This is an extremely good year but, of course, is now overshadowed by the stunning 1997s. In Piedmont, tricky weather all summer yielded to a period of hot and dry weather from mid-September through to mid-October. This enabled the late-ripening Nebbiolo to achieve a classic balance between fruit and structure. At present, some of the Barolos and Barbarescos are a bit closed, though the best wines are substantial on the palate and give every indication of a long life ahead. Like Piedmont, Tuscany had a cooler than average summer and this enabled a long, slow ripening of the grapes. The wines are richly aromatic, deeply coloured and abundantly fruity. The best will require a good few years in the cellar to reveal their potential.