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An excellent year in Tuscany, with more variable results in Piedmont.
In Piedmont the summer was very dry and warm and by mid to late September, expectations were high for a very good vintage. However, it then rained heavily at the beginning of October, just as the harvest was getting under way. The Dolcettos and Barberas largely escaped unscathed but fate was not so kind to the later-ripening Nebbiolo, the grape behind Barolo and Barbaresco. Subsequently, a very mixed bag of wines has been produced although the top producers (Gaja, Aldo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa) all produced very fine examples.
Tuscany witnessed heatwave conditions in the summer and these continued through to late September. The harvest took place in dry weather and a large crop of well-structured and concentrated wines was produced. Montalcino was the most successful zone.