Spanish wines : 2020, towards a vintage for keeping

Towards a vintage for keeping

Last wine-growing season was marked by temperatures 1 to 3°C above normal averages and
higher rainfall compared to historical data, enabling the soils to build up good water reserves, contributing to optimal grape ripening

Despite one first week of January with negative temperatures, the winter was relatively mild (5-10°C on average) and dry. This continued through spring, removing the risk of frost. In April, rainfall was exceptional: 120mm in total (twice as much as the usual rainfall in the Ribera, sometimes accompanied by heavy storms). Budburst came early, at the beginning of the month, leading to rapid plant growth and the promise of relatively early ripening.

At the beginning of May, we started making our 500 preparation on the estate, and the following week put the preparations into our compost. May and June were slightly drier, heading off any risk of cryptogrammic pressure during flowering. Work on the vegetation was therefore limited, to preserve the berries from summer scalding.

During the summer months, temperatures fluctuated more than usual from warm in the day to cool at night. Subsequently, thanks to slightly higher temperatures in July, approaching the 40°C marks, and light rainfall, ripening started around August 9th, 4 days earlier than in 2019.

September was dry, affording great ripening conditions. The harvest began with the Albillo whites on September 25th, while the village of Sotillo went back into lockdown. Picking of the Tempranillo grapes began on September 29th, a few days earlier than you would expect for a classic vintage. A week of fine rain (about 20mm) interrupted the harvest, making it possible to contain the rise in alcohol and homogenize the phenolic ripening process. Picking was then resumed, and the 2020 vintage was all brought in by the beginning of October.

The wines are well-balanced with a nice acidity, which is good for ageing. Silky tannins and moderate alcohol levels have produced a fine, elegant vintage.

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