2009 HARVEST

2009 harvest has been the earliest of our history. We started harvesting by 8 th September of 2009 and it was on for almost 2 months, due to the meticulous selection of the grapes, plot by plot and state by state, finalizing the 18th October. This early harvest was brought about by an excessively warm summer with maximum values of 35- 37ºC , inducing that alcoholic maturity was faster than other years.

Let's make a little memory and let's remember how the vegetative cycle of the vineyard was developed: In general, the vineyards evolution throughout its cycle has been good. During the vegetative shutdown, from November to February, the precipitations were numerous, with a total of 210 l/m2 in the area of San Asensio. During the spring, it continued raining, but in a smaller quantity. In the vineyards of San Asensio we had around 86 l/m2. With the arrival of the good weather in May, with temperatures higher than average for that season, it takes place a strong and healthy vegetative development of the grapevine.

But the most remarkable of that period was the severe hail that suffered Rioja Baja area. The whole vineyard from the riverside of Navarra, through the areas of Ausejo, Villar de Arnedo, Tudelilla, to Arnedo and Grávalos. Altogether 1,700 Ha . of the D.O.Ca.Rioja suffers severe damages. Whole vineyards were totally devastated, defoliated and without possibility of development. Our vineyards of Tudelilla were affected, ones in greater proportion than others, and it will force to us to make a selection of grapes very meticulously during the maturation. The strong heat and the drought of the summer bring about the advance in the alcoholic maturation but the phenolic maturity does not take the same initial rate and it is delayed.

This fact forced us to control day by day the maturation of all the vineyards with the purpose of obtain grapes with the best phenolic, sanitary and aromatic conditions. Another remarkable data during the beginning of grape harvest was the strong rains of 18th and 19th of September. Around 36l/m2 in our vineyards of San Asensio . This water, contributes to solve the problems of hydrologic stress of some vineyards and allowed to balance the alcoholic and phenolic maturity of the grapes.

We can say that these rains mark a decisive inflection point for obtaining a high quality harvest, since that date the climatology was very favorable until the end of the harvest, dry and sunny weather, which allowed to the grapes to reach the optimal point of maturity and the best sanitary conditions.

After initiating the harvest the 8th of September with the white grape located in Rioja Baja area and continuing with Tempranillo and Graciano grapes from the same zone, we waited for about 12-15 days because the rains of 18th of September, to continue harvesting our Rioja Alta vineyards. We harvested without stop from 5 th to 16 th October and finally concluded by the 18th October.

To conclude, we could say that 2009 vintage, which initially pointed towards an overripe harvest, due to the strong heat and drought in summer, corrected itself with September rains, so that we have been able to obtain grapes with a very well balanced quality. The sanitary conditions were impeccable as much for the white grapes as for the reds. The alcohol content of wines is higher than other vintages with values from 13.5 to 14,50º and also with a high poliphenolic components rate (in some wines more than 100 IPT and 40 points of color) and a good acidity.

DATOS TÉCNICOS

Kgr. of grape making:

Color de la Uva	Kgr.	%
Red Grape	423.123	88,5%
White Grape	55.070	11,5%

Kg making for varieties:

Variedad	Kgr.	%
Tempranillo	269.122	56,4%
Garnacha	71.460	14,9%
Graciano	59.055	12,3%
Otras	23.486	4,9%
Viura	49.230	10,3%
Malvasia	5.840	1,2%

Kg making for area of DOC Rioja:

	Kg. uva	%
Rioja Alta	294.166	61,5%
Rioja Baja	177.787	37,2%
Rioja Alavesa	6.624	1,3 %