Spain Vintage Flashcards

1
Q

Spain: 1982

A

Exceptional. “Best since 1970.”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Spain: 1986

A

Good in Rioja; better in Ribera del Duero.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Spain: 1989 & 1990

A

Two large crops; rich and charming.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Spain: 1991

A

Another excellent year; small crop but weighty and structured.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Spain: 1992 & 1993

A

Promising start ruined by prolonged rains and severe rot. Good but not great.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Spain: 1994

A

Lower quantity due to spring frost and summer drought, but very high quality.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Spain: 1995

A

Ribera del Duero had a similarly small crop to 1994, but riper and better balanced.
Rioja had incredibly big, high quality yields.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Spain: 1996

A

Good in Rioja; great in Ribera del Duero.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Spain: 1997

A

“Rain at harvest. Not glorious.”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Spain: 1998

A

High quantity in both regions; Ribera struggled with ripeness over so much yield.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Spain: 1999

A

Some difficulty due to rains; Ribera del Duero is better than Rioja, but neither region is as good as 1998.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Spain: 2000

A

Huge crop levels, extremely variable quality, some wines lacking in concentration. Some excellent examples in Ribera del Duero.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Spain: 2001

A

Small crop of excellent quality.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Spain: 2002

A

Very cold, very wet, generally disastrous for both quantity and quality.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Spain: 2003

A

Small, drought-plagued, early harvest. Many unbalanced wines.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Spain: 2004

A

Excellent, especially in Rioja.

17
Q

Spain: 2005

A

Another excellent vintage, hot but well balanced.

18
Q

Spain: 2006

A

Spring hail in Rioja; hot summer, drought stress. Not up to the same quality as 2004 or 2005.

19
Q

Spain: 2007

A

Difficult year; Ribera del Duero crop decimated by hail in September. Late picked wines do better, but overall not a great year.

20
Q

Spain: 2008

A

Excellent quality in Rioja.

Cooler season than normal in Ribera, yielding balanced, elegant wines.

21
Q

Spain: 2009

A

Very hot - average conditions over 2003. Timely rain key in saving the crop. Ultimately, the quality is very good.

22
Q

Spain: 2010

A

Exceptional across the board; Ribera edges slightly above Rioja.

23
Q

Spain: 2011

A

Heat-stressed vintage - lower acidity, but powerful, concentrated wines.

24
Q

Spain: 2012

A

Fifth consecutive small vintage (due to drought). Unusually high tannin wines in Rioja. Quality good in both regions.

25
Q

Spain: 2013

A

Higher yields than 2012.
Cool and wet in Rioja; uneven ripening and delayed harvest, but producers are optimistic.
Excellent prognosis in Ribera del Duero.

26
Q

Spain: 2014

A

“Improved in quality and quantity from 2013” in Rioja; however, final harvest affected by grey rot. We will see.

27
Q

Spain: 2015

A

Hot and dry - high alcohol and high concentration, with softer tannins in Ribera del Duero.

28
Q

Poor vintages in Rioja & Ribera del Duero

A
1992
1993
1997
2002
2003
2007