Belguardo V

The 2021 season opened on the heels of an autumn and winter characterized by typical temperatures and good rainfall, which guaranteed the build-up of an abundant water supply.

A spring cold snap, with temperatures already below the national average, led to a sudden drop in temperatures in April and the freezes of April 7 and 8. This event damaged some of the already well-developed buds, thus limiting future fruiting, in particular of Sangiovese, Vermentino and Syrah. In terms of production, there were differences from zone to zone and also from vineyard to vineyard. In some, the damage was more apparent while in others, the losses were partially reabsorbed. In any case, from May forward, the vines bounced back with favorable bud development and excellent flowering in a generally dry climate.

In July and August, along with a rise in temperatures and an extraordinary heat wave, the vineyards were once again put to the test. Following an early veraison (signs showing already between late July and early August), on August 24th, rainfall finally arrived, dropping 28 mm of relief, which gave a boost to the vines, re-establishing a favorable diurnal temperature variation and ensuring optimal conditions for final ripening.

Despite the fluctuations in climate, the grapes were healthy and in excellent phytosanitary condition. Early analytical findings indicate a wine with great concentrations, high polyphenolic values on the red grapes and medium-high alcohol content, but with a good sugars-to-acidity ratio.

Beginning of the harvest: August 28th, 2021

End of the harvest: September 23rd, 2021

Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 106 mm

Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 3.937 °C

Evaluation: Very good

After the heavy rains of November and December 2019, 2020 brought mild temperatures and low rainfall from January to July, with the exception of late March when bud fertility was partially set back by sharp drops in temperature. August was hotter than average, with temperatures rising to 37-38°C (98.5-100.5°F) for several days, bringing forward the beginning of the harvest to 27 August. Showers on the 30 and 31 August slowed down the ripening process, allowing the rest of the harvest to proceed at a more regular and orderly pace.
All in all, the weather pattern over the year allowed the grapes to ripen well, leading to a good yield of healthy fruit. There was an excellent concentration of aromatic properties in the white wines; the red wines had good alcohol levels and remarkable colour intensity, thanks in part to considerable diurnal temperature ranges which raised aromatic and polyphenolic levels in the grapes. Overall, the 2020 harvest was high in quality, a result that amply made up for a dip in yield compared to the previous year.

Beginning of the harvest: August 27th
End of the harvest: September 24th
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 270 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 3815 °C
Evaluation: Very good

The Maremman winter saw temperatures which were slightly above the norm, whereas rainfall was below average. These conditions continued through March and April, slightly slowing plant development in the early stages. The situation changed dramatically later, with one of the rainiest Mays in years. Lower temperatures together with short but heavy rainstorms slowed vine growth down still further.
June and July turned hot, with temperatures well above seasonal averages, rising to 35-36°C (95-97F) for 7-10 consecutive days. No harm was done to the grapes however: by harvest time they were in excellent condition thanks to carefully-gauged production techniques and approaches.
This combination of climatic and meteorological events resulted in a harvest which took place at the canonical time of year, unlike previous years when the harvest had been earlier. A large diurnal temperature range over the harvest period allowed grape bunches to grow and mature gradually, leading to optimal development of aromas and wines of extremely high quality.

Beginning of the harvest: September 5th
End of the harvest: October 10th
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 376 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 3909 °C
Evaluation: Outstanding

The winter was very anomalous, with rainfall well beyond the average and abundant snowfall in February; later, spring was characterised by temperatures above the seasonal average: April was dry with the maximum temperatures that reached their highest peaks in recent decades.
However, budding, flowering and fruit setting were regular.
In the following months, the weather was unstable with abundant rainfall (especially in April and May) and temperatures above the average of the period, which globally did not affect the health of the grapes.
During the harvest period, the days were warm and bright, often windy, with good temperature range between day and night, which ensured a regular harvest and the optimal ripeness of the grapes, with unique aromatic and polyphenolic features.

Beginning of the harvest: September 3rd
End of the harvest: October 5th
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 331 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 3991 °C
Evaluation: Very good

In November and December 2015, the average temperatures in the Maremma were above the seasonal averages (with maximum temperatures exceeding 20° C at the beginning of November.)
Even in the middle of winter the minimum temperatures were 2-3° C, while the maximum ones corresponded to about 15° C.
The rainfall was low throughout the whole period, except for February, where many low-pressure systems lingered on the Tyrrhenian shoreline, bringing around 140mm of water in the soil.
The mild temperatures combined with the rainfall in February anticipated the blossoming, which actually took place on 10 March for the Alicante and 18 March for the Sangiovese grape variety.
A brief cold period in April, with minimum temperatures of 6-8° C, generally dry, facilitated a copious and gradual blossoming of the grapes in the middle of May.
The almost total lack rainfall can be considered the main aspect of the 2016 vintage in the Maremma, which lasted in summer. A hot June was followed by cool July and August with unusual northern winds.
In the Maremma the harvest began on 29 August with Vermentino, followed by Alicante and Syrah at the beginning of September, which were healthy and characterised by extraordinary aromas thanks to the ideal temperature changes between day and night.
After a stop of some days, marked by a rainfall of 30 mm rain on 15 September - which helped the hydration of the grapes - Cabernet Franc was harvested together with some Cabernet Sauvignon varieties coming from a skeletal, poor and stony soil.
Another stop enabled a perfect phenolic ripening of the best Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese grapes.
The harvest ended on 10 October with the last Sangiovese grapes to be used for Morellino di Scansano.

