Features of the 2018 vintage

Boscarelli rated 2018 excellent. A mild, fairly dry January was followed by cold and abundant rain in February and March, replenishing reserves depleted during 2017. April was warm and wet; May remained rainy and included localized hail. June and the first two-thirds of July had seasonally normal temperatures, around ten rainy days and frequent high humidity. From mid-July, conditions turned dry, sunny, windy and warm through autumn. Around 800 mm fell between February and mid-July, followed by very little rain for the rest of the year.

Budbreak ran from 5 to 19 April. Initial growth was slow and sometimes irregular despite mild temperatures, owing to saturated soils and the residual effects of the dry 2017 season. A rapid temperature increase around 23 May accelerated flowering, which ran from 24 May to 5 June. Inflorescences, especially on Sangiovese, were fewer and shorter than usual. Vineyards damaged by the 2017 frost showed the strongest reduction.

Adequate water and warmth drove vigorous growth in June and July and produced compact Sangiovese bunches with relatively large berries. The subsequent dry weather reduced water reserves and stopped vegetative growth during véraison, which lasted from 23 July to 16 August. Berry weights later declined through dehydration, limiting botrytis risk.

The wet early season made vineyard work difficult: rain interrupted shoot thinning, saturated soils restricted machinery and humidity increased the danger of fungal disease, particularly downy mildew. Harvest took place from late September into early October. Quantity was approximately 15% below the recent average, but the fruit achieved full technological and phenolic maturity. After malolactic fermentation, the wines showed intense colour, clear varietal character, medium-to-high alcohol, average acidity and pH, and a velvety tannic texture without marked hardness. They were expected to express themselves without prolonged ageing.