August 2004, Harvest Report

Carpineto: Practically Perfect Vinification

The Climatic Conditions

vines’ cycle of vegetation began late because of the low springtime temperatures, which delayed by 15 days all the plants’ phenological  phases, including veraison and ripening. As a result, the cycle has finally returned to the times considered canonical before the recent changes in the climatic pattern.

On the estate, it appeared there would be no problems due to  shortage of water after a snowy winter and a spring with abundant rainfall but the summer was completely dry, so that it was necessary to use emergency irrigation in vineyards planted on well-drained terrains and those positioned on the brows of hills.

The weather during the summer, which was not excessively hot, was ideal for the vines and assured outstanding ripening of the grapes and in a special way those on vines with a balanced number of clusters.

The difference in quality in respect to the quantity of production has never been more obvious than in this year. An excellent vintage, therefore, for those who worked hard in the vineyard and carried out diligent thinning. The olives suffered more than the vines from the dry summer. Lack of water caused the grapes to fall from the vines, which substantially affected the outcome of the harvest, although it was still abundant.

In the Winery

The wholesomeness of the season just ended can be recognized in the qualitative excellence of the grapes that were harvested and by the wines just created in the Carpineto cellars. They are elegant and balanced wines, extraordinary above all for the richness of their vinous and fruity fragrances, their clean aromas and their intense and vivacious color due without doubt to their proper content of anthocyanins and acidity.

On the estate, we are carrying out vinifications that can be described as “by the book” from a purely technical standpoint and the process has progressed in practically perfect style. For years now, Carpineto’s principal objective has been that of preventing blocked fermentation due to hindering elements like excessive concentration of sugars (alcohol), tannins and polyphenols.

The production of “vino novello” provides the first confirmation of the positive outcome of vinification. Its regularity enabled us, first of all, to make up for the delay in harvesting. Because of the complexity of its execution and the limited time in which the entire production process must be begun and completed, the preparation of the first product of the season is nearly always a challenge.

The skins of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano grapes are still macerating in the wine but analyses carried out so far encourage a forecast of excellent quality. So does the fact that the abundance of production permitted us to make more than one selection of the grapes. And that enabled us to set aside for the production of this wine only the best fruit.

For the Chianti Classico, production this year dropped to historic minimums because the total renewal of the vineyards carried out in the last four years has led the estate to cut back on the harvest. It is a bit strange to think that, in a particularly abundant vintage, our estate is producing little Chianti Classico.

However, we are not alone in obtaining less wine, for the regional administration of Tuscany, at the request of our Consorzio del Chianti Classico, issued an ordinance requiring the producers to reduce production by 20% in order to eliminate excessive output on the market.

We are a bit perplexed about the efficacy of this provision, which in fact entails an increase in the cost of production of 20%. Those costs are not appropriate at a time like this, which requires prudence and good judgment  in producing high-quality wines like Chianti Classico at a reasonable price.

Awards & Recognitions

Again this year, the evaluations of the estate’s wines by Italian and foreign critics were extremely positive. Last September, Dogajolo 2002 received the Gold Star Award at the Irish Wine Show promoted by the National Off-License Association. Dogajolo 2003 won a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge 2004 in London.

Good results were obtained in the Selezione del Sindaco 2004. The Chianti Classico Riserva 2000 secured a silver medal, while the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 1999 was presented a gold medal.