Tuscany Vintage

Question 1

Tuscany: 1970

Answer 1

Excellent across the board, but particularly exceptional in Montalcino.

Question 2

Tuscany: 1971

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Tuscany: 1972

Answer 3

Total washout.

Question 4

Tuscany: 1973

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Tuscany: 1974

Answer 5

Generally poor; Chianti is better than the other DOCGs.

Question 6

Tuscany: 1975

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

Tuscany: 1976

Answer 7

Calamitous. Destroyed by rain.

Question 8

Tuscany: 1977

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Tuscany: 1978

Answer 9

Generally excellent, if leaner and more austere than 1979.

Question 10

Tuscany: 1979

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Tuscany: Excellent vintages of the 1970’s

Answer 11

1970
1971
1975 (Brunello)
1977
1978
1979

Question 12

Tuscany: Poor vintages of the 1970’s

Answer 12

1972
1973
1974
1976

Question 13

Tuscany: 1980

Answer 13

Late harvest, variable quality.

Question 14

Tuscany: 1981

Answer 14

Good but not great; early maturing.

Question 15

Tuscany: 1982

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Tuscany: 1983

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Tuscany: 1984

Answer 17

Total washout.

Question 18

Tuscany: 1985

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Tuscany: 1986

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Tuscany: 1987

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Tuscany: 1988

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Tuscany: 1989

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Tuscany: Excellent vintages of the 1980’s

Answer 23

1982
1983
1985
1986
1988

Question 24

Tuscany: Poor vintages of the 1980’s

Answer 24

1980
1984
1987
1989

Question 25

Tuscany: 1990

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Tuscany: 1991

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Tuscany: 1992

Answer 27

Very wet and rainy. Generally terrible.

Question 28

Tuscany: 1993

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Tuscany: 1994

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Tuscany: 1995

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Tuscany: 1996

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Tuscany: 1997

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Tuscany: 1998

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Tuscany: 1999

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Tuscany: Excellent vintages of the 1990's

Answer 35

1990 1995 1997 1999

Question 36

Tuscany: Poor vintages of the 1990's

Answer 36

1991 1992 1996 1998

Question 37

Tuscany: 2000

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Tuscany: 2001

Answer 38

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

Question 39

Tuscany: 2002

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Tuscany: 2003

Answer 40

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

Question 41

Tuscany: 2004

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Tuscany: 2005

Answer 42

Cold and wet, widespread rot. Difficult.

Question 43

Tuscany: 2006

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Tuscany: 2007

Answer 44

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

Question 45

Tuscany: 2008

Answer 45

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

Question 46

Tuscany: 2009

Answer 46

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

Question 47

Tuscany: 2010

Answer 47

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

Question 48

Tuscany: 2011

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Tuscany: 2012

Answer 49

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

Question 50

Tuscany: 2013

Answer 50

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

Question 51

Tuscany: 2014

Answer 51

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

Question 52

Tuscany: 2015

Answer 52

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

Question 53

Tuscany: Poor vintages of the 2000's

Answer 53

2002 2005 2014