MONTE COMPATRI (Frascati – Province of Rome) The weather during winter was normal (not particularly cold), although it snowed and this was very unusual for Frascati. Springtime was cool and rainy. In May and in June it was warm (normal for this area). In July and in August it was cool (it is usually very hot) with a wide night-day temperature range: this is the strong point of the vintage. During the harvest the weather was quite dry.

Lorenzo Costantini owner of the homonymous estate (Frascati Superiore DOC, Lazio Rosso IGT): “The budding phase and the vigour of the vineyards was very good. At the beginning the vintage seemed to be an early one, but then the vegetative cycle slowed down due to the cool weather. The plants did not suffer from hydric stress and ripening was slow. There was a lot of vegetation as the vines “worked” an extra month in August (the weather is usually very hot during this month in Frascati so that vegetation stops)…..We deleafed the vines and we carried out two toppings (we usually carry out one)….The extra work in the vineyard gave an excellent result….2010 is an excellent vintage for whites….Malvasia and Trebbiano had 1.5-1.8 grams/litre of malic acid (these varietals usually have a lower acidity)…The wines are lovely, fresh, very structured and persistent. Alcohol strength is also good…2010 is similar to 2006…”