El Carretil 2021

Wine Description for El Carretil 2021 by Artadi

Colour & Appearance

Luminous, medium ruby red with brilliant clarity. The colour already reveals the elegance of this exceptional vineyard site – less opulent than the renowned El Pisón, yet with an almost Burgundian transparency.

Nose

Seductively fine and multi-layered. Red cherries and raspberries dominate, underpinned by violets, lavender and a delicate minerality reminiscent of wet limestone. With air, notes of cedarwood and graphite develop, whilst the fruit remains precise and cool – nothing overripe, nothing heavy.

Palate

Here the true greatness of this vineyard site reveals itself: the wine seems to float across the palate, carried by vibrant acidity and silky, fine-grained tannins. The red fruit is precisely drawn, accompanied by saline minerals and a hint of Mediterranean herbs. At 14.5% alcohol, the El Carretil remains remarkably light-footed – testament to the altitude and the limestone-sandy soils. The balance between power and finesse is masterful.

Finish

Long, cool and with piquant freshness. The minerality lingers, whilst the fruit gradually fades. A wine that invites you to take the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

Amphitheatre-facing vineyard at 500 metres altitude with exposure from east through south to west. The vines, over 70 years old, are rooted in limestone-rich, sandy soils – lighter than El Pisón, which gives this wine its characteristic elegance. Farmed biodynamically.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Tempranillo from old vines. Artadi deliberately eschews the traditional Rioja categories of Reserva and Gran Reserva. Instead, restrained oak use that does not overshadow the terroir – a philosophy that led to its withdrawal from DOCa Rioja in 2016.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Roasted quail, milk-fed lamb from Castile, duck breast with cherry sauce, aged Manchego or porcini risotto. The wine also pairs well with tuna tataki or rare roasted venison.

Special Features

One of Spain’s great vineyard sites, proving that Rioja is capable of far more than classical barrique ageing. A wine for lovers of precise, terroir-driven Tempranillos.