El Carretil 2018

The history of Artadis goes back to a cooperative project. In 1985, several producers joined forces, who were of the opinion that it is possible to produce top wines in the region without extremely long barrel aging. Under the leadership of Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, they succeeded in refining this process over the decades and to achieve remarkable successes. In 2016, it was decided to leave the DOCa Rioja, as the philosophy was too different from that of the rest of the appellation. Even today, Artadi does not produce wines of the Reserva and Gran Reserva stages. Nevertheless, discreet use of wood is not renounced without covering the terroir.

The El Carretil is like the El Pisón an amphitheater site at about 500 meters altitude and turns from east over south to west. The site is characterized by somewhat lighter, limestone soils with a lot of sand, soils for the finest wines. Both are extreme sites with extreme subsoils El Pisón has more clay, more profound power, El Carretil more delicacy and elegance. The vines are well over 70 years old. All biodynamically worked and bottled for many years as a single vineyard.