Quintanilla 2021

More than almost any other Spanish bodega, Artadi stands for the change from wines characterised by the cellar to wines characterised by the terroir. Since the 1990s, the winery in the Basque region of Rioja has focussed on expressing the character of specific sites in its wines. The certified organic red wine "Quintanilla" comes from a two-hectare east-facing vineyard in the municipality of Elvillar. We are located in the higher and cooler part of the Alavesa, at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria. The 74-year-old Tempranillo vines grow on clay and limestone soils. As with all Artadi wines, the grapes are destemmed and fermented spontaneously. The wine is matured in oak barrels of different sizes and ages.

Crimson

Although the nose initially appears sparse and closed, it is compelling and of great intensity. At first you smell pure chalky minerality. After some time in the air, the bouquet changes significantly The minerality is joined by dark fruits such as ripe plums as well as liquorice and a chocolaty note. The wine should definitely be decanted in its current young stage.

Like all Artadi wines from the 2021 vintage, the Quintanilla has an impressive freshness. And just like on the nose, there is a lot of earthy minerality on the palate at first, while the fruit is restrained. The cool, dark fruit flavours that characterise this red wine only emerge with increasing aeration. This is complemented by chalky tannins, a dense structure and a savoury spiciness on the long finish. For me, Quintanilla is Artadi's most purist and challenging single-vineyard wine. For example, it is less expressive than San Lazaro, less playful than Valdegines and less round than La Poza, but still has an incredibly interesting personality. Mies van der Rohe already knew that less can be more. In this respect, Quintanilla is more Bauhaus than Baroque. A food companion is obligatory with this wine.