Paso las Mañas 2021

Wine description for Paso las Mañas 2021 by Artuke

Colour & appearance

Bright cherry red with youthful clarity – a wine that signals from the glass that freshness is the priority here.

Nose

Intense yet never overwrought: earthy minerality meets red fruits and delicate herbal notes. The bouquet is expressive, yet remains linear and focused – nothing feels contrived or artificial.

Palate

Fresh and clear as a mountain stream. Fine-grained, almost chalky tannins provide structure, along with an enormous amount of grip – the wine positively vibrates on the palate. Juicy, multi-layered primary fruit pairs with an unadorned, mineral line. Impressive balance, energy and length.

Finish

Long, precise and carried by a tension that shapes the final impression just as much as the first.

Terroir & origin

Paso las Mañas comes from a calcareous vineyard site at 700 metres’ altitude at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria in Rioja Alavesa. The site is exposed to the wind – a factor that contributes to its characteristic freshness. Brothers Arturo and Kike de Miguel Blanco farm their plots at altitudes of up to 720 metres, where cool nights give the wines their distinctive tautness.

Grape variety & vinification

A pure Tempranillo. Gentle extraction and maturation in large wooden casks follow the estate’s Burgundian approach: origin rather than ageing time, terroir rather than oak dominance.

Food recommendations

A versatile food companion: with rack of lamb with rosemary, roast Ibérico pork, mushroom risotto or aged Manchego. Also an excellent choice with grilled aubergines and hearty tapas.

Special features

Artuke belongs to the “Rioja & Roll” movement and the Futuro Vinador collective – pioneers of a new generation in Rioja that focuses on high-altitude sites, calcareous soils and minimalist winemaking. This wine demonstrates that great Rioja need not be heavy and oak-driven, but can thrive on energy and finesse.