2014

Wine Searcher: Italy, Austria, Germany and Spain were so-so, although undeniably some good, even great, wines were made.

Piedmont:
WS: Drink or Hold – Challenging growing season, wet and cool, with good September and October weather benefiting late-ripening Nebbiolo; better in Barbaresco due to less rain.
JR: Quality is expected to be irregular, but those who dared to delay harvest were rewarded with a sound, if notably small, crop of Nebbiolo. Likely to be a light year with limited cellaring potential.

Tuscany/Chianti:
WS: Drink or Hold – Cool, wet summer hindered ripening, but a fine September saved the vintage. Best to date are slim, elegant reds.
JR: An exceptionally mild and dry September and early October turned a potentially disastrous vintage into a surprisingly good one, but with generally much lighter, earlier-ripening wines than 2013.