2020 Artadi Vina El Pison

In the medieval village of Laguardia, the future of La Rioja has developed in the cellars of Artadi. Without a doubt, this masterpiece is due to the brilliant and creative work of Juan Carlos López, assisted today by his son Carlos.

When Juan Carlos turned the cooperative into an independent 'bodega' in 1992, he had already been in charge of it for 7 years. His vision was revolutionary and destroyed the whole of Rioja, but in no time he managed to make the best wines of Spain, which immediately conquered the entire world. Short pruning in the vineyards, resulting in very small yields, and the use of French oak barrels were just some of his innovative ideas. Even more important was the 'early' bottling of his wines, in contrast to the traditional Riojas, which were sometimes stored for up to 10 years in large wooden 'foudres'. With this he also consciously stepped aside from the Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva classification.

All wines in their range are made exclusively from the Tempranillo grape, which was born in Rioja and can also provide the best quality here. The range covers 3 wines in which Viñas de Gain is their base wine. This wine is the great example of the best Rioja wines and is often used as a reference point. Without a doubt the best quality wine for its price!! Only the best grapes from the old vineyards are selected for Pagos Viejos, which come from the best terroirs throughout Rioja. Consequently, it is no wonder that this wine is a true explosion of fruit, structure and elegant tannins. This wine owes its perfect balance to 14 months of oak barrel aging. Only in the very best years is this selection made into superior Grandes Añadas.
Viña el Pison comes from a unique piece of land of 2.4 hectares where the subsoil and the location of the vineyard to the sun are exceptional tenors. With an average age of 65 years, the vines produce nothing but the very best, but unfortunately also very limited, which makes this stunner so unique!

Artadi's El Pison is the most aromatic of all Artadi's single-vineyard bottlings. It opens with aromas of violets and Asian herbs similar to a Rioja version of a Chambolle-Musigny or Vosne-Romanée. The nose is very spicy, ripe and intoxicating with open and expressive aromas of croissants, herbal tea, aromatic herbs and balsamic vinegar that is already remarkably complex for its young age, so that promises something with age. The El Pisón is very complete and is a very complex wine. Only 6,600 bottles were produced and the wine received 98/100 points from Parker and 99/100 from Suckling. The wine is named after a 2.4 hectare plot planted in 1945 in the village of Laguardia. The vineyard is an amphitheater with varying soils of limestone, clay and sandstone with a deep combination of limestone and silt. The grapes underwent a 24 to 48 hour cold soak and fermentation with native yeasts in oak barrels for 10-12 days, during which time the grapes were trampled twice a day. It matured for nine months in French oak barrels. There is something mysterious about this Pisón; it is subtle and elegant, a bit austere and reserved at first. The palate is seamless, silky with very refined tannins, with stunning balance and a very long, clean and precise finish.