Santa Cruz de Artazu 2023

Santa Cruz de Artazu comes from Bodegas Artazu in the town of Artazu, in the northern reaches of Navarra and part of the Artadi group. The fruit is varietal Garnacha from old vines, many over sixty years old, that Artadi acquired in 1996. They sit on white clay-limestone soils between 400 and 600 metres, where the poor ground and harsh, high-altitude climate keep yields low and concentrate the fruit. The wide swing between warm days and cold nights at altitude slows ripening and preserves acidity, giving an old-vine Garnacha that is ripe at 14.5 per cent but retains freshness and a savoury, mineral edge. The wine is aged for twelve months in French oak barrels under respectful, low-intervention farming, the slow oxygen exchange rounding the tannins and adding vanilla and sweet spice without masking the fruit. The colour is deep ruby. The nose is intense, with red berry and cherry over black pepper, thyme and a stony, earthy lift. The palate is full bodied and concentrated, the ripe fruit framed by fine tannins and bright acidity through a long, peppery finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees. It suits roast lamb and grilled red meat.