Piemonte 2014

[Gregory_Dal_Piaz]

Great, informative report, Greg. Thanks!

One question: When you say reducing yields was key, do you mean by green harvest or at harvest time? Did they know early enough how difficult the weather would be in order to do a green harvest?

Also, you said nothing about hail. There were two bad storms, right? Do you know where those hit?

There was a vigorous green harvest at most address right up to about a week or two before harvest. This vintage offered many cases where one side of a vine ripened well while the other did not. I was in Piedmont in October of 2014 and was fortunate to taste through both Barbaresco, which showed much more consistancy even from the vine, and Barolo.

As far as the hail goes, it socked Brunate, in fact hit most of the slope from the radio towers near La Morra on down, and parts of Castiglione suffered through another barrage. though it was not as widespread as 2002. I didn’t mention it because many producers either declassified that fruit or just sold it. They could really afford to layer one misfortune upon another in 2014 and expect to make good wine. Unlike say 10 years ago, virtually all producers are in the position, both intellectually and financially to make that sort of sacrifice today.

[John_Morris]

Great, informative report, Greg. Thanks!

One question: When you say reducing yields was key, do you mean by green harvest or at harvest time? Did they know early enough how difficult the weather would be in order to do a green harvest?

Also, you said nothing about hail. There were two bad storms, right? Do you know where those hit?

There was a vigorous green harvest at most address right up to about a week or two before harvest. This vintage offered many cases where one side of a vine ripened well while the other did not. I was in Piedmont in October of 2014 and was fortunate to taste through both Barbaresco, which showed much more consistancy even from the vine, and Barolo.

As far as the hail goes, it socked Brunate, in fact hit most of the slop from the radio towers near La Morra on down, though it was not as widespread as 2002. I didn’t mention it because many producers either declassified that fruit or just sold it. They could really afford to layer one misfortune upon another in 2014 and expect to make good wine. Unlike say 10 years ago, virtually all producers are in the position, both intellectually and financially to make that sort of sacrifice today.

Any other sites that were badly affected by the hail? There were two hail storms in Barolo, right?

I believe I was told at Cortese at this time two years ago that, not only did Barbaresco escape the hail, but that it was generally less rainy there than in Barolo. Know anything about that?

Thanks for all the info!

[Gregory_Dal_Piaz]

Great, informative report, Greg. Thanks!

One question: When you say reducing yields was key, do you mean by green harvest or at harvest time? Did they know early enough how difficult the weather would be in order to do a green harvest?

Also, you said nothing about hail. There were two bad storms, right? Do you know where those hit?

There was a vigorous green harvest at most address right up to about a week or two before harvest. This vintage offered many cases where one side of a vine ripened well while the other did not. I was in Piedmont in October of 2014 and was fortunate to taste through both Barbaresco, which showed much more consistancy even from the vine, and Barolo.

As far as the hail goes, it socked Brunate, in fact hit most of the slop from the radio towers near La Morra on down, though it was not as widespread as 2002. I didn’t mention it because many producers either declassified that fruit or just sold it. They could really afford to layer one misfortune upon another in 2014 and expect to make good wine. Unlike say 10 years ago, virtually all producers are in the position, both intellectually and financially to make that sort of sacrifice today.

Any other sites that were badly affected by the hail? There were two hail storms in Barolo, right?

I believe I was told at Cortese at this time two years ago that, not only did Barbaresco escape the hail, but that it was generally less rainy there than in Barolo. Know anything about that?

Thanks for all the info!

Yup, both less rainy and little hail. It was the Tanaro river current that sort of offered a barrier to the north moving storms, steering them to the west once they hit the river. Definitely a factor in the quality of Barbaresco 2014.

[Rory_K]

I was under the impression that Barbaresco had the same weather in 2014, just after the harvest, since they pick a couple weeks earlier than Barolo. I can’t remember where I heard that, it might have been an Aldo Vacca interview.

[Evan_S_h_a_c_k]

Gregory

I read your summary and it’s appreciated. I particularly want to give you a nod for including alcohol levels. That information is not so easy to find collated in a report. As I continue to grow up, I find that a factor just as much as rising prices when buying wine. For me, anything above 14% is physiologically challenging. Given the trends, you can guess I buy very little these days.