late harvest due to a late and wet spring. Incredibly highly regarded for Brunello.
Bolgheri: 90 - elegant and refined
Chianti Classico: 92 = The best are fine, ripe wines, showing freshness, structure and balance
Brunello: 98 = fresh, elegant, balanced, structured
Best Vintages in Tuscany 2010-2014
2010 Brunello WS: 98 = Fresh, elegant, balanced, structured / 2012 also great
2011 Bolgheri
Worst vintages in Tuscany 2010-2014
2014 Brunello WS: 89 = cold and wet
2014 Bolgheri WS: 89 = cold and wet, lighter style
2014 Chianti Classico WS: 88 - cold and wet, lighter style
Best vintages in Tuscany 2010-2020
2016 Brunello WS: 99 (2010 amazing as well)
2015/16 Chianti Classico WS: 97
2015 Bulgheri WS: 97
Worst vintages in Tuscany 2010-2020
2014 across the board cold and wet, lighter styles
2009
Exceptionally hot summer; high alcohol and sometimes jammy wines. Originally well-regarded, but may not last.
While the 2009s overall showed richness of fruit with good acidity, in many cases a certain jamminess looks likely to affect their ageing ability.
2008
Cool year, wide diurnal shift. Excellent, but firmly structured and more on the austere side.
2007
Hot, dry season; high alcohol, high acidity. “Tremendous,” says Jancis.
Bolgheri: 95 = Fresh, fruity and racy; firmer and more tannic than 2006
Chianti Classico: 94 = Aromatic and fresh, with ripe fruit and tannin backbone; well-balanced
Brunello: 93 = Hotter and riper than 2006; fruit-forward, rich and elegant, offering immediate charm and softer structures
2006
Generally excellent; long growing season, well-balanced wines.
2005
Cold and wet, widespread rot. Difficult.
Best vintages Tuscany 2005-2009
2006 Bolgheri WS: 96 = perfumed, rich, balanced, refined
2006 Brunello WS: 95 = complex, powerful, ripe, rich
Worst vintages Tuscany 2005-2009
2005 across the board cold and wet avg score 89
2009 very hot in Bolgheri, Brunello, WS says rainy in Chianti avg score 89
2004
High quantity, perfect growing season, exceptional quality. Italy’s version of France’s 2005.
2004 Brunello WS: 97 = perfumed and refined
Bolgheri: 92 = Harmonious and elegant, with racy tannins and fresh fruit
Chianti Classico: 89 = some outstanding wines
2003
Drought and heat stress dropped quantity by !5% or so. Dense, full-bodied, high alcohol, lowered acidity. Overbalanced.
Bolgheri: 88 = jammy
Brunello: 88 = rich, powerful, thick
Chianti Classico: 91 = solid and rich
2002
Cool and very, very rainy; choice was between picking underripe and picking rotten.
Bolgheri: 85
Chianti Classico: 79
Brunello: 78
2001
Production down due to April frosts. Good quality, if full-bodied and somewhat soft acidity.
Brunello: WS 98 = Great wines with wonderful structure, focus and balance
Chianti Classico: 92 = Aromatic, balanced and refined
Bolgheri: 96 = Rich and powerful, yet fresh and balanced
2000
Hot vintage, early maturing. Soft, round, and fruity.
Best vintages Tuscany 2000-2004
2004 Brunello WS: 97 = perfumed and refined
2001 Brunello WS: 98 = great structure and balance
2001 Bolgheri WS: 96 = rich and powerful
Worst vintages Tuscany 2000-2004
2002 across the board TERRIBLE
RAIN
Best vintages of the 1990s
1997 across the board great
WS: 97 = Bright, rich, stuctured
1999 for Brunello EXCELLENT
WS: 97 = generous, tannic, fruity
1990
1995
1997
1999
