2008 Rioja, Viña El Pison, Artadi
About Producer
Artadi started in 1985 as a co-operative project of 13 growers who owned well-sited vineyards around Laguardia. In 1992, the Lacalle and Laorden families took control of the fledging project with Juan Carlos López de Lacalle as manager and winemaker. Pioneer and visionary standard-bearer of a terroir-driven approach in Rioja, Juan Carlos created this cuvée Viña El Pison to single out the unique character of this vineyard inherited from his grandfather. Over the years, Artadi has expanded their vineyard holdings beyond the Álava province, to Navarra and Alicante wine regions, and is now part of the elite wineries of Spain with a compelling range of single vineyard cuvées. Still, the jewel of the crown remains Viña El Pison which has become one of the true grands crus of Spain, although without the mention of origin since the decision of Artadi to leave the Rioja appellation in December 2015.
Varietals
100% tempranillo from a 2.4ha single vineyard planted in 1945 on clay and limestone soil, at 480m high, southeast of Laguardia, Álava province, in Rioja Alavesa. 8,000 bottles produced each year.
About Appellation
Rioja wine region covers around 54,000ha of vineyards spread over three zones, Rioja Alta in the west on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria up to 800m, Rioja Alavesa to the east into the province of Álava in the Basque Country, and Rioja Oriental, further south, in the eastern section. While vines were first planted by the Phoenicians who travelled up to the Ebro River, vineyards were developed around Logroño in the early 2nd century under Roman rule. From the 15th century onwards, rioja wines became very popular with pilgrims travelling along the Way of Saint-James to Santiago de Compostela. Among red varietals, tempranillo reigns supreme, with garnacha (grenache) and to a lesser extent, mazuelo (local name for carignan) and graciano playing the supporting roles, and tradional white grape varieties are viura (aka macabeo), malvasiá and garnacha blanca .
Tasting Notes
Enthralling nose of dark fruits, chocolate, liqueur aromas, floral scents and forest floor, sensual mouthfeel with silky texture, broad structure and impressive precision, multilayered flavours of ripe berry fruit, damson, roasted coffee, balsamic notes, vanilla and undergrowth underpinned by a firm mineral backbone, tremendous freshness and fine-grained tannins carrying through a long, pure finish. This is a magnificent wine with ethereal poise, amazing complexity and remarkable finesse, rich without being showy, and displaying a harmonious balance between superb expression of fruit and subtle nuances of minerality. A splendid rendition of the tempranillo grape from an outstanding terroir indeed. (07/2021)