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Tasting note
- Colour & Appearance
- Brilliantly luminous purple with violet reflections and a lightened rim – the colour of a young, vital Rioja that confidently displays its youth.
- Nose
- Here reveals itself the cool, Nordic side of Rioja Alavesa: profound, earthy, almost Burgundian in its restraint. Dark berry aromas of blueberry, blackcurrant and blackberry remain discreetly in the background, whilst floral notes of hibiscus and violet dance with fine spice from cubeb pepper and clove. Particularly striking: the balsamic-woody aroma of blackcurrant bush wood, which brings woody, bitter tones. Chalky-mineral hints and a whisper of cold smoke lend crystalline freshness – never forward, always elegantly shifting.
- Palate
- Gripping and juicy, yet of surprising lightness of foot. The tannins are finely melted, the astringency present but elegant. Medium body, yet the chalky texture and clean pull allow the wine to almost float. The fruit remains dark and clear, never expressive – freshness, elegance and minerality dominate. Assured, precise, deep. Not a word too many, not a gramme too heavy.
- Finish
- Floating lightly with cool herbal spice and remarkable clarity. The aftertaste speaks of inner tension and palpable class – a Rioja with understatement.
- Terroir & Origin
- The vines are rooted at 500 to 600 metres elevation on chalky, clayey soils of Rioja Alavesa near Abalos. The cool highland climate and exceptionally high rainfall of 450-500 l/m² in 2023 shape the crystalline, mineral character of this wine.
- Grape Variety & Vinification
- 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano. Double selection, completely destemmed, spontaneously fermented in steel tanks. Maturation for 11-13 months in French 225l and 500l barrels, 10% in cement tanks – a clever balance between structure and freshness. Lightly filtered before bottling.
- Food Pairing Suggestions
- With pink-roasted lamb rack with thyme jus, duck breast with cherry sauce, grilled tuna steak or mature hard cheeses such as Manchego. The cool elegance also harmonises beautifully with mushroom risotto or braised veal.
- Special Features
- A Rioja that deliberately swims against the current: no opulence, no over-extraction, instead finesse, precision and drinkability. Artuke proves that modern Rioja can also impress quietly.
