Despite the burning desire to avoid cliché-statements, 2020 proved quite atypical in the vineyards too, with abnormal swinging temperatures and precipitations, and a harvest otherwise reminiscent of those 20-30 years back. Macro-regional pollution levels were below average (a 30% decrease in NO2 compared to previous years), with net positive environmental effects (more on that below) – this alone is food for thought on the day-to-day and visible impact of climate change.
The Winter of year 2020 started anomalously, with averages ranging around 6°C, atypical highs (reported peaks of 18°C more than once), and few days below 0°C. To close the season and welcome Spring, a few days symbolic of the period: peaks of 23°C immediately followed by a dip below 0°C on March 25th – thankfully, budbreak occurred only the following day.
Except for confined and mild frosts (which caused a 5% crop loss) at the beginning of April, Spring proceeded uneventful. In June, the first positive effects of decreased pollution showed, with average temperatures comparable to those of 30 years ago over the same period.
Fairer climate continued in Summer, exemplified by lower-than-average minimum temperatures (with lows of 13°C in July) and only a handful of peaks above 35°C. Cooler temperatures and the consequently more severe diurnal shifts allowed for a slower and better paced ripening season, confirmed by the postponement of first grape picking day. Finally, during harvest time in September, daytime highs were above average but morning lows compensated with a median 16°C: ideal conditions for picking.
Winter 2020 showed precipitations that were equally abnormal, with only 23mm in its first two months. To follow were 140mm in the first six days of March, a 50% increase compared to the previous 60 years average.
Spring followed with equally prolonged dry periods and rainfall reappearing only at the end of April, after 6 weeks of drought, putting overall uniformity of budding at risk (more below on how it was avoided). Waterfall recovered only in May, with a well distributed fashion, although still 20% below historical average. Volumes and diffusion patterns were standard in June.
Summer rainfalls, although regular, did not fully compensate previous deficits and we decided to intervene with circumscribed irrigation in the Bicinicco vineyard. Abundant waters (double the average of the past two years) dripped in August, concentrating over its last three days, and provided a serendipitous source of nutrition for the berries. Dry weather characterized the harvest period, with heavy rainfalls reappearing only on September 22nd, the day after grape picking came to an end.
Overall, except the abovementioned frosts and irrigation, the way to the harvest proceeded void of noteworthy events: budbreak occurred on March 26th, flowering commenced on May 18th, bunch closure happened on June 20th, and veraisonfollowed on July 16th, all standard timings. Harvest kicked off on September 3rd.
The unfavorable distribution of water was not a remarkable problem, courtesy of the vineyard management practices we employ, such as:
All the above favored an abundant ratio of water and nutrient per cluster, and ample aeration between berries, offsetting phytosanitary risks and unhealthy ripening. Finally, the long median age of our vines too contributed to superior water and nutrients retention – handy during the more stressful periods.
In 2020 we further anticipated the time of picking to 5:00, finishing around 11:00. This choice was motivated by the evident benefits of harvesting during the coolest hours of the day, which helps preserve cluster integrity and prevents oxidative processes to the must, hence retaining a wealthier polyphenolic expression.
Our average yield for the vintage was of 1.3 kg/plant and the superior climatic conditions allowed us to harvest the grapes for all our wines, including My Time, XL, Campo del Viotto, and Refosco, each challenging because of –respectively – co-fermentation, fermentative maceration, and, for the reds, appassimento. Noteworthy, albeit small, was Mother Nature’s gift of Botrytis cinerea in a portion of our Friulano grapes (then allocated to My Time).
Overall, this vintage we focused on a reduction of residual sugars, now at an average of 0.6 g/l, with the aim to ever-growingly represent a distinctive picture of our terroirs in Grave. With the same goal, we repeated for the second year our work with spontaneous fermentations of native yeasts, focusing again on a portion of XL – we consider this delicate fermentation as a crucial step in communicating the character of our terroirs in the most authentic form. We are also glad to share that Pinot Grigio, Friulano, Sauvignon, and ILRamato, our wines journeying solely through stainless steel, are gluten-free.
What remained the same as in previous years were:
For 2020 Pinot Grigio (45,000 bottles), Friulano (7,000 bottles), Sauvignon (22,000 bottles), and ILRamato (45,000 bottles), what changed, in comparison to the 2019 vintage, was:
Dedicated notes for 2020 Merlot, Lara [Sunset Scent], Mattia {Beyond Pinot}, My Time, XL, Campo del Viotto, and Refosco will be shared upon release – in the meantime, find details below about the vintages of said wines released this year:
To wrap things up, we look ahead (always!): in 2021, among other developments, we are starting our conversion to Organic, as well as extending our work with spontaneous fermentations to other wines and with innovative techniques we are eager to share –more your way soon!
Keep the Wheels turning,
The Scarbolo team
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