2024 turned out to be a complicated harvest for Agricola Marrone. We faced the rain and the resulting critical issues with professionalism and competence without ever losing the smile that has always distinguished us. Discover all the news for the month of November!
The 2024 harvest certainly did not offer discounts: complications, uncertainties, challenges and direct and courageous choices have characterized most of the last few weeks, often leaving us disoriented but – always and in any case – confident. Numerous and constant thinning operations, very careful selection in the vineyard during harvest (first) and in the cellar (then) and a very high percentage of discarded grapes. A decidedly abundant vintage, a generous fruitful production and a widespread well-being of the rows, symptomatic of correct management of the vineyard, but such richness is not always synonymous with quality: hence our need to make bold choices and careful selections, to bring in the cellar the best our land has to offer.
The very delicate phase of processing in the cellar now begins, an even more delicate step than the previous ones, if possible. It is the time for analyses, evaluations and thoughtful but decisive choices, pursued with the sole aim of maximizing every aroma and flavor of this incredible year.
Walking into the cellar and browsing, even the less expert eye could observe how our reds present – already from these early stages – beautiful, lively, brilliant colors (although not too intense) and excellent aromas. The tannins are silky and rich, without ever exceeding that hardness which, if exaggerated, risks compromising the final pleasantness of the wine. Excellent aromas, nice acidity, great freshness and excellent balance between acidity and alcohol content.
Contrary to what happened in the past, in conjunction with very hot years, we chose not to anticipate the racking, but to proceed with very long fermentations (up to 15 days of maceration), tasting day by day, and carrying out the necessary evaluations: hence our need to rely on an internal analysis system, in order to have a complete, precise and timely picture of the evolution of each wine, to support or act on its development promptly.
The 2024 vintage is reminiscent, in some ways, of 2014, and our hope is that this year’s wines will also resemble those of the last decade in quality and elegance. Medium ageing, structure and great refinement, aromas and freshness with great aging potential: these are the main characteristics that we hope to find in these wines but, as always, the wine itself will have the last word.
2024, with all its climatic unknowns, has highlighted more than ever the importance of correct and careful management of the vineyard, right from the early stages of vegetative growth.
A series of choices capable of impacting the health and productivity of the vineyard even years later, and not just immediately: learning to know the responses of the individual plant, its ways of responding to stressful climatic situations is the key to success. Having selected a lot, thinking how the plant would have thought for its own survival, allowed us to avoid this and bring home healthy grapes.
Our careful studies, analyses, the experience gained and accumulated year after year, combined with the precious point of view of father Gian Piero and his 50 harvests experienced can only be an added value to our constant and passionate work. All that remains now is to wait for the temperatures to gradually drop. We will then proceed with the fertilization of the soil, the elimination of diseased plants to avoid contamination in the soil and the preparation of the “nest” for the new cuttings. When the soil dries, we will carry out a further round of tilling, to aerate the soil, avoiding any risk of root asphyxiation. What do the next few months have in store for us? Who can say… we, for our part, hope for lots of snow!