Montalcino, 2010 vintage

Comments apply to all wines coming from the town of Montalcino, not just Brunello. However the star ratings from one to five given below are those given by the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino specifically for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG.

2010 ***** (five)

2010 Growing season: Optimal spring rain. ‘Wet, cold spring. Delayed bud break,’ (Kerin O’Keefe, 2012, p.277). This wet weather created high pressure from peronospera (also called downy mildew) but the better growers had found coping strategies based on their experiences in 2008 (see Pian dell’Orino for a case study). ‘2010 was characterized by a cold summer and a long, late harvest,’ says Antonio Galloni in ‘Brunello di Montalcino 2007: A Worthy Successor to 2006’, Brunello_April_2012_Issue, published on his Vinous website. Low average seasonal temperatures. Hot, dry summer, with regular temperatures. September was marked by pleasant days and cool nights. High alcohol content, unusually high extract (Kerin O’Keefe, 2012, p.277).

‘Springtime and early Summer were rainy and characterized by low temperatures which were inferior to the normal range. On the other hand August and September with their high temperatures and sunny days have determined an exceptional build-up of sugars and polyphenols and a perfect ripening,’ (Source: Fattoria dei Barbi website Feb 2021).

The 2010 vintage report from San Polo says ‘In 2010 the first phase of growth was accompanied by frequent rainfall, which continued until mid-June, with spring temperatures that were slightly below average. The next phase, starting from the last 10 days of June was very dry and hot. Rain then held off until the beginning of September. During September, daytime temperatures were stable while the nights were rather cool, providing the very favourable gap between day and night temperatures needed to foster ideal ripening. The various phases of vegetative development were rather late and slow, but steady and continuous and, from the last week of August onwards, the ripening of the grapes evolved perfectly. The wines produced in this vintage exhibit extraordinary characteristics for Sangiovese, in terms of both nose and palate, as well as composition. In addition to an excellent alcohol content, total polyphenols, anthocyanins and extracts are very high and rarely found in this grape varietal.’

‘Rain during the flowering in late May/early June resulted in abnormally low yields. The rest of the year was less eventful. Cooler temperatures and rain delayed the harvest into October for many growers,’ (Antonio Galloni).

2010 Wine style: ‘Powerful Brunellos,’ (Ian D’Agata: 2016 Decanter Italy). ‘The 2010 Brunelli are rich, dramatic, sweeping wines loaded with potential. This is going to be a fascinating vintage to follow over the next few years and decades,’ (Antonio Galloni). Consultant Mauro Monicci told me ‘2010 was like 2004–saline wines with good acidity and finesse. Hot at picking, issues re grape health so selection needed. Best wines are [in 2020] still very young in 2020.

2010 Production: The vineyard area comprised 1,915 hectares for Brunello and 479 hectares for Rosso producing 77,965hl of Brunello and 21,962hl of Rosso respectively. Brunello yields in 2010 were 40.7 hl per hectare compared to 43hl per ha in 2009, down 5.3%.

Bibliography

Antonio Galloni, ‘2006 Brunello: The Emperor’s New Clothes or Historic Vintage?’. Vinous.com

Burton Anderson, Vino – The Wines and Winemakers of Italy (London, 1982).

Ian D’Agata, 2016, Decanter Italy Supplement 2016, p.98, ‘Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Rufina & Chianti Classico’.

James Suckling, ‘Travel Log: First Impressions of 2015 Brunello, 28 August 2019 (jamessuckling.com, retrieved 1st Sept 2019).

Kerin O’Keefe, 2007, ‘Brunello di Montalcino 1967-1997’, World of Fine Wine 17 (2007), p.34-35.

Kerin O’Keefe, 2012, Brunello di Montalcino (University of California Press, 2012).

Laura Gray (July 2014) Laura Gray of Il Palazzone, blog post 31st July 2014 ‘Polenta in July: Harvest 2014 Update’

Richard Baudains, 2017, ‘Brunello 2012’, Decanter, August 2017, p.42-47.

Stephen Brook, ‘Brunello 2013 vintage: A sneak preview,’ Decanter.com 20 Nov 2017.

Walter Speller, 2013, ‘Brunello di Montalcino 2008’, jancisrobinson.com, 11 January 2013.