Vina El Pison 2020

Tasting notes for Vina El Pison 2020 by Artadi

Character

An aristocratic red wine of immense finesse and cool elegance. Rather than relying on heavy extraction or obvious oak notes, this Tempranillo presents itself sublime, profound and focused. A Spanish Grand Cru that captivates with its delicate texture, taut structure and immensely complex minerality – stylistically closer to the Côte d’Or than to classic, oak-heavy interpretations.

Terroir & Origin

The single vineyard site Viña El Pisón in Laguardia (Rioja Alavesa) is considered the heart and soul of the estate. Situated at an altitude of 480 metres, the vines planted in 1945 form a natural amphitheatre. Sheltered by the Sierra Cantabria, the old vines are rooted in soils rich in limestone and chalk. This specific microclimate and Juan Carlos López de Lacalle’s uncompromising commitment to the single plot led to the decisive departure from the DOCa Rioja at the end of 2015, in order to express the pure identity of this terroir without disguise.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Tempranillo from over seventy-year-old vines, cultivated organically and partly ploughed by horse. The grapes ripen without synthetic chemicals. In the cellar, Artadi focuses on gentle extraction in open fermentation vats and ageing in French barriques, which impart structure to the wine without masking the chalk-driven character of the fruit. The result is a wine of artisanal purity, free from winemaking trickery.

Food Pairings

A noble companion to braised leg of lamb with rosemary, pink-roasted fillet of beef or fine feathered game. This structured red wine also demonstrates its supreme class alongside mature Manchego.