2016 Artadi Vina El Pison 750 ml

Most legendary Spanish reds, like Ribera del Duero’s Vega Sicilia and Rioja’s La Rioja Alta, took generations to earn their exalted status among the Old World greats. 

Then there’s Artadi. The world-class Rioja* benchmark estate stands alongside $1000 Dominio de Pingus as one of the cult Spanish wines that have elevated the Tempranillo grape and achieved an insatiable demand in just a few decades. Not only has Artadi more than matched the legacy Spanish producers in stature, but by distinguishing themselves as one of the premier expressions of Spanish terroir, Artadi has