TWA database only shows a TN for a regular bottling. WS only shows a TN for a Reserva. CT has both in its system but the picture of the bottle for the regular bottling indicates that it’s a Reserva. I have the Reserva in my cellar. So does anyone know if there was an actual regular bottling of this wine in 1998?
Thanks,
Jeff
Jeff:
It is the same wine.
In the mid to late nineties a few Rioja winemakers decided they did not want to be hostage of the traditional Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva monikers and started releasing their wines without that designation. Most of the modern style Riojas do not carry the Reserva or Gran Reserva moniker although some of them meet the barrel and bottling aging requirements to carry those designations.
I am almost sure that Remírez de Ganuza did not start releasing wines without the Reserva moniker until the 2000 vintage. For the 2000 vintage I have some bottles with the Reserva designation while others carry no designation on the front label and the generic DOC Cosecha label on the back.
I think it might be an oversight from the CT folks for the 1998 Remírez de Ganuza.
SALUDos,
José
I think there is a serious question for CT about how to organize RdG. I believe their “normal” cuvée (it would be a Crianza, although it isn’t called that), their Reserva, and even their Gran Reserva, of which I had a 1995 awhile back, are all the same wine just stored for different amounts of time in the Bodega. So it’s a little confusing, since the wine is labeled differently based on release date and nothing more.
Doug:
Not sure how the folks from CT could approach this issue.
What you refer as Crianza should be Cosecha. Cosecha is the generic term. Crianza has specific barrel aging and bottle aging requirements (Minimum of one year in oak barrel followed by another year in bottle before it is released).
SALUDos,
José
Re. CT, agreed. It’s kind of a thorny issue – either way there are problems. I’d suggest merging all of them into a generic RdG, and just have a red “Nota Bene” post that some of these have no designation, others are designated “Reserva”, others “Gran Reserva”.
Re. the issue between Crianza and Cosecha – I believe that all bottles released by RdG of their flagship wine at least qualify as Crianza.
There’s only one Remírez de Ganuza cuvée nowadays. All the other cuvées have different names: Erre Punto (unoaked, carbonic maceration), Trasnocho, Fincas de Ganuza and María de Ganuza. Coming up, a top single-vineyard wine called La Coqueta.
I’ve not had the time to devote to CT data sweeping like I need, but we’ve merged these wines a number of times. One of the many ‘whack-a-moles.’
From 2006 :
Bodegas Remírez de Ganuza is one of the new wave of Rioja producers. In eschewing some of the traditional ways and nomenclature of Rioja, their wines have caused some confusion in Cellartracker.
The flagship wine is simply known as “Remírez de Ganuza Rioja.” In the past, there was a ‘Reserva’ designation attached to the wine. This is no longer the case. The wine is still made the same way and is part of the same lineage, but the producer felt that being forced to always abide by the legal strictures was too confining and did not allow for varying responses to varying vintages. I suspect there is also a marketing reason where they feel the power of their brand may be diminished by less than concientious Rioja producers and wish the wine brand of “Remirez de Ganuza” to stand on its own.
In Cellartracker, we have opted to eliminate that Reserva designation for ALL vintages of the wine to preserve consistency and to match the current labelling. If you are entering a bottle that prominently says “Remírez de Ganuza” on the front label, it is this wine .
There are three other wines from this producer, but they prominently feature the brand names : Fincas de Ganuza, Transnocho and Erre Punto R.
Lastly, please note the spelling of this producer : REmírez de Ganuza, not Ramírez de Ganuza.
Thanks,
A.
Víctor:
You missed their barrel fermented white (Erre Punto Fermentado en Barrica).
SALUDos,
José
Doug:
It might be true but not necessarily true. It would depend when it is released in the market.
Although most of Remírez de Ganuza flagship wine spends 24 months of oak barrel aging, if Fernando decides to release the wine just after it is bottled it does not qualifies as a Crianza since it did not spend any time stored in bottle at the winery.
The whole thing of using the generic Cosecha labeling in Rioja is giving the winemaker the flexibility of aging and releasing the wine when they want and not by the barrel and bottling aging regulations the DO requires for Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva standards. I do not believe a winemaker would release a higher end wine labeled as a Crianza since it will diminish its value in the market. At the same time, not because a wine is labeled Cosecha it would be a guarantee that it is a high-end cuvée.
With all this RdG talk I got inspired to head down to the basement and crack a 2001 RdG.
SALUDos,
José
Does that mean he is no longer selling Reserva and Gran Reserva labeled bottlings at the bodega?
Good thinking!
![[welldone.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/f/fc9709a841aa9379fd892a9cf0b535b05f473b86.gif "[welldone.gif]"){kind=small}
I meant the red wines, José. No confusion on whites - he only makes one…
He might be selling Reserva’s and Gran Reserva’s at the bodega or for the Spanish market.
SALUDos,
José
PS A little bit over an hour ago I opened the 2001 RdG and it is drinking well, elegant oak on the nose, full body, black fruits, nice acidity and very long on palate. I still has a wall of fine grained tannins that suggest further aging capacity. The 2000 is in a better place for drinking at this moment. Hold the 2001 RdG for another two or three years or decant for at least two hours.
Thanks for the TN. I have a few of these and look to hold them awhile longer, if I can keep my hands off …
Is María de Ganuza a blend, or a single vineyard wine? What do you know about La Coqueta?
María Remírez de Ganuza is a blend of the best barrels from the winery (Some of them from La Coqueta vineyard). Total production is about 3,000 bottles. About two thirds of the wine is donated to Spain’s Cancer Society while the remainder is kept at the winery for special engagements.
La Coqueta is a southern exposure vineyard very close to the winery. Total wine production of this new single vineyard would be about 9,000 bottles. It should be coming out in the near future.
SALUDos,
José
Thanks much, José.