Vines: The Contador 2021 was made from 100% Tempranillo grapes from 10 different sites that make up the Sonserrano terroir, to which were added a very special small plot in Ábalos and another in Labastida. These plots are located at a maximum distance of 5 km from the winery, which allows extremely rapid reception and processing of the grapes.
HIGH ZONE: AT THE FOOT OF THE SIERRA TOLOÑO
The five plots in this area provide approximately 50% of the Contador 2021 grapes. They are located at an altitude of between 550 and 650 m. This is the coolest area, influenced by the descending air currents from the Sierra de Toloño. There are several types of orientation and slope. Revilla and La Tejera are small plots with a slope of 20 to 30% and a southwest orientation. The Rad, also sloping, is oriented towards the south-east. El Bardallo and La Nava have a slight slope and are oriented towards the south.
Regarding the age of the vines, four of them were planted between the 40s and 60s of the last century. La Nava is almost 100 years old. Finally, sandy and shallow soils on limestone rock are found in Revilla, El Bardallo and La Tejera. In La Nava, the vines grow on limestone soils. The same goes for La Rad, which also has a strong presence of gravel.
MIDDLE ZONE: BETWEEN ROADS
In this area, at an altitude between 450 and 550 m, although deep and fertile soils abound, the plot selected for Contador 2021 is located on a hill in the undulating valleys of the region, on shallow, stony and limestone. This area contributes 20% to the Contador 2020 coupage. The grapes come from the El Bombón vineyard, which dates from the 1950s. It is a flat, gently sloping, south-facing area.
LOWER ZONE: THE EBRO
The Ebro area represents approximately 20% of the total Contador 2021 blend. The altitude of the plots located between 400 and 450 m allows for the sweetest grapes. San Juan, located next to the Ebro, has a slope of 30% and faces west. It was planted in 1910 on limestone rock in gravelly soil. In Las Paulejas, the shallow soils are clay-limestone with slopes between 15 and 30%. Finally, El Saúco is a flat, alluvial soil, located at an altitude of 430 m and whose vines are 80 years old.
ÁBALOS: THE CHERRY TREE
This is a small plot with very mineral and stony soil. It is shallow and clay-limestone. It is located at an altitude of 420 meters. It provides 10% of the grapes for the 2021 Contador blend.
Climate assessment of the 2021 harvest
The year 2021 was a very hot year, temperatures were 1 to 2°C higher than the region's average. Regarding precipitation, 2021 was normal, with the wetter months offset by the drier months. The average precipitation at the Bodega Contador meteorological station was 424 mm, which is slightly higher than the average values recorded in La Rioja, which are 399 mm. Temperatures in October were cold, with values around 1ºC lower than expected. The months of November and December were warmer than normal, with temperature variations up to 2ºC higher than expected values in November and 0,5ºC in December. Regarding precipitation, the months of October and December were wet and were offset by a very dry month of November. A total of 130 mm of precipitation was recorded during the season. The year began with a cold and very wet January with an increase in precipitation of 213% compared to the historical average. The month of February was very hot, with an average temperature 3°C higher than the average for these months, and very humid in terms of precipitation. March was a month with normal temperatures and very dry in terms of precipitation, offset by the excess of previous months. Spring was normal in terms of temperature, with a slight increase in temperature compared to the historical average during the month of June. Regarding precipitation, a very wet June made up for the lack of rain in May. About 130 mm fell during the season. The summer period was hot in August and September, with temperatures 1°C higher than the average expected for these dates. In July, temperatures were as predicted. Precipitation was variable over the months. July was very dry, August was dry and September was wet with thunderstorms, meaning that rainfall over the season was less than expected.
The 2021 vintage presented itself with a good balance in production due to the fact that a pre-harvest was carried out beforehand, during which 15% of the production was eliminated. The vintage was characterized by a very good health condition because, although there were periods of heavy rain, it was not affected. The grapes were harvested at a very good stage of maturation, which allowed us to organize the harvest well and carry it out in a staggered manner in order to harvest each plot at its optimal time and to achieve the perfect balance between alcoholic degree -acidity-tannicity that we always look for in our wines.