The 2015 vintage started with a mild and rainy winter characterised by average temperatures ranging between 7° and 10° C. Temperatures remarkably dropped at the end of the year reaching minimum temperatures of -4 ° C, regarded as "unsual" in the Tuscan Maremma. This frost combined with the abundant rainfall in the November - December 2014 period (390 mm) improved the structure of the soil, making it more resistant to the summer temperatures and drought.
The end of the winter and the 2015 spring were cool but not rainy (spring rainfall of about 100 mm.)
The blossoming of the early varieties and Sangiovese occurred between 26 and 28 March in a slight delay compared to the previous years; this delay was further sharpened by a cool early April with temperatures slightly above 0° C, fortunately without any frostbites on young blossoms.
The blossoming of the bunches took place in the middle of May, which was a very pleasant period, with temperatures sometimes reaching 30° C and then dropping after the onset of air flows in Tuscany coming from Northern Europe without undermining the delicate fruit setting step.
The summer in the Maremma yielded temperatures well above the seasonal averages, often exceeding 30° C with peaks of 37.5 ° C in July and August.
Near the harvest, between the middle and the end of August, rainfall of 60 mm helped the vines recover a proper metabolic functioning and fully ripen.
A high-pressure system lingered on Tuscany in September, culminating with a gradual and nice harvest.
The harvest began on 3 September with Vermentino, followed by other early varieties - such as Alicante and Syrah after one week.
The peak of the harvest was reached between 28 and 30 September with the Sangiovese varieties destined intended for the production of a Morellino likely to be one of the best vintages in the last years.
The harvest ended in the first decade of October with the best Cabernet Sauvignon varieties.

Also in the region of Maremma the weather of the winter period was characterised by thermal anomaly, with average temperatures above the usual ones for this season and too much rain from the month of November onwards. This situation of extreme weather variability with widespread rains and temperatures below the seasonal average remained even for the whole period of summer.
The harvest began on September 10th with healthy Merlot and Alicante, but with sugar and colour concentration levels below the historical average. Even the Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon had the same characteristics. Instead there was a much better situation for the grapes of Vermentino and Syrah, which were perfectly ripe and had an intense flavour profile, which gave the must a very complex aromatic level with an excellent freshness and high acidity. The harvest was completed on October 13 with the last grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Begin of harvest: 10 September
End of harvest: 13 October
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 609 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 3711°C
Evaluation: Good/Excellent (premature grapes as Vermentino and Syrah) - Sufficient (other red grapes)

2012 winter was very rainy and characterized by catastrophic events, such as the storms that hit the Maremma with rainfall exceeding 500 mm in November. The rain level throughout the whole winter was 800 mm.
The rain was frequent but not heavy even in the spring time, slightly over 100 mm, while in the summer high-pressure systems protected the coast from the rain.
Winter temperatures were above the average and rarely dropped below 0° C, and the coolness persisted also in spring with minimum temperatures lower than 9° C at end of May, which is rather unusual for the Maremma. The summer was sunny but not hot, with temperatures constantly below 30° C, except for a very short period in August with peaks of 35° C, when however the temperature changes between day and night were equal to at least 15° C, an ideal condition for the proper ripening of the grapes.
The ripening was actually perfect, in line with the natural progress of the varieties grown by company.
The harvest began on 9 September with Merlot, immediately followed by Alicante, Vermentino and Syrah. The favourable weather conditions of September allowed the harvest of Sangiovese to be delayed until October. The Cabernet varieties were harvested between 10 and 14 October, with an excellent technological and phenolic ripening.

Beginning of the harvest: 9 September
End of the harvest: 14 October
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 181 mm
Evaluation: Very good

The Winter season has been very dry with scarce rainfall. Subsequently the temperatures rose, leading to the flowering of the vines around the middle of May. The summer period was very dry, with total absence of rain and temperatures well above the seasonal average, with peaks of 39.5°C.
The grapes arrived in the cellar in optimal conditions. The weather conditions changed profoundly in the last days of August and early September with a significant drop in temperatures and an accumulation of rainfall of about 60mm.
The overall judgment is good: our drip irrigation system, present in all the Belguardo vineyards, has allowed us to best balance the irregularities of the season. In this estate, just like in Fonterutoli, there has been a significant reduction of around 30% of the quantity of wine produced, which is associated to the loss of buds caused by freezing and dehydration.

Beginning of the harvest: Aug.23
End of the harvest: Sep.29
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 344 mm (13.5 inches)
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 4005,4°C
Evaluation: Good / Very good

Winter was characterised by an extensive low-pressure area leading to abundant rainfall with temperatures within the average values; the active growth of the vines took place at the right time. The growth of sprouts and their phenological blossoming steps until the fruit setting occurred under optimal conditions. From the middle of May, the average temperatures slightly increased over a period characterised by the lack of rainfall which lasted until the end of September.
The harvest began on 25/08 with red grapes, while the first bunches of Sangiovese were picked up on 3/9. The harvest ended on 24/09 with the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
The vintage was excellent, with healthy bunches without any rotten part; from a quantitative point of view, the harvest was very good, while the global quality was good.

Beginning of the harvest: 25/08
End of the harvest: 24/09
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 195 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 3,985°C
Evaluation: Good