2003 VINTAGE REPORT
TOSCANA
September 25, 2003
The Vineyards of Baroncini
Bruna Baroncini, owner, oenologist and winemaker toured us through their vineyards.
Poggio il Castellare (A tiny Brunello estate in the heart of Castelnuovo dell’Abate)
* 3 acres of Brunello, 12,000 plants per acre
* Vines are 20 to 30 years old and have a very thick bark
* 2003 production: 2 tons per acre
* Soil Composition: chalk and marl with a high component of iron.
* No irrigation
* No chemical fertilization
The harvest ended on September 3. Conditions during the 2003 growing season: no rain, 100 degrees during the day and about 60 degrees during the night. We had the opportunity to examine the vineyards and learn more about the Sangiovese clones used by the family for over 200 years. We could see the heat damaged grapes on the ground that had been clipped earlier in the season.
Tasting notes on future releases:
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1998: Very good. Aromas of tobacco and roasted coffee beans. On the palate, the wine is harmonious with sweet tannins and a long finish. Production: 400 cases(12 bottles per case).
From Montalcino we drove across to Montepulciano to the beautiful Tenuta Il Faggeto vineyard.
Tenuta Il Faggeto
* 11 acres of Prugnolo Gentile, Canaiolo and Mammolo.
* Vines are 15 to 25 years old
* 2003 production: 2 tons per acre
* Soil Composition: clay calcareous mixed with rocks
* No irrigation
* No chemical fertilization
The harvest ended on September 17, 2003. Conditions during the 2003 growing season: no rain, 100 degrees during the day and about 60 degrees during the night.
Tasting notes on future releases:
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2002 Aromas of cherries and blackberries. On the palate the wine is delicate and full-structured. You can feel the age of the vines in the wine. Good finish. Production: 800 cases(12 bottles per case).
Fattoria Sovestro
* 11 acres of Vernaccia and Trebbiano<
* Vines are 15 to 25 years old
* 2003 production: 2 tons per acre
* Soil Composition: chalky and calcareous
* 700 feet above sea level
* No irrigation
* No chemical fertilization
The harvest ended on September 29, 2003. Conditions during the 2003 growing season: no rain, 100 degrees during the day and about 60 degrees during the night. We are staying in a villa in the middle of Baroncini’s Fattoria Sovestro vineyards. The 6:00 a.m. harvest of the Vernaccia crop woke us up. This crop of Vernaccia is beautiful; all the grapes are ripe and mature.
Tasting notes on future releases:
Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2002 Herbaceous aromas, particularly of thyme. On the palate, the tastes of apples and almonds. The wine has a brilliant appearance and hue. This is a stylish Vernaccia with a clean, excellent finish. Production: 4,000 cases(12 bottles per case).
La Faina 2001 (Trebbiano 100% IGT) Aromas of apricots and peaches. Another brilliant appearance to this wine, with hints of green. On the palate the wine is harmonious, complex with a very long finish. The grapes for the 2003 vintage will be harvested in November. Production: 300 cases(12 bottles per case)
Tenuta Il Puntone
Tenuta Il Puntone is in Scansano, about 30 kilometers from San Gimignano, too far with our tight schedule. Bruna brought the wine to the cantina in Fattoria Sovestro for the tasting. This vineyard is three miles away from the sea on the west coast of Tuscany. It is very difficult to reach, set among beautiful hills – almost untouched from human presence. The harvest ended on September 16, 2003. Conditions during the 2003 growing season: no rain, 100 degrees during the day and about 60 degrees during the night.
* 4 acres of Sangiovese Grosso, Vermentino, Ansonica, Alicante, and Ciliegolo
* Vines are 5 to 12 years old
* 2003 production: 1.5 tons per acre
* Soil Composition: sandy mixed with pebbles
* 800 feet above sea level
* No irrigation
* No chemical fertilization
Tasting notes on future releases:
Vermentino Il Puntone 2002 (85% Vermentino, 15% Ansonica) Aromas of cactus pears and green melons. On the palate, the wine has a fruit forward and a good balance of acidity; round with a beautifully soft finish. Production: 250 cases(12 bottles per case).
Morellino di Scansano 2002 Aromas of plums and hazelnuts. On the palate, the wine is fruity and jammy with sweet tannins. Long finish. Production: 700 cases(12 bottles per case).
Morellino di Scansano Riserva 1999 Aromas of figs and plums. On the palate, the wine has good balance, and a ripe, excellent finish. Production: 450 cases(12 bottles per case).
We also had the pleasure of tasting Bruna Baroncini’s (along with Hugh Johnson’s) new discovery. Bruna purchased 250 acres in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. It has new plantings of an indigenous varietal, Saperavi, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was made in Georgia and travels in barrels in a refrigerated container to San Gimignano to be bottled.
Tasting notes
Chirsa 2000 (Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Saperavi 70%) Aromas of licorice, raspberries and blackberries. On the palate, a jammy fruit bomb, rich and complex. A very long finish. Production: 800 cases(12 bottles per case).