2012 Vintage Trend to 26 August
The 2012 vintage promises to be the most unpredictable of the last decade.
A few days before the start of operations our expectations are very uncertain. The main factors that characterize the year are the low rainfall in winter and spring, the early arrival of intense heat and the reduced production of grapes.
To date, however, and contrary to all expectations, the vineyards are carrying out a satisfactory ripening of the grapes.
There were no particular signs of water stress; obviously our land, a rather clayey matrix, has managed to maintain the little water received; as well the plants have also lost less water in summer due to the limited development of the leaf, which in turn was determined by the drought and low temperatures in the spring.
Also the reduced quantity of grapes, another factor characterizing the year, has allowed the plants to maintain a physiological balance with the foliage.
The harvest of the most precocious variety (Merlot) is about 10 days in advance compared to the average of past years, therefore it should take place in the first week of September.
I’m still uncertain of the harvest forecast for the later varieties, such as Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Trebbiano Spoletino, which represent the most important part of our grapes.
The grape quantity production will be lower than the normal potential of our vineyards (about 25%).
At the moment it’s still difficult to make an assessment of the quality. We are hopeful of the fact that the process of maturation has never been interupted. In particular, as in all other hot years, we expect a better quality with the late varieties, which are less affected adversely by the high temperatures of August, having in September, the most important phase of maturation.