THE 2019 VINTAGE FROM A METEOROLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW
Production: 18,049 bottles (0.75 liters) – 1,522 magnums (1.5 liters). All bottles are numbered.
The history of wine through the studies conducted by FoodMicroTeam, a Spin-Off of the University of Florence.
From vegetative rest to budding
The period considered was distinguished by generally average thermal values
and an accumulation of rainfall that mainly affected the final months of
2018. The first months of 2019 were in fact lacking in rainfall.
From budding to flowering
The above-average temperatures recorded between February and March
conditioned the budding period, bringing it forward to around March 26.
April and May were extraordinarily rich in rainfall: over
190 mm, approximately 65% ??more than historically. The average temperatures were also exceptional, with values ??recorded in May that were more than 3°C lower than in previous years. This led to a delay of about 10 days in the flowering, which occurred around June 6.
From flowering to veraison
This period, which lasted about 54 days, saw a hot and dry June,
followed by an average July, with precipitation concentrated in
just 2 rainy events. Full veraison occurred around August 3,
slightly later than historically.
From veraison to harvest
Both August and September were average in terms of temperatures and
accumulated rainfall. Harvesting operations began on September 13 and continued at intervals until the 29th of the same month, in order to allow the
grapes from all our vineyards to reach optimal ripening conditions.
In Case Basse, the vineyards, about 10 hectares of only Sangiovese, are planted in a complex ecosystem, made up of a great variety of other plants, animals and insects.
The agronomic management is based on maintaining maximum biodiversity, through a wise and balanced use of science, technology,
culture and tradition.
Manual management of the foliage
As usual, green pruning began early, around the first days of May. During
the subsequent phases, the long shoots were never
cut (topped) but placed above the plants, on special
frames in order not to alter the natural vigor of the
vine. Furthermore, considering the weather pattern of the season, particularly rainy in
spring, the utmost care was taken with regard to
the inflorescences first and then the bunches, trying
to reduce humidity stagnation and promoting air circulation through several calibrated
passes of removal of the female shoots and basal leaves.
Phytosanitary management of the vineyard
Since the appearance of the first shoots, we have
constantly monitored each vine to
best calibrate the defense strategies, also
thanks to the support of experts in the field.
The use of only copper and sulfur, exclusively in
the necessary quantities and in respect of the
vine ecosystem, cooperation with natural antagonists
and extremely selective methods of control for the
different adversities of the vine, are the only tools
we have chosen to employ.
Care, measure, attention, consistency.
The selection of the bunches
The care of the perfect health of the precious bunches is
of primary importance from the early stages of development
to the last stages of ripening through a
constant and reasoned selection.
The manual removal of excess bunches, which
takes place between the end of May and mid-June, and
of those not in perfect condition, which continues
until the harvest, represent the fundamental
operations for obtaining a production of the highest quality.
VINEYARD MANAGEMENT
Thanks to frequent sampling, more than one per week, the ripening progress of our 2019 Sangiovese was verified by carrying out
organoleptic evaluations, microbiological and chemical-physical analyses of the grapes starting from the second ten days of August.
The parameters monitored
From a microbiological point of view: evaluation of the populations of microorganisms present on the bunches. From a chemical-physical point of view: sugars, acidity and pH,
potential and extractable anthocyanins, polyphenols, maturity of the grape seeds. This information, together with the irreplaceable tastings, determined the
ideal moment: we started harvesting on September 13th.
Toscana IGP 100% Sangiovese
The 2019 vintage was cool and rich in rainfall, characterized by a spring with abundant rainfall and lower temperatures than the historical series data of the last 17 years, followed by a summer without thermal anomalies with substantially average rainfall.