Nebbiolo numerology: Vintages that end in 7…
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As the 2017 harvest in Italy comes to an end, the jury is still out on what wines the vintage will deliver. Across Italy, growers are reporting extremely low yields due to the unusual progression of the weather and the vegetative cycle this year. But the quality of the fruit in some appellations is very good and in some cases excellent.
Spanning more than a century, here are Tenuta Carretta CEO Giovanni Minetti’s notes on vintages that end in 7.
“The real problem with vintages that end in 7,” he writes, “is their longevity. The best vintages (that end in 7) are fantastic during the first 10-15 years of their lives (like 1997). They are soft and balanced but they are destined to age prematurely.”
The story of the 2017 vintage has yet to be told!
1907 – great (5/6)
1917 – excellent (4/6)
1927 – great (5/6)
1937 – good (3/6)
1947 – exceptional (6/6)
1957 – excellent (5/6)
1967 – great (5/6)
1977 – poor (1/2)
1987 – average (2/6)
1997 – exceptional (6/6)
2007 – great (5/6)
2017 – ???
Average: 4.2/6.
