El Escolladero 2021

Wine Description for El Escolladero 2021 by Artuke

Colour & Appearance

Luminous purple-red in the glass – youthful, vital and of remarkable clarity.

Nose

Here chalky minerality reveals itself in its purest form. No frills, no artifice – pure, uncompromising straightforwardness. The nose recalls Bauhaus rather than Baroque: reduced, precise, in its restraint positively magnetic. Despite the wine’s youth, already a distinctive statement.

Palate

A fascinating blend of wildness and elegance. The slender body practically vibrates on the palate, racy and tense. Fine, precise tannin and peppery acidity cut straight through the mouth – not a millimetre of deviation. Yet El Escolladero remains subtle and elegant, never loud. Juicy and gripping at once.

Finish

Straightforward and persistent, with mineral precision and refreshing tension. The acidity carries far, the tannin remains fine-grained and present.

Terroir & Origin

The wine comes from a tiny 0.95 hectare vineyard site at 650 metres elevation in Rioja Alavesa, at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria. The calcareous soils of this privileged location fundamentally shape the wine’s character and lend it its characteristic minerality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

73-year-old field blend of Tempranillo and Graciano. Fermentation with whole bunches, followed by 12 months maturation in 600-litre barrels – deliberately restrained oak treatment that allows terroir to take precedence.

Food Pairing Suggestions

With grilled lamb, duck breast roasted pink, beef steak or aged Manchego. The acidity and minerality also harmonise beautifully with mushroom dishes and truffle.

Special Features

Artuke classifies El Escolladero following Burgundian tradition as a Grand Cru – one of only two single vineyard sites in this category in their portfolio. More uncompromising and clearer than the sister Grand Cru La Condenada, this wine embodies tension, precision and intensity in their purest form.