Rioja describes the 2023 harvest as very good despite the high heterogeneity

The plenary session of the DOCa Rioja Regulatory Council agreed at yesterday’s meeting to also rate the 2023 harvest as ‘very good’, which, if it has been marked by anything, has been due to the heterogeneity of the wines after complications due to the heat. scorching heat last mid-August and heavy rainfall in September, especially in some areas. The entity reports that 3,531 samples have been analyzed, with a tasting panel of 150 professionals. Each of the wine samples is tasted by 5 judges, which means issuing more than 17,600 sensory evaluations.

Pablo Franco, head of Technical Services, presented a report to the plenary session in which he highlighted that the wines have “a good point of structure and pH and provide sensations of liveliness and freshness greater than usual, which makes that are more fluid, with a good weight in the mouth and with a finish where the sensations of softness and roundness stand out.

The report highlights the “great relevance” of the grape selection made in the winery, which “invites optimism.” Likewise, Franco highlights that the wines are a “heroism of the winemaker”, given the very complex climatic situations and the diversity of grapes received in the winery, where a great selection has had to be made to conduct a “whimsical” production.

The red wines stand out for their “heterogeneity, observing different ranges that go from the raisin or ripe fruit of the first harvests from before the rains of Rioja Oriental, to some wines with greater character of fresh fruit from the highest areas”, while that the whites “are wines that express the Rioja varieties very well, highlighting at the same time those more particular productions that seek an expression of their potential in coming years.” The ‘very good’ rating is the same one that Ribera del Duero approved a few days before.