Rioja/Ribera del Duero

Question 1

2018

Answer 1

Lower than average alcohol levels, and higher than average yields. “Good” officially (not top rank). Similar in Ribera, where cooler conditions created fresher and lighter style.

Question 2

2017

Answer 2

One of the toughest years in living memory, with frost and drought reducing yields by 25% at least. Leaving wine with high alc, tannin and extraction. Approach with caution.

Question 3

2016

Answer 3

Unlike Catalunya, Rioja enjoyed an abundant harvest. Quality is excellent, with modest alcohol, full ripeness, relatively light tannins, good aromatic range and no bitterness. Best recent vintage. In Ribera del Duero, outlook positive, with quality as strong as ‘15

Question 4

2015

Answer 4

Ribera was hot and dry. Old vines did better than younger. Volume was down from ‘14 by up to a third. Low nitrogen levels led to struggling ferments, but flavor ripeness is very high, with soft tannins, and high potential alcohol. Alcohol also higher in alcohol in Rioja, again with powerful concentration and richness. Short, early harvest reflected the ripeness of the crop. Berries were small across region, with higher, cooler vineyards of Rioja showing especially high quality.

Question 5

2014

Answer 5

In Rioja, better quality than ‘13, despite some grey rot in final week of harvest. Ribera was fresh and lively.

Question 6

2013

Answer 6

Despite cool, wet start to the year, a long dry summer in Ribera heralded full fruit ripeness at harvest, with below average temps promising fine flavor development. Frequent bouts of wet weather in Rioja, together with cold spring, resulted in some uneven ripening and delayed harvest that slipped into Nov. in some parts, yet yields were slightly up from ‘12

Question 7

2012

Answer 7

A weird year of weather in Spain. Fifth consecutive small vintage, thanks in large part to dry conditions. Resultant small berries harvested in Rioja are likely to make wines of great concentration and high tannin, but of limited ageability. Ribera crop was also shrunk by drought but producers there are a little more optimistic about eventual quality

Question 8

2011

Answer 8

Hot and heat-stressed for the vines in Rioja with lower acidity than average but powerful, concentrated wines of good quality. Similarly hot n Ribbera, giving powerful intensity and smooth, soft tannins.

Question 9

2010

Answer 9

Exceptional for Ribera with no excessive weather pattern, uniform ripeness and quality as promising as ‘04. Good quality in Rioja also, considered better than ‘09

Question 10

2009

Answer 10

Very hot conditions gave average temps above infamous ‘03 vintage. However, timely rains in Rioja and Ribera relieved the vines and rescued the vintage. Very good quality.

Question 11

2008

Answer 11

Very good quality for Rioja, with favourable weather throughout autumn. In Ribera, temps were cooler than normal, giving a slow, balanced ripening process and elegant wines

Question 12

2007

Answer 12

After miserable summer, froston Sept 24 decimated crop from many young Ribera vineyards. Most grapes struggled to ripen, but late pickers were rewarded. Not a stellar year.

Question 13

2006

Answer 13

Some spring hail in Rioja. Hot summers with some drought stress. Has not lived up to the two previous vintages.

Question 14

2005

Answer 14

Another good vintage with high temps but with just enough rain

Question 15

2004

Answer 15

Very good year, especially for Rioja, with wines that should mostly be drunk before their 20th birthday

Question 16

2003

Answer 16

Small, early, drought plagued harvest of often unbalanced wines.

Question 17

2002

Answer 17

Exceptionally cold winter and spring was followed by nasty wet weather during summer - disastrous for both quality and quantity. Rain persisted even during harvest. Truly a severe test for both regions.

Question 18

2001

Answer 18

Smaller-than-usual crop b/c of spring frosts but distinctly superior quality accentuated in some cases by further deliberate crop thinning. Some very fine wines that are maturing magnificently.

Question 19

2000

Answer 19

Record crop levels and extremely variable quality with exceptionally high summer temps and in many cases a lack of concentration. Some very good wines from Ribera though

Question 20

1999

Answer 20

April frost in Rioja delayed ripening of grapes that suffered thanks to summer rains. Better quality in Ribera, however, although harvest rain reduced acidity. Good quality but not quite as good as ‘98

Question 21

1998

Answer 21

Despite spring frosts, yields were still too high to ripen some grapes sufficiently in Ribera. Quality was also Rioja’s strong suit

Question 22

1997

Answer 22

Rain at harvest. Not glorious

Question 23

1996

Answer 23

Particularly. successful in Ribera, where ripe, relatively friendly wines were made

Question 24

1995

Answer 24

Another frost-shrunk crop in Ribera, although the grapes were riper and probably better balanced than in 1994. Rioja’s bodegas, on the other hand, were swollen by enormous harvest of ripe, healthy grapes.

Question 25

1994

Answer 25

Quality isn’t a problem but quantity is after spring frosts and summer drought. Some very nice wines indeed

Question 26

1993

Answer 26

Harvest rains again. Good but not great seems the rule

Question 27

1992

Answer 27

Looked good until prolonged rains, which diluted grapes and encouraged rot. Early maturing, should have been drunk.

Question 28

1991

Answer 28

Excellent year in Spain, only a small crop but impressive weight and structure

Question 29

1990

Answer 29

Another large and fine quality crop in all areas

Question 30

1989

Answer 30

Plenty of rich and charming wines from both regions

Question 31

1986

Answer 31

Good in Rioja but outshone by Riberas of complexity and power