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Now that almost all of the grapes are in the cellar it’s possible to crow about a 2010 that in Black Rooster land seems to promise good things for vintners and consumers....

Weather. From the strictly meteorological standpoint 2010 featured alternating situations. Temperatures were often below average for the same periods in the most recent years and a winter worthy of the name, which took temperatures in Chianti close to freezing, was followed by a cool, rainy spring, with temperatures remaining fairly low, and so the vines blossomed somewhat later than usual.
A hot July sped up full plant growth, which proceeded somewhat slowly in August and September, also hot but not scorching.
The second half of September and early October offered splendid days of normal weather with temperatures close to seasonal averages but also several hours of rain, in some areas accompanied by harmful hailstorms. Contributing to the good results of the harvest were the sunny days at picking time in late September/early October, bringing high temperatures especially at midday.

In any case, harvesting the grapes was fairly laborious for producers, who had to pick selectively and in various installments, choosing the grapes pretty much on the basis of the ripeness of individual vines.
The most important enological fact this year was the phenolic maturation of the Sangiovese, better in quality and more balanced than in the international grapes (Merlot, Cabernet, etc.) and testifying (should there be need to) to our territory’s special vocation for this noble grape.

While the weather wasn’t entirely even, the experience of Chianti Classico grape growers in any case made it possible to bring in another good year. There will be particular rewards for the most attentive vintners who, having carefully selected grapes in excellent health, were able to calmly wait until ripening was completed, taking advantage of the sunny end-of-summer days.

The 2010 to come. Right now not all the wine has reached the drawing off stage. However, initial impressions from technicians and insiders are of “surprising” results: fermentation proceeded without hitches and the wines emerging have intense colors and fragrances, with acidity levels high enough to predict a good aptitude for aging; alcohol content is high but not excessive, to the benefit of balanced wines leaving room for a wealth of aromas.
And it is precisely the work of the enologists and vintners over the past few months, plus the careful grape selection made during the harvest, that will determine the success of the 2010 vintage, child of a rather difficult season. But, as often happens in singular years weather-wise, the grapes arriving in the cellar this year are really good. In brief, in 2010 the Black Rooster’s output was lower but not it’s quality, for a vintage along the lines of the excellent ones that Chianti Classico has enjoyed in the first decade of the new millennium.

The 2010 Hong Kong Wine Fair has earned plaudits from both exhibitors and buyers. The most recent edition hosted almost 700 exhibitors from 30 countries & regions. Italy will be the Partner Country for the 2011 fair. Therefore we can probably expect even more italian companies being represented during the 2011 fair.

The fair was very well organised, the staff was assistant and quick. There was a lot of interest generated in general, so we have had a good flow of people. We also found out that a lot of prospective clients and general public knew about their wines, and were very curious to learn more.

All these have proved again how interesting and highly potential the Chinese market could be. Let's hope that in 2011 we will be coming back to exhibit some new vintages with our potential importers.