keep

Quality is generally high, but high yields meant some green harvesting. A ‘useful’ vintage, probably for drinking relatively early.

4/5

Weather Conditions

Rioja enjoyed a very hot summer after a wet and cold winter and spring, although the lack of rain in August and first half of September caused worries that the grapes would not be able to develop fully. Rain came, however, in mid-September, and this, in turn, led to worries that the grapes would swell and become ‘flabby’ if the rains continued for too long. As it happened, the last days of September were dry and bright, and the main harvest started at around that time.

The unique weather conditions meant that the vines had produced many more grapes than usual, and the Consejo Regulador decreed that a substantial amount should be left on the vine, to ensure that the official quota was not exceeded – one report suggests that some 80,000 kg had to be officially abandoned to ensure that quality and price were maintained.

The harvest finished over the weekend of the 24th-26th October, just before the arrival of more rain and fog which could have caused further problems.

Best Appellations

In terms of ripeness, as is usual the Rioja Baja recorded good sugar levels as well as phenolic ripeness. Coupled with advances in viticulture and bodega technology, this has resulted in some very good wines – much better than we once expected from this subzone, and this in spite of a May hailstorm which damaged some 1,700ha of vines. Also, picking started very early here, on the 27th August.

Rioja Alavesa suffered more than the other two subregions from the early and late rains, and has made some excellent cosecha and Crianza wines, but probably fewer Reservas and Gran Reservas than in a regular year. Rioja Alta seemed to have the best of both worlds, escaping the worst of the rains and enjoying a long, hot summer.

Best Producers

The famous names with large vineyard holdings, as ever, come to the fore, as they have the capacity to select the ripest, healthiest grapes for their upscale wines. It’s in the nature of Rioja that the same top 20 or 30 bodegas will shine every year, so a list is a little invidious. However… in Rioja Alavesa relative newcomers (1991) Agrícola Labastida are showing great prowess; so too even newer Bodegas Amaren (1995), an offshoot of Luís Cañas; Izadi and Remírez de Ganuza are on top form, and it will be interesting to see what becomes of the old Domecq bodega and vineyards, now part of a joint venture between Bodega Muriel and Marqués de Riscal (though that won’t be until the 2010 vintage is released).

Rioja Alta stars include Contador (formerly Benjamín Romeo); old-stagers Bilbaínas; Bordón, Peciña; La Emperatriz; LAN; Muga and CVNE are all reliable, year in and year out, and RODA and Finca Allende continue to astonish.

Rioja Baja stalwarts include Barón de Ley; Palacios Remondo (the family winery of Álvato Palacios); and look out for Finca Manzanos, a family-owned company with a brand-new purpose-built bodega, and the Escudero brothers with their new Bodega Valsacro. Rioja Baja is fighting back from its old reputation of producing hot, high-alcohol wines from the Garnacha: it’s doing a great deal more than that.

keep

Ripe, balanced, medium-boded red wines, with bright acidity. Whites are racy with good fruit and floral flavours.

4/5

Weather Conditions

Like elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, Rioja enjoyed favourable weather in the final stages of the growth cycle. In a season of irregular ripening the long Indian summer allowed picking at the optimal moment, as berries achieved maturity.

Frequent rain in spring followed the dry winter, and amply replenished ground reserves. But vigorous canopy development saw mildew flourish (though Rioja suffered less than other Spanish appellations). Irregular flowering and fruit set followed during a coolish summer. This, plus fewer berries per cluster, reduced yield, continuing a four-year downward trend.

Despite forecasts of rain, picking began under clear blue skies – and well into November, a bonus given the erratic ripening. Warmer-climate Rioja Baja kicked off early October, with Alta and Alavesa following a week later. The white Viura were harvested from mid-September onwards – typical timing.

Best Appellations

Rated ‘Very Good’ by Rioja’s official control board, the vintage’s quality was very much influenced by the Indian summer. In rating, a cross-section of wines is measured for a range of parameters including polyphenol index and colour.

When sunshine finally arrived, the looser nature of the grape clusters reduced risk of rot and encouraged better ripening. By selectively harvesting, growers could bring in healthy fruit with good balance of colour, acidity and alcohol potential.

Reds should be vibrant and ripe with expressive aromas, but also more restrained in in terms of their ripeness and alcohol than some past vintages. They’ll have the structure for ageing and a vein of minerality may run through them. The whites will have good lively acidity and aromatic intensity.

As usual, best of the vintage will be from top winemakers – those with resources to rigorously manage the vineyards and deselect fruit on the vine and in the winery.

