2006 Rioja & Spain Vintage

Rain was moderate through the winter and around budbreak across the Denomination, and the wettish winter ensured good water reserves. Budbreak was good and on the usual dates, and by mid-June fruit set was complete everywhere, a week ahead of the previous year, though Garnacha set more irregularly, with coulure and millerandage. Rain up to the end of July was higher than in 2005 and abundant in much of the Denomination, which pushed leafy growth and raised the fungal risk: there was some mildew on leaves and bunches, isolated oidium, and a great effort by growers in treatments. August was drier, with barely any storms, and temperatures eased, with especially cool nights that slowed the vines and trimmed their expected lead. By late August the weather was dry and sunny, with moderate days and cool nights, which was ideal for finishing ripening. Ripening ran on normal timing into early September, then high temperatures stalled it, above all for color, and it went on unevenly, so selective picking was essential. Picking began with Tempranillo at Alfaro on 1 September, reached Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa in the last ten days of September, went general in early October, and ended on 27 October after a final phase of unsettled weather and intermittent rain. The crop came to 416 million kilos, more modest than the 444.74 million kilos of 2005.

• Moderate rain through winter and budbreak; fruit set complete by mid-June, a week ahead of 2005
• Abundant rain to the end of July brought mildew pressure and heavy spraying; August dry, with cool nights
• Early September heat stalled ripening and made selective picking essential
• Harvest ran from 1 September at Alfaro to 27 October; crop of 416 million kilos

Hail hit unevenly. In Rioja Alta there was minor damage around Haro and very heavy damage in the terms of Badaran-Cordovin, easing in the neighbouring terms, with more than 1,500 hectares affected and further damage from wind and runoff. Around Aldeanueva and Alfaro hail touched up to 2,000 hectares, but the badly hit area came to about 300 hectares, and around El Villar de Arnedo about 540 hectares suffered significant damage. Harvest timing also split by zone: picking opened in the eastern zone at Alfaro, Aldeanueva de Ebro and Azagra in early September, white grapes in the central zone followed in mid-September, and reds in Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa started only in the last ten days of September.

• Rioja Alta: more than 1,500 ha hit by hail around Badaran-Cordovin, minor damage around Haro
• Aldeanueva and Alfaro: up to 2,000 ha touched by hail, about 300 ha badly
• El Villar de Arnedo area: about 540 ha with significant hail damage
• Eastern zone picked first from 1 September; Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa reds from late September

The Consejo Regulador rated 2006 "Muy Buena" (Very Good), following the "Excelente" (Excellent) it gave 2004 and 2005. In Wine Spectator's report, Consejo president Victor Pascual credited the yield limits first introduced in 2001 for another good year, and said the favorable climate, a good vegetative cycle and vintner know-how would give big Crianzas. Decanter's guide rates 2006 4/5, calls it a good to very good vintage with fresh, supple and crisp wines, tells readers to look out for some big, long-lived Crianzas, and marks it drink soon. Its best producers include Bodegas Bilbainas, Bodegas Valdemar, Marques de Caceres and Bodegas Faustino.

• Official rating: "Muy Buena" (Very Good), after Excelente in 2004 and 2005
• Decanter: 4/5, good to very good, fresh, supple and crisp wines; drink soon
• Big Crianzas expected by both Decanter and Consejo president Victor Pascual
• Decanter's best producers include Bodegas Bilbainas, Valdemar, Marques de Caceres and Faustino

Wine Spectator graded Spain B for 2006, reporting healthy grapes and well-proportioned yields in a good to very good year. Priorat vintners called it similar to 2005 in quality; rains in mid-August and mid-September meant lower alcohol than usual, and Adria Perez of Cims de Porrera predicted wines "very round, with structure." In Ribera del Duero flowering was accelerated and ripening ran fast and unbalanced, especially for Merlot, until rains in mid-September normalized it. Toro yields rose by almost 25 percent, Rias Baixas yields by up to 40 percent from 2005, and in Navarra late September rains delayed the harvest.

• Spain overall: Wine Spectator grade B, good to very good
• Priorat: similar to 2005; mid-August and mid-September rains lowered alcohol
• Ribera del Duero: fast, unbalanced ripening normalized by mid-September rains
• Toro yields up almost 25 percent; Rias Baixas up to 40 percent