Spain Flashcards
Spain: 2000
Huge crop levels, extremely variable quality, some wines lacking in concentration. Some excellent examples in Ribera del Duero.
Spain: 2001
Small crop of excellent quality.
Spain: 2002
Very cold, very wet, generally disastrous for both quantity and quality.
Spain: 2003
Small, drought-plagued, early harvest. Many unbalanced wines.
Spain: 2004
Excellent, especially in Rioja.
Spain: 2005
Another excellent vintage, hot but well balanced.
Spain: 2007
Difficult year; Ribera del Duero crop decimated by hail in September. Late picked wines do better, but overall not a great year.
Spain: 2008
Excellent quality in Rioja.
Cooler season than normal in Ribera, yielding balanced, elegant wines.
Spain: 2009
Very hot - average conditions over 2003. Timely rain key in saving the crop. Ultimately, the quality is very good.
Spain: 2010
Exceptional across the board; Ribera edges slightly above Rioja.
Spain: 2011
Heat-stressed vintage - lower acidity, but powerful, concentrated wines.
Spain: 2012
Fifth consecutive small vintage (due to drought). Unusually high tannin wines in Rioja. Quality good in both regions.
Spain: 2013
Higher yields than 2012.
Cool and wet in Rioja; uneven ripening and delayed harvest, but producers are optimistic.
Excellent prognosis in Ribera del Duero.
Spain: 2014
“Improved in quality and quantity from 2013” in Rioja; however, final harvest affected by grey rot.
In Ribera del Duero, it was fresh and lovely
Spain: 2015
Hot and dry - high alcohol and high concentration, with softer tannins in Ribera del Duero.
Poor vintages in Rioja & Ribera del Duero
1992
1993
1997
2002
2003
2007
Spain: 2016
Rioja enjoyed an abundant harvest – the largest since 2005, and many producers had to discard fruit to meet the permitted yield. Quality is excellent, with modest alcohol, full ripeness, relatively light tannins, good aromatic range and no bitterness. Certainly the best recent vintage. In Ribera del Duero, the outlook is also positive, with quality as good as the strong 2015 vintage.
Spain: 2017
One of the toughest years in living memory, with the frost and drought reducing yields by 25% at least. What was left has resulted in wines with elevated alcohol, tannin and extraction. Approach with caution.
2018
2018 was officially classified as ‘good’ (not top rank) in Rioja, with lower than average alcohol levels, and higher than average yields. It was a similar story in Ribera del Duero, where cooler conditions created a fresher and lighter style of red.
2019
Stable conditions, focused wines with aging potential
2020
Hot year, mildew and hail, rain during harvest produced fresh and approachable wines.
