The 2003 Grape Harvest

Closed wines rich in color

In 2003 there was a drought in the Pisan hills and most of the Tuscan coast with high temperatures. This had an effect on the ripening and quality of the grapes. As a result the 2003 grape harvest was very early (between 10 and 20 days depending on the age of vineyard, area and soil) and the grapes very healthy. The production quantity and yield were lower even than 2002, due to smaller berries and therefore lower juice content. Sugar levels were extremely high and did not always correspond to phenolic maturity, especially for very early varieties such as merlot. In this case, scorching heat reduced the concentrations of aromatic components and freshness. The late varieties like cabernet sauvignon and, in some areas, sangiovese, achieved a better balance, especially where soils were cooler and leaf walls richer. This was a difficult grape harvest due to uneven ripening, very low acidity and high ph. Overall the wines obtained were more closed, but were very rich in colour, concentration and body.