“A harvest marked by the winemaker and the terroir”

Harvest 2017 has many contrasts. We have found high temperatures and draught, and we have activated the drip irrigation. It has also been a cold and rainy year, like the 60 litres we registered at the end of August. We are not used to these quantities of water and the green covers have been essential to keep the high quality.

Extreme conditions have affected more some grape varieties like Tempranillo or specially Moscatel de Grano Menudo. Because of this, we have decided to produce less litres and keep the best to make our wines.

On the other hand, there have been other grape varieties that have worked very well, with higher sugar and amazing quality. These have been Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha and GracianoIt is remarkable the Merlot grapes from Finca Montijo because the rain at the end of September made the ripeness a bit longer and it is spectacular. Ochoa Finca Montijo is only made in excellent vintages and I think this year we will make it.

It is also essential this vintage the yeast selection from our vineyard to obtain great quality. In the case of natural yeast from Ochoa, both Kluiveromyces and Saccharomyces Boulardii have contributed to balance our wines naturally.

The final raport gives us 10% less of kilos harvested and there has been less yielding but more concentration, which is very positive. This vintage 2017 we will produce less litres of wine but of the highest quality.

Generally we can say it is a winemakers ‘vintage, where it has been very important to select and work depening on the grapes and knowing every second what to do in the winery. This is a terroir vintage, meaning grape variety, soil and climate, have marked the differences between parcels.

The general impression is very good. Each wine has the characteristics we were looking for  and the quality standards are highly met.

Definitely we can say it has been a difficult vintage but very fun. And most important, it will give us spectacular wines!

ÚNETE A LA FAMILIA OCHOA

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