1980 vintage guide for Italy Tuscany

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A moderately good vintage without notable highs or lows

1/5

Weather Conditions

1980 will be remembered as one of the latest harvests of the thirty years in Chianti. Very unsettled weather delayed first flowering and then ripening, but a fine dry period in October allowed the harvest to continue in relatively trouble free conditions, in some places until the first week

of November.

Best Appellations

An average to good quality vintage in Tuscany , but with hindsight probably overrated at the time. The results obtained with Sangiovese varied considerably. On the whole the wines had good varietal character, a little more body and acidity than the 1981s, but not the extract for long ageing. A mixed bag of Riservas were made in Chianti. Brunello and Vino Nobile were best drunk up quickly.

Best Producers

Ruffino’s Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico emerged well with bottle age as did Isola e Olena, Monsanto and Vicchiomaggio. Altesino and Barbi Colombini made very successful Brunello, but Biondi Santi for example did not produce a Riserva.