RIOJA AT A GLANCE - The Wine Society · CRIANZA One year in barrel One year in bottle RESERVA One...
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CRIANZA One year in barrel One year in bottle RESERVA One year in barrel Two years in bottle GRAN RESERVA Two years in barrel Three years in bottle RIOJA MINIMUM AGEING LAWS STYLES OF RIOJA WHAT’S IN A BARREL? 90% OF RIOJA IS RED WITH THE REST MADE UP FROM WHITE AND ROSÉ VINTAGE SCORES THEWINESOCIETY.COM RED Tempranillo Garnacha Graciano Mazuelo Maturana Tinta WHITE Viura Malvasía Garnacha Blanca Tempranillo Blanco 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 TRADITIONAL Fragrant, silky, delicate. Long ageing in casks and bottle. Ready to drink on release. AMERICAN OAK BARRELS MODERN-CLASSICAL Younger, rounder wines. Character through oak ageing. Can develop in bottle OFTEN A MIX OF AMERICAN AND FRENCH OAK BARRELS MODERN Richer, velvety wine aged for less time, and in newer oak. Released earlier and mostly need keeping FRENCH OAK BARRELS Subtler flavours, such as cedar and spice, that are less obviously 'oaky'. Wines aged in French oak are more likely to elicit adjectives such as 'elegant' and 'refined.' Tannins: tend to be silkier and often more complementary to the fruit. More expensive: the tighter grain demands that the wood must be split, meaning that only 25% or so of the tree can be utilised. FRENCH OAK ELEGANT AND REFINED More intensely flavoured, giving sweeter and more vanilla-like qualities to the wine. Wines aged in American oak are more likely to be described as 'opulent' or hedonistic' (or, indeed, 'oaky'!). Tannins: can be overwhelming if not handled sensitively. Less expensive: the tree can be serrated meaning that it is much more economical than French oak. AMERICAN OAK OPULENT AND OAKY RIOJA AT A GLANCE From grape to glass INDIGENOUS GRAPES
Transcript of RIOJA AT A GLANCE - The Wine Society · CRIANZA One year in barrel One year in bottle RESERVA One...
CRIANZAOne year in barrelOne year in bottle
RESERVAOne year in barrelTwo years in bottle
GRAN RESERVATwo years in barrel
Three years in bottle
RIOJA MINIMUM AGEING LAWS
STYLES OF RIOJA
WHAT’S IN A BARREL?
90% OF RIOJA IS RED WITH THE REST MADE UP FROM WHITE AND ROSÉ
VINTAGE SCORES
THEWINESOCIETY.COM
RED
TempranilloGarnachaGracianoMazuelo Maturana Tinta
WHITE
ViuraMalvasíaGarnacha BlancaTempranillo Blanco
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
TRADITIONAL
Fragrant, silky, delicate. Long ageing in casks and bottle. Ready to
drink on release.
AMERICAN OAK BARRELS
MODERN-CLASSICAL
Younger, rounder wines. Character through oak ageing. Can develop
in bottle
OFTEN A MIX OF AMERICAN AND FRENCH OAK BARRELS
MODERN
Richer, velvety wine aged for less time, and in newer oak. Released earlier and mostly need keeping
FRENCH OAK BARRELS
Subtler �avours, such as cedar and spice, that are less obviously 'oaky'. Wines aged in French oak are
more likely to elicit adjectives such as 'elegant' and 're�ned.'
Tannins: tend to be silkier and often more complementary to the fruit.
More expensive: the tighter grain demands that the wood must be split, meaning that only 25%
or so of the tree can be utilised.
FRENCH OAK
ELEGANTAND
REFINED
More intensely �avoured, giving sweeter and more vanilla-like qualities to the wine. Wines aged in
American oak are more likely to be described as 'opulent' or hedonistic' (or, indeed, 'oaky'!).
Tannins: can be overwhelming if not handled sensitively.
Less expensive: the tree can be serrated meaning that it is much more economical
than French oak.
AMERICAN OAK
OPULENT AND OAKY
RIOJA AT A GLANCEF r o m g r a p e t o g l a s s
INDIGENOUS GRAPES
