Rioja Masters 2016: results and analysis

While it remains one of Spain’s most popular wines, Rioja is in a state of flux stylistically. But at this year’s Rioja Masters competition, the quality of the offering shone bright. By Patrick Schmitt MW.

In the world of mid-priced reds, few regions have as much appeal as Rioja. While its competitor European regional brands Bordeaux and Chianti seem to have slipped to the lower shelves of Britain’s retailers, Rioja is still proudly displayed at eye level, or better still for moving volumes, at the end of the aisle, on a compelling offer.

The Spanish region’s allure has not only endured, it has magnified. Indeed, such is the region’s attraction, it dominates the Iberian wine offer, much to the frustration of other Spanish red wine DOs, desperate for recognition. It’s a situation neatly summed up by Jonathan Pedley MW. Speaking over a coffee before chairing the judges at this year’s Rioja Masters competition, Pedley expressed his particular interest in the region because it has become so commercially important, particularly for Crown Cellars, the Carlsberg UK wine business that he consults for – and has done for more than 17 years. “When I started in the trade, Bordeaux outsold Rioja by 20 times in pubs and bars, but now it’s the other way round,” he said.

“So getting the Rioja offer right is vital,” he added.

But what has made Rioja so popular? That was something the tasting set out to understand, while, of course, drawing attention to the region’s top-performing producers.

After a day’s sampling, it was clear what makes Rioja attractive, but, still, as with all wine-producing places, far from perfect.

To focus on the positives first, the base level of quality in Rioja is high. In this year’s Masters we had very few wines that didn’t achieve a medal. Not only that, but the sub-£10 category featured a slew of Silvers and a Gold, proving that Rioja can deliver juicy and balanced results at the cheaper end of the spectrum – something that perhaps those competitor regions mentioned above struggle to achieve at this level. Indeed, Rioja’s quality-to-price ratio between £5-£15 is hardly matched in the world of red wines.

And what about style? To generalise, the tasting also showed what Rioja-lovers already know: Rioja manages to achieve a rare and charming combination of juicy red fruit, spice, sweet oak-derived flavours, and freshness. Furthermore, producers tend to release wines ready to drink, having allowed them to soften and develop complexity in the cellar before sending them to the market.

Hard to pigeonhole

Then there’s the diversity available. Now, this can be a complicating element for people with a preconceived idea of Rioja, and that’s because, today, this wine region has become increasingly difficult to pigeonhole in terms of taste. Even the idea of old- and new-wave Rioja is hard to apply brand by brand, with some producers embracing both styles – ie, offering the more oxidative, spicy, leathery, long-aged type alongside a concentrated, highly-extracted, youthful version.

But what this does mean is that there’s now a Rioja for everyone – from the light and berry-scented jovens to the equivalent of Chianti’s Super Tuscans with the rule-breaking Vinos de Autor, which tend to be powerful and youthful reds that bear almost no resemblance to so-called ‘classic’ Riojas.

Essentially, the region is in a state of flux, and while some might bemoan a lack of typicity from certain cellars, it is important to remind oneself that Rioja is a place trying to adapt to the tastes of a broad range of consumers, some of whom are entirely new to wine. In fact, Rioja’s urge to try different styles using the same basic ingredients highlights the commercially-minded nature of the area, and probably also explains why the region’s appeal has endured.

Where is Rioja headed?

Nevertheless, it’s not all a bed of sweet-smelling roses, and this urge to move on can leave one wondering where Rioja is headed. “The Rioja style is changing dramatically,” says José González Godoy, restaurant manager and sommelier at Ametsa with Arzak Instruction, before stating: “What we do not know yet is where is it going?” Continuing, he observes: “I felt that the American wood and long ageing, with a slightly oxidative style, has disappeared; and even some ‘classics’ were not that classic.”

Having identified more concentration and extraction in the wines, he then wondered whether the idea of a typical Rioja should be revised. “Is Rioja losing its identity, or rather, finding a new one?” he asked, suggesting that it’s up to us to catch up, rather than for producers to turn back the clock.

Finally, while many of the Riojas tasted seem to be new and trendier in terms of taste, there are still those wines that appear as though they were from a different era, and the effect isn’t always endearing. As Pedley notes: “All the innovation seems to have been in the younger categories and poor old gran reserva is seen as an embarrassing relic from the past.” He then adds, mournfully: “This is a shame as the classic mature, mellow and complex gran reserva style is a unique, internationally-recognised and treasured part of the Rioja family.”

In essence, the gran reserva category, which should serve as a flagship for the region, has become home to some of the region’s greatest disappointments – mainly because expectations are so high at this level. The letdown comes when the wine, after many months in barrel, emerges tired and tannic. Thankfully, as the results showed, there are still producers who, with sensitivity and experience, manage to produce great results using extended oak ageing, and in doing so, deliver something both wonderful and inimitable.

Summing up on the day’s sampling, Sarah Janes Evans MW enthuses: “The tasting confirmed my view that Rioja can undoubtedly provide really pleasurable wines. The blend of the grape varieties with the climate and the soils – and those millions of oak casks across the DOCa – can make for lovely wines.”

However, she raised a new concern, one that doesn’t involve stylistic evolution and diversity, but low pricing. “With wines of this quality, it’s a pity to see that Rioja is still selling itself cheap. I don’t expect to find Burgundy at bargain-basement prices, or Barolo or Rhône, so why Rioja? In arguably Spain’s most prestigious region – apart from Jerez – we should expect pricing that supports the growers and allows them to invest.”

In other words, Rioja has the right image and quality, but it must price those positive traits to ensure that it can sustain them.

Click through for a full roundup of medal-winning wines…

The results