Description

Year 2023 started with a long, dry winter season, the second in a row, slightly cooler than the year before, but with no significant precipitation. The season began late March with similar dry condition until the month of May when some rainy days brought a relief both for the vineyards and the people. The May rain, usually something we fear as negative being so close to flowering time, was a blessing allowing the stressed vineyards to get some very needed water supply. On the other side the rain made downy mildew disease management crucial and delicate. The long experience in this field of the piemonte farmers in general secured a tight control of the disease avoiding mildew crises. Overall, we must say that in a vintage like 2023 the May rain was favorable and help to “save” an otherwise difficult growing season.

By early June the dry and warm climatic pattern returned and become particularly intense in the second half of August until the 28th of the month when a rainy day brought some relief from the hot temperatures.

September was warm and dry until the 24th when night temperatures drop down and a “decent” excursion between night and day temperatures helped the final ripening of the grapes. We started the Nebbiolo harvest on October 3rd with sunny conditions and the harvest lasted the usual two weeks without any issue.

2023 was a difficult season, vineyards planted in the warmest, drier exposure showed clear signs of hydric stress, reduced crop and reduced canopy growth. The May rain helped some of these stressed vines to survive the drought and, being the vine plant particularly resilient, guaranteed a successful harvest.

2023 Nebbiolo grapes will produce balanced wines, lacking the power and depth of more full bodied vintages, very enjoyable at an early stage.