After a rather rainy spring and early summer, September and October were very good weather-wise, with plenty of sunshine and excellent ventilation.
With the 2013 harvest, we have returned to the 'normality' of the 1980s and 1990s. The harvest, in fact, at Castello Banfi began about 15 days later than in recent years (4 September), with the more precocious white varieties, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the Pinot Grigioand ended on 18 October with Cabernet Sauvignon, the last variety to be harvested. The harvest times for the Piedmontese estate also mirrored those in Tuscany.
Banfi and the 2013 harvest
In both Tuscany and Piedmont, the benevolent climatic conditions favoured a gradual and late ripening of the grapes, which presented themselves in excellent qualitative condition, with wonderfully intense varietal aromas and a good balance between alcohol content and highly developed acidity.
Precisely because of a vibrant acidity, which also gives length, the white wines are fresh and at the same time have a very rich and developed bouquet and an important structure.
"In our area, in the south-west of Montalcino,' declares General Manager Enrico Viglierchio, 'Especially for the later red varieties, such as Sangiovese for the production of Brunello di Montalcino, we expect wines of excellent quality, with a good predisposition to long ageing, and characterised by elegance and finesse. And this despite the fact that it was a more difficult vintage than others. As far as production is concerned, both in Tuscany and Piedmont, we recorded an increase of 6-10% compared to previous years'.
