Duemani: A quick update on the 2013 harvest

We started on Monday 23^rd September with all of the Merlot grapes and also proceeded with the first harvest of Cabernet Franc until Tuesday, then we stopped.

We say the first harvest, for the Cabernet Franc because we took only the weak plants and those part of the vineyards for the CiFRA and Altrovino wines.

At the moment we keep all the different grapes and parts of the vineyards divided that are fermenting in separate cement vats. Even some small quantities are fermenting in very tiny plastic vats where we can push down the cap by hand. It is very funny! 

It's been a great harvest so far that's started with sun and warm temperatures. The grapes are rich in sugars and flavors, with good aromas and acidity thanks to the fresh temperatures of the nights.

We had some rain during the past weekend so we will wait a few more days to start picking the Syrah grapes, but it will be sometime this week!

Elena, Duemani

Our newest harvest blog recruit - Duemani from the Costa Toscana

We are delighted to have Elena Celli (who runs Duemani alongside Luca d'Attoma) on board for our first ever series of harvest blogs from the Tuscan coast.  Just across the border from Bolgheri, high in the hills, Duemani is a fascinating bio-dynamic project lead by Luca d'Attoma, a most famous consultant to wineries such as Macchiole and Tua Rita. 

"We still have not yet started the harvest, which is strange, but it is looking good! I've attached some photos taken on Friday 13th of our Cabernet Franc. Plants and grapes are healthy and only need a few more days to get to perfect ripening."

 

A report on the 2012 vintage on the Tuscan Coast

HARVEST REPORT 2012 ON THE TUSCAN COAST

Consultant oneologist and Duemani owner, Luca d'Attoma, gives us the low-down on the 2012 vintage on the Tuscan Coast:

“The harvest was characterized by inhomogeneity of maturity and this not be blamed only on the climate during August but also thanks to the irregular fruit set at the end of May, which came about as a result of sudden drops in temperature and strong humidity. This has resulted in different maturation of vines in the same vineyard.  To make high quality wines there had to be at least three stages of harvest.  We are missing from 20% to 30% in volume of wine, not so much thanks to the Summer heat but more for the drought in the Winter and Spring.  A heatwave in August was followed by an important lowering of the temperature at the beginning of September, nights were cool at about 15 ° - this stimulated and awakened the plants’ vitality and spurred on the ripening of the grapes.  On the coast we harvested Merlot within the first half of September and Cabernet  started from the third week, with great results. Sangiovese in the most important areas such as Morellino were harvested from the first to the third week of September and here we will also have interesting wines suitable for long ageing.

The general health of grapes was very good. In the last days of September we had rain and strong moisture so it has been necessary to make a strict selection but the wines will be of an excellent level."