Recent Italian vintages

[Jenise]

Say we're talking about Tuscany. Vintages 07, 08, 09, 10 and 11. Can someone give me a quick thumbnail about each? I pay attention to Bordeaux and the Rhone, but know better than to presume the same things apply to Italy.

Difficult to answer such a general question in any meaningful way, but for what its worth here are the official Brunello vintage ratings by the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino from 1997 onwards.

One Star – insufficient vintage
Two Stars – fair vintage
Three Stars – good vintage
Four Stars – excellent vintage
Five Stars – exceptional vintage

2010 Five Stars
2009 Five Stars
2008 Four Stars
2007 Five Stars
2006 Five Stars
2005 Four Stars
2004 Five Stars
2003 Four Stars
2002 Two Stars
2001 Four Stars
2000 Three Stars
1999 Four Stars
1998 Four Stars
1997 Five Stars

All Brunello's children are above average.

Mark Lipton

[David M. Bueker]

Unfortunately all I know is that 2004 is really good, as is 2006. 2007 is very ripe.

2003 Four Stars

I thought 2003 was good for those on the north side but not so good for those on the south side. I did not think it was suppose to be excellent for anyone but maybe that has changed.

[David M. Bueker]

Brian,

All Brunello vintages are outstanding. They adulterate the wines to be sure.

Not enough experience re 2009-2011 to comment.
I'd say
2001- very good, classic
2002 - pretty weak, but some surprisingly good wines (Montevertine Pian del Ciampolo, wowza for $15)
2003- like 2003 elsewhere in Europe, too round for me overall. though some good shorttermers
2004 -ripe but structured
2005- a tad leaner, some very elegant wines
2006- pretty big and ripe, but with structure (Chianti more likely to be classic than BdM, where some overripeness)
2007- pushing it ripeness wise, a bit like 2000 if not 2003
2008- leaner, but some wines that really appeal to me.

Of course, these are all just based on my limited tastings (and conversations). And what is too warm/ripe in Brunello might be very good in Chianti Rufina (kind of like hot vintages might do well in Fixin and less well in more famous Burgundy appellations).