1984 vintage guide for Italy Piedmont

drink now

A sub-standard Piedmont vintage

2/5

Weather Conditions

The first three months of the year were cool with some snow. April was fair, but May was cold, cloudy and wet causing problems for bud-break. A problematic June meant flowering delayed by two to three weeks. The ripening process was hampered at key moments in the summer by rain and humidity, and a cool autumn was partly ameliorated by a warm final ripening period for Barolo.

Best Appellations

Those who waited in Barolo ware able to salvage some good grapes. Barbaresco was overall poor.

Best Producers

In their prime the best 1984 Baroli were probably more typical than the 1983s, but mean levels of fruit and high acidity make this now a vintage to avoid.