Best Producers

Not sufficiently tasted as yet but standouts so far are Bodegas Medrano Irazu, Marqués de Cáceres, Bodegas Casado Morales and Bodegas Muga.

keep

Low yielding vintage saved by technical expertise and a long, dry, sunny harvest. Most consistent quality from Rioja Baja, with crisp, well-balanced, elegant wines.

4/5

Weather Conditions

A particularly long growing season characterised the 2007 vintage in Rioja, which was punctuated by some difficult weather conditions including spring hail and a summer attack of mildew. The red grapes were most affected, though more in terms of yield than quality. Overall, yields were down around 30%, with Rioja Alta worst off.

Harvest time was for the most part a long, drawn-out affair, punctuated locally by bursts of activity as pickers rushed to beat the rains. It began early September and ended November, with fine, sunny late autumn weather allowing the growers to take their time. Each vineyard site could be selectively harvested and grapes picked at optimum ripeness.

Best Appellations

For the most part grapes reached the wineries with a fine balance of potential alcohol, phenolics and acidity – with the lack of rain ensuring there was very little evidence of rot. Thanks to the long growing season, the white Riojas promise lively, fruity flavours and good fragrance. Alcohol levels are on the lower side, while acidity is relatively high.

The reds are showing good colour, relatively high acidity and fine tannins, with the promise of developing added complexity with age.

Vineyards in Rioja Baja were mostly picked when the rains hit, but Rioja Alta was not so lucky, leaving quality here in some doubt.

Best Producers

Not sufficiently tasted as yet

drink soon

Good to very good vintage, with a moderate harvest securing good quality fruit and fresh, supple and crisp wines. Look out for some big, long-lived Crianzas.

4/5

Weather Conditions

A wettish winter ensured good water reserves and there was good canopy development early spring, with even and sufficient rainfall to cover bud-burst and setting. But with rainfall producing larger than normal canopies, the risk of mildew was ever-present and growers had to be vigilant in the vineyards.

Hotter weather and drought conditions followed in August, favouring ripening and berry maturation, though by late August daytime temperatures were moderate and the nights cool, bringing ripening to a more steady conclusion. Hail was recorded in several areas of Rioja Alta, but out of 2,000 hectares affected, only 300ha suffered serious damage.

The harvesting was staggered and selective – a heat blast at the beginning of September promoted uneven ripening within some vineyards, for example. Picking began with Tempranillo in Alfaro on 1 September and finished on October 27 during more unsettled weather. Mostly the grapes were in fine condition.

Best Appellations

In Rioja the harvest was more modest than last year (416 million kilos compared to 2005’s 444.74m) – which was all to the good across the appellation. Deliberately restricted yields helped in this respect.

Best Producers

Bodegas Medrano, Bodegas Vinedos, Ortega Ezquerro, Bodegas Bilbainas, Bodegas Valdemar, Marques de Cacéres, Bodegas Faustino.

drink soon

Wines with high alcohol and concentrated colour and aromas ideal for ageing

5/5

Weather Conditions

Abundant rain and snow during the winter months ensured ample water supplies to the vines for the remainder of the year. Although there was no frost in Rioja, low temperatures in March, April and early May delayed the start of the growth cycle. However, once active, it made up for the lost time. Budburst began with 100% of the primary buds breaking followed by abundant secondary budding.

Plants evolved well through July with no major pests or diseases recorded. Scattered thunderstorms throughout the region (particularly on 2 and 3 August) added to the water table. Veraison began during the first week of August when temperatures were below normal recording marked differences between night and day. Slower ripening delayed the growth cycle by two to three weeks. By the end of the month the vines were healthy and ripening well.

Rain early September was accompanied by high temperatures and from 11 September, a period of exceptionally good weather remained throughout the harvest dominated by sunny days with moderate temperatures and cool nights. Perfect conditions ensured the health of the vines and the grapes were allowed to ripen. Growers using traditional practices, moderate production levels and good canopy management fared well.

The first grapes were picked on 6 and the last grapes picked on 9 November. Good weather enabled staggered picking. Grapes picked early had moderate levels of alcohol potential and colour and will be more suitable for younger styles.

Best Appellations

Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa

Best Producers

drink now

Mixed bag, though better producers created powerful, intense and balanced wines

3/5

Weather Conditions

The first part of the growing cycle was dominated by rain and snow which helped to build up the water table. Absence of spring frosts and excellent bud burst (almost 100%) provided good clusters (12 – 17 per vine). Although vineyards were not affected by frost and wind, heavy rain caused flooding in vineyards close to river banks. The most significant storms were recorded in the Najerilla Valley on 7 July and in Rioja Baja on 28 August. Lush canopies and high number of clusters by early July demanded more water than usual but these needs were balanced in most cases by the water table which had been replenished during the growing season to provide these resources.

