Spain/Portugal - vintages Flashcards
2017
Frost in Rioja/Ribera del Duero/Catalunya, reducing yields as much as 25%. Very challenging!
Portugal - hot dry heat in Duoro, very early harvest beginning August 23.
2016
High quality - reduced yields from drought conditions in Catalunya, abundant crop in Rioja
Portugal - cool wet spring, relieved by dry fall that led to good harvest conditions. Excellent vintage ports and dry reds
2015
Potentially best in 5 years in Priorat, hot and dry across Spain, higher alcohols in Rioja and less tannin.
Portugal - warm and dry, high quality
2014
Decent wines from Spain, but with some grey rot affecting the end of harvest.
Portugal was challenging - lots of rain and cool conditions both early and late in the season. Few vintage ports, but Quinta do Noval an exception
2013
Cool and wet start to the year, warmed up in Ribera del Duero for a good harvest, more spotty in Rioja.
Portugal - cool spring, very dry summer, led to small late harvest of high quality
2012
Dry (drought) conditions in Spain - small harvest but some high quality wines.
Portugal - The Douro saw drought and hail conspire to reduce yields significantly, by as much as 40% in places. The resultant small berries have made wines of high colour and notable acidity.
2011
Very hot, heat stress, some wines lacking acidity
Portugal - dry summer, some well timed rain in August September, then again dry through a spectacular harvest
2010
Exceptional for Ribera del Duero, quite good in Rioja
Portugal - some extremes: a very wet winter, very hot July - but then more moderate conditions leading to a good harvest
2009
Very hot in Spain, with well-timed rains to allow a great harvest.
Portugal - much heat, great for Port, not good for unfortified wines
2008
Great Rioja, a little cooler in Ribera del Duero for balanced wines.
Portugal - A dry but, like 2007, cool year. Quinta do Noval declared
2007
Challenging in Rioja/Ribera with some frost in September.
Portugal - cooler than usual, late harvest without any drying/raisination. Declared vintage.
2006
Some spring hail in Rioja. Not as good as ‘05 or ‘04
Portugal - A wet year with rain inconveniently timed in September. But some grapes were also shrivelled by extreme heat. Far from a textbook year.
2005
Very good across Spain.
Portugal - An exceptionally dry growing season in which only old vines triumphed. Very early harvest produced unusual musts - the Douro’s answer to 2003?
2004
Very good year, especially for Rioja, with wines that should last well.
Portugal - The usual hot summer, then rain in early September but late September saw sugar levels zoom up. There will be some fine vintage and single quinta ports.
2003
Small, early, drought-plagued harvest of often unbalanced wines.
Portugal - Some great vintage ports, not harmed by the hot summer and helped by newfound alternative techniques to foot treading.
