2007 Rioja & Spain Vintage

2007 was a particularly long growing season in Rioja. The long cycle worked in favour of fruit quality, and yields were generally moderate, which made green harvesting (vendimia en verde) less necessary. The season was punctuated by difficult weather, including spring hail and a summer attack of mildew, with the red grapes most affected, though more in terms of yield than quality. The harvest ran from 3 September to 2 November, staggered and very selective, following the ripening of each vineyard. Decanter called it a long, drawn-out affair, punctuated locally by bursts of activity as pickers rushed to beat the rains. Fine, sunny late autumn weather let growers take their time and pick each site at optimum ripeness, and the lack of rain meant there was little evidence of rot. Most of the grapes reached the wineries in excellent health, with a good balance of alcohol, polyphenols and acidity. On yields the sources differ: Decanter put them down around 30 percent, with Rioja Alta worst off, while the Consejo reported total production 2.2 percent below the previous year, despite about 400 more hectares of vineyard.

The harvest totalled 412.72 million kg of grapes from 60,774 productive hectares: 375.09 million kg of red grapes and 37.63 million kg of white. Julia Harding MW of JancisRobinson.com gave the Consejo's figures as 412 million kg, 91 percent red and 9 percent white, of which 391 million kg were approved for wine production. After the rating process, 272.8 million litres of 2007 wine were cleared for sale under the DOCa. Another 7 million litres were set aside as a qualitative stock (stock cualitativo), a reserve used for the first time that year to help the balanced development of the appellation and market stability. JancisRobinson.com described it as wineries being able to set aside 10 percent of the maximum yield as holding stock against small harvests in the future.

• 412.72 million kg from 60,774 productive ha: 375.09 million kg red, 37.63 million kg white
• 391 million kg approved for wine production
• 272.8 million litres qualified: 245.90 red, 15.19 white and 11.72 rose
• 7 million litres held as a qualitative stock, the first time the reserve was used

Decanter's guide found the most consistent quality in Rioja Baja, with crisp, well-balanced, elegant wines, and said its vineyards "were mostly picked when the rains hit, but Rioja Alta was not so lucky, leaving quality here in some doubt." Rioja Alta was also worst off for yields, per Decanter. The Consejo's account is broader: from Rioja Alta to Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental, the campaign closed with a generally positive reading across the appellation.

• Rioja Baja: most consistent quality, with crisp, well-balanced, elegant wines (Decanter)
• Rioja Alta: worst off for yields, with quality left in some doubt (Decanter)
• Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental: a generally positive close across the appellation (Consejo)

The Consejo Regulador's plenary gave 2007 its official rating of "Muy Buena" (Very Good), after analysis and tasting of 4,093 samples drawn from the wineries' tanks. That year the Consejo had raised its requirements for rating a vintage, adding the polyphenol index and the colour index. The rating confirmed the expectations raised at harvest, when the high quality of the grapes pointed to great wines especially suited to barrel ageing, and the Consejo credited the good weather during the final phase of ripening and the professionalism of Rioja's growers and winemakers. The Consejo describes the reds as having great polyphenolic structure, intense colour and a notable balance between alcohol and acidity, with ripe, well-integrated tannins. Decanter, which rated the vintage 4/5, found alcohol levels on the lower side and acidity relatively high. The Consejo places 2007 between 2006 and 2008, both also rated "Muy Buena", in a run that included the "Excelente" (Excellent) vintages of 2004, 2005 and 2010.

• Official rating: "Muy Buena" (Very Good), after 4,093 tank samples were analysed and tasted
• New rating parameters in 2007: the polyphenol index and the colour index
• Decanter: lower alcohol, relatively high acidity; rated 4/5
• 2006 and 2008 also "Muy Buena"; 2004, 2005 and 2010 rated "Excelente" (Excellent)