Description
Vintage Notes: Despite tricky beginnings, the 2016 vintage for Piedmont was extremely good. The spring was unusually cool, which delayed flowering and, ultimately, the rest of the harvest. However, temperatures eventually lifted and a warm, dry summer ensued and despite the lack of rainfall, the vines never succumbed to drought. Barring one very violent storm in July, which brought fierce winds and wide-ranging hail, the growing season was extremely smooth. Although, the storm did cost some producers a cut in yields by up to 10 percent. Conditions remained good in the lead-up towards harvest, and strong diurnal temperature differences proved ideal for Nebbiolo to ripen while retaining its distinctive delicate aromas. The white wine varieties were picked first followed by the reds. The resulting harvest was superb for Nebbiolo as the grapes had had enough time to fully ripen. The resulting wines had the structure and aromatics necessary for the long-term ageing Barolo is known for. White wines from Arneis also performed very well. The vintage was, overall, a great success and should reward both short-term and long-term drinking and investment.
