La Poza de Ballesteros 2017 – Artadi

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 vineyard lies at 600 m above sea level. The soil is deep, clayey limestone. After a wet spring, which filled the water reservoirs in the soil, budding was early. A frost on 28 April froze some of the shoots, which reduced yields from the outset. The summer was then warm, hot and dry, allowing harmonious ripening and a relatively early harvest. Due to the low yields, the wines show complex, sometimes closed with very stable tannins. The good water supply from the spring ensured a pronounced, ripe fruit. All in all, the 2017 vintage is a very good one, showing fine fruit early on, which will increase with proper cellaring.

Dense ruby red, almost opaque with light violet reflections.

The ripe, lush fruit is immediately noticeable on the nose. You can feel the warmth of the site and the warm days of summer 2017. An almost exuberant abundance of chocolate, elderberry, blackberry, small dried blueberries, subtle coffee, cranberries, delicate spice, some cinnamon and plums but also ripe pears, of course pickled in red wine.

Already the nose beams you in front of the fireplace the fire crackles, outside it gets cooler. You meditate on this wine and find the long winter evening not so bad anymore.

The palate then surprises with freshness and a velvety tannin that wraps itself around the wine like a warm cloak, preserving the fruit, protecting it but leaving the view free for the clear and bright aromas that make the wine almost dance on the mineral parquet. This minerality gives the wine structure, allows it to soar and gives it the lightness it needs to refresh and complement the warm aromas of the nose.

This wine needs time! If you enjoy it now, you might feel transported to the Douro; it seems so warm and full-bodied.