Rioja Reserva

The autumn was warm and practically without frost. The leaves were late falling from the vines so the plants were able to build up their reserves. Budburst occurred on 10 April. On 6 May there was a light frost which had scarcely any effect on the estate vineyards. Damage was more significant in certain areas within the Leza jurisdiction. Flowering began on 2 June in the zone on the banks of the Ebro. Fruit setting was uneven and as a result the grapes were not tightly clustered, leaving sufficient space between the berries, a highly desirable feature as it makes it harder for botrytis to develop during ripening. Véraison began on 30 July. During the first two weeks in September 34 litres of rainfall was recorded, delaying the start of the grape harvest, which began on 17 September and proceeded in dry, cool weather. The small size of the grape berries and the clusters was good for their ripening. The resulting harvest was characterised by a low pH value and high acidity, something which will help the wines’ ageing and later conservation in the bottle.

21 months of American oak.