2009 HARVEST: BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO. FIRST BUNCH OF SANGIOVESE PICKED TODAY
30/09/2011
THE PRESIDENT PATRIZIO CENCIONI: “WE FORESEE AN EXCELLENT VINTAGE”
2009 Harvest: Brunello Di Montalcino
First Bunch Of Sangiovese Picked Today
Excellent forecast for the production of Rosso di Montalcino, Sant’Antimo and Moscadello di Montalcino
Montalcino 22 September 2009 – The grape harvest operations began today for
Brunello di Montalcino vintage 2009. The harvest of Sangiovese has started in the south of the territory where the grapes have reached an excellent level of maturity.
The quality of the grapes is very high and the expectations are for an excellent qualitative level. The weather conditions of 2009 underwent two distinct phases that compensated each other.
During the first phase there were many rainy days that resulted in an accumulation of water reserves in the soil in Spring, at the beginning of the vegetative development of the vines. This rainy phase continued longer than usual until the middle of July.
During the second period, in summer, the weather was very dry and hot. The water reserves accumkulated during the first phase were therefore very useful. The grapes ripened faster in the month of August following a regular rhythm, as was clear from the analyses gathered by the Consorzio. The potential alcohol contents of the grapes are considerably high, but with excellent levels of total acidity and extracts. The poliphenols present are abundant and well balanced.
The grapes for the production of Rosso di Montalcino, that are harvested at the same time as the Brunello grapes, are also of an excellent quality. Very good grapes also for the Sant’Antimo vines, both the early ripening ones, already picked, and the later ones. And lastly the grapes, also being picked, that will be made into Moscadello di Montalcino, both the Still kind and the Sparkling, as well as the Late Harvest kind.
A good forecast too for quantity, of which the level is expected to be similar to that of 2008, with a probable slight decrease in percentage.
“At this time of great commitment – says the President of the Consorzio Patrizio Cencioni - we take note with great satisfaction of the forecasts for an excellent vintage 2009, which will enable us to maintain our strength on the markets and continue to present Montalcino on the international panorama, as an “absolute classic” of Tuscan and Italian oenology”.
Great optimism, therefore, for the 2009 vintage, a year in which the Montalcino area has confronted with staunch determination a state of affairs of global economic crisis that involves all wine growing situations both in the old world and in the new producing countries.
But the data obtained points to encouraging results: As of August 31 5,800,000 seals of Brunello di Montalcino were sold, compared to 5,500,000 during the same period in 2008, showing an increase of 5%. The effort of producers, therefore, has given positive results and the positions reached are being maintained.