Artadi - Rioja DOC - Viña El Pison - Red - 2019

Wine:

A masterpiece of this ripe and accomplished vintage, the 2019 Red Viña El Pisón Rioja once again stands head and shoulders above its category. Black fruit, spices, and dried herbs intertwine in a framework of remarkable stature—creamy yet firm, supported by exceptionally refined tannins. This is a great wine: long and complex, pure and persistent, elegant and powerful. Truly the pinnacle of Rioja winemaking. Awarded 98/100 by Robert Parker.

Vinification:

Hand harvested, aged for 9 months in French oak barrels.

Color:

Deep cherry red.

Nose:

Aromas of wild berries, fennel, spices, licorice and a touch of creaminess.

Palate:

Complex and dynamic, this cuvée boasts a pure, precise character with impressive persistence. Its refined tannins are perfectly balanced by an elegant, powerful, and subtly nuanced profile.

Temperature:

Serve between 14 and 16°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Grilled meats, beautiful pieces of roasted red meat, just-seared Wagyu steak.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2049.

Robert Parker remains unwavering in his praise, declaring Artadi the producer of “one of the greatest wines of Spain and the world.” Based in the Basque part of Rioja Alavesa, in Álava, this estate spans 80 hectares and stands among the few bodegas to have received the coveted 100/100 score multiple times.

This Spanish institution crafts some of the most celebrated wines internationally, known for their elegance and unparalleled finesse. Their legendary quality stems from the vision of one of Spain’s most brilliant and creative winemakers: Juan Carlos López de Lacalle.

Artadi’s iconic cuvée, Viña El Pisón, is born from the estate’s most extraordinary vineyard. Here, in 1945, Juan Carlos’s grandfather, Jenaro San Pedro Carrera, planted 2.4 hectares of Tempranillo by hand. While the flax mill that once stood on the site (pisón refers to the hammer used to crush flax) has long disappeared, its legacy lives on in this exceptional wine. Defined by its polished tannins and vibrant notes of red and black fruit, Viña El Pisón reflects López de Lacalle’s meticulous approach to winemaking.