La Poza de Ballesteros 2022

Wine Description for La Poza de Ballesteros 2022 by Artadi

Colour & Appearance

Luminous cherry red with brilliant clarity – a wine that reveals its origins from cooler high-altitude sites even in the glass.

Nose

Immediately present and expressive, without being intrusive. Black cherry and blackberry dominate, yet the fruit remains restrained and combines elegantly with a fine spice note and an earthy, almost stony minerality. Fresh, soft and remarkably approachable – this wine needs no decanting to please.

Palate

Here the sunny side of the vineyard site reveals itself: fuller-bodied and more substantial than its Artadi siblings Valdegines and San Lazaro, without ever becoming opulent. The fine-grained tannins caress the palate, whilst a cool, dark minerality provides tension. Juicy, rounded and threaded through with vibrant acidity that harmonises perfectly with the silky texture and black fruit. A wine that combines character with approachability – in the best sense, everybody’s darling.

Finish

Medium to long, with lingering fruit and a fine mineral freshness that invites the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

The 1.2-hectare single vineyard site sits at 600 metres altitude in Elvillar, in the cooler part of Rioja Alavesa at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria. The westerly aspect captures the warm afternoon sun, giving the grapes additional ripeness. The 65-year-old Tempranillo vines are rooted in loamy-sandy, calcareous soil – a combination that gives the wine its characteristic minerality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Tempranillo, destemmed and spontaneously fermented. Ageing takes place increasingly in used and larger oak casks – a deliberate step by Artadi to bring fruit and terroir to the fore rather than oak notes. The result: unadorned elegance and crystal-clear expression of origin.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The versatility of this wine makes it the ideal companion for grilled lamb, beef steak, chorizo stews or aged Manchego cheese. Also an excellent choice with mushroom dishes and braised vegetables.

Special Features

Bodegas Artadi has revolutionised Rioja – moving away from cellar-dominated barrique use towards terroir-driven, biodynamically certified single vineyard wines. La Poza de Ballesteros exemplifies this philosophy: a wine with soul, substance and immediate drinking pleasure.