Veraison began mid July ahead of schedule. The vineyards were well developed and in a healthy state and production forecasts at this time looked promising.

At the end of July and during the first half of August, this took a dramatic turn with lack of rain and unusually high temperatures but well managed goblet pruned vines showed little stress. Vineyard conditions improved significantly after 15 August and into the first week of September assisted by irregular, intermittent rainfall and more moderate temperatures. Plant growth improved and was generally in a state of good health despite small outbreaks of botrytis.

When the weather stabilised and temperatures rose late September, sugar and polyphenol development improved but staggered harvesting was required. The first grapes to be picked were from vineyards showing reduced berry size with high potential alcohol levels and low colour parameters. After this, harvesting stabilised and was less hurried with moderate alcohol levels and acceptable polyphenol rates. By mid October, 90% of all grapes were picked before finally concluding on 28 October in Cuzcurrita in Rioja Alta.

Best Appellations

Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja

Best Producers

drink soon

Classic Rioja wines: robust and round with balancing acidity

5/5

Weather Conditions

The total 2001 harvest in Spain is expected to be down 20% on 2001 at around 35 million hectolitres, although this is still about 10% higher than recent average vintages. The reason for this is a long, hot and dry summer after prolonged winter rains, which has also meant that picking started early in many places – in some cases up to fifteen days before the usual date. The rains came with a vengeance on Saturday and Sunday 22/23 September.

Picking started sporadically on the 18/19 September in excellent weather, although Jesús Madrazo at Contino (Rioja Alavesa) was only picking from his oldest vines (70-year-old Graciano already showing potential alcohol of 13.5% abv) and was negotiating with the vineyard workers to stop picking after Thursday 20 and restart in the week beginning 24 September. Barón de Ley (Rioja Baja) also started picking on the 18 and reported excellent quality with very healthy, ripe grapes, bit Marqués de Riscal (Rioja Alavesa) and Marqués de Cáceres (Rioja Alta) were both holding off until end of the month. Regardless, the grapes appeared to be in good health, fully ripe and very sweet throughout the region

This will unquestionably be the second-biggest harvest in Rioja‘s history. It is likely that that some great wines will be made – quality is predicted to be MB – Muy Buena (very good) or perhaps even E – Excelente.

Best Appellations

Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta

Best Producers

drink soon

Officially a three-star vintage. Some made better wine than others

3/5

Weather Conditions

The rain started at the end of February and there floods in the eastern part of the region. Low temperatures in March slowed the development of the vines but this at least meant that the frost of March 29th did less damage than it might have. It was worst in Logroño and along the river Ebro in the Rioja Alta and Alavesa, with temperatures down to -3°C and damage to 15-20% of the buds. Budburst was subsequently good, with 15-20 buds per vine, and flowering took place at the end of May at a time of appalling storms. The south wind then raised temperatures and by the end of June the situation was more or less back to normal. Hot weather and sufficient rain saw the grapes start to turn on the 25th July, as in a ‘normal’ year. August was very hot, with temperatures up to 35°C and some vineyards were so short of water that the vines started to shed leaves. Ripening was very slow, however, and the vintage didn’t start until the 25th September, coinciding with heavy rains from the 27th September to the 3rd November. The bulk of the crop was therefore picked in poor conditions, fuelling massive over-production: some areas at over 13,000 kg/ha against a theoretical maximum of about 8,000, resulting in dilute wines and large-scale declassification by the Consejo Regulador.

Best Appellations

Rioja Alavesa and Alta suffered worst in the spring but least in the summer heat. Some old Garnacha vines in Rioja Baja had attacks of moth and botrytis, but this hardy effected the main crop.

Best Producers

Those growers who picked early and late (ether side of the rains, as late as 14th November) and those who had green-harvested earlier in the season harvested mainly healthy grape but much of the fruit gathered in the wet was of lower quality. The Consejo Regulador classified the vintage as 3/5 but a few producers reported better results. Murrieta reported 4/5 (having cut back a lot of fruit early on); Vargas reported a patchy harvest but 4/5 for the best wines; San Vicente green-harvested 30% of the crop and made better wine than most; Santiago Ijalba claims a 5/5 for wines from its own vineyards; and Viña Ijalba reported 5/5 for small-production and wines destined for ‘reserva’ status but that bulk grapes were very much inferior.