Artadi - Vin d'Espagne - Viña El Pison - Rouge - 2017

Wine:

The 2017 Viña El Pison is a truly exceptional wine. Its rarity lies in the masterful combination of power and delicacy, a feat particularly noteworthy on the sun-drenched, clay-limestone, and arid lands where only the most skilled winemakers can fully capture the essence of Tempranillo. Grown in stony soils, this wine's character transcends the vintage, striking a perfect balance between strength and freshness. Layers of dark fruit and hints of orange zest meld into a deeply profound, refined, and lingering palate. A top-tier bottle that draws the attention of connoisseurs, it has earned a rating of 97+/100 by Parker.

Vinification:

Vineyard planted in 1946. Vineyard located in Laguardia at 480m altitude, on deep clay-limestone soils. Maximum respect for the environment in viticulture, no pesticides or herbicides. Hand-harvested, fermented in open wooden vats for 12 to 14 days, with two daily punchings of the cap and a little pumping-over, aged for 12 months in new French oak barrels.

Color:

Deep, intense ruby red.

Nose:

Black fruit aromas punctuated by notes of orange zest.

Palate:

Deep and persistent, with intense, luminous flavors of fruit. This cuvée offers a perfect balance between strength and freshness, power and finesse.

Temperature:

Serve between 16 and 18°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Game charcuterie, crown-roasted lamb, royal couscous.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2040.

Robert Parker remains steadfast in his view that Artadi produces "one of the greatest wines of Spain and the world." Located on 80 hectares in the Basque part of Rioja Alavesa, known as Alava, this winery is among the very few to have achieved the perfect score of 100/100 multiple times.

Indeed, this Spanish institution is renowned for crafting some of the most sought-after wines internationally, known for their unparalleled elegance and finesse. This legendary quality is attributed to one of Spain's most brilliant and creative visionaries: Juan Carlos Lopez de Lacalle.

His iconic cuvée, Viña El Pison, originates from the namesake's most spectacular plot in the vineyard. It was here, in 1945, that his grandfather, Jenaro San Pedro Carrera, manually planted 2.4 hectares of Tempranillo. The former flax mill that once stood there (pison refers to the hammer used in flax milling) is gone, but in its memory remains this extraordinary wine. It boasts tannins as precise as the perfectly ripe fruit that Juan Carlos Lopez so favors.