Artadi Viña El Pisón 2023

Artadi produces Viña El Pisón in Laguardia, in the Rioja Alavesa, from a single organically farmed Tempranillo vineyard. The estate grew out of a 1985 growers' cooperative and later left the Rioja appellation to focus on smallholding, site-driven wines. The plot sits on the clay and limestone soils typical of the Alavesa foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria, where altitude and cool nights slow ripening and hold acidity, giving the fruit definition and freshness. Old vines and low yields concentrate the grapes, and the wine spends 12 months in French oak, where slow oxygen exchange through the barrel softens tannin and adds cedar and spice without masking the fruit. The colour is deep ruby. The nose leads with black cherry and plum over earth, tobacco and a touch of liquorice. The palate is structured and savoury, with ripe fruit, fine-grained tannin and a long, mineral finish that reflects the limestone. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb, grilled beef and aged hard cheese.