Vintage report 1999

From the BAVA Winery

(Taken from the official report of Consorzio del Barolo)



1999 Vintage Report in Piemonte

The climate in September had a positive effect on the ripening cycle in the vineyard, and the grapes turned out sound (limited mildew attacks; sound, thick skin). This meant that the grape-harvest was able to go ahead as normal, presenting the Langa and Monferrato with another gem of a vintage.




Climatic developments

The good climatic conditions during the early months of the year catered for regular vegetative growth of the vine, and the accumulation of heat and availability of water were similar to those seen in the 1998 vintage. The rains in mid-September only delayed grape-picking operations, without compromising the soundness of the grapes. From then until mid-October the high pressure treated vine-growers to days of sunshine, good ranges of temperature and no rainfall.



Comparison with 1998

With respect to the 1998 vintage, the 1999 grapes have a similar sugar content, but higher total acidity. This high degree of acidity will benefit the white wines in particular, providing them with freshness of flavour and helping to preserve their aromas. As far as volume is concerned, the vintage was plentiful if it is compared to the two previous years; attentive quali-quantitative controls performed using green pruning and thinning of the bunches limited the increase in yield to 10-15%. The 1999 will hold its own when compared to 1998 or 1997, the latter of which is considered by one-and-all to be the vintage of the century.

The vintage’s qualities are not only attributable to the good sugar and acidity contents however: the favourable climate also allowed for a good balance to be reached between the various components of the grapes.



 The white grape-varieties

The high acid content, combined with elegance, cleanness and body, will be the main features of the 1999 white wines (Chardonnay, Arneis, Cortese).



 The red grape-varieties

Among the red grape-varieties grown in the Langa, a distinction has to be drawn between the early and late-ripeners. Both were affected by the mid-September rains, which fortunately failed to damage the quality of the product, managing only to delay the harvest.

The early varieties - Dolcetto and Freisa – have very attractive tasting qualities: deep colour and full bouquets will be the distinguishing features of these wines.

As regards the later-ripening varieties (Nebbiolo, Barbera), the onset of high pressure from mid-September was the deciding factor in the positive outcome of the harvest, rewarding those who had waited for the ripening cycle to complete itself. All the varieties showed sound grapes with thick skins.

Barbera, one of the varieties traditionally grown in these areas, reached a high sugar content and average acidity, and was very phenol-rich.

Nebbiolo – the grape used to produce Barolo and Barbaresco, – was deeply-coloured, with a full aroma, fine structure and plenty of phenols, meaning that the wines should be very long-lasting.



 And that makes five !

Whoever had reservations about the chances of a "royal flush" has been proved wrong by this latest harvest, which makes a run of five vintages, all of the highest calibre.

New releases in year 2000 from the Bava cellars:

Barbera Asti DOC Superiore ARBEST 1996 

Barbera Asti DOC Superiore STRADIVARIO 1996 

Barbera Asti DOC Superiore PIANOALTO 1997 (Autumn 2000)

Barbaresco DOCG VIOLONCELLO 1995

Barolo DOCG CONTRABBASSO 1993 

Barolo DOCG CONTRABBASSO 1995 (winter 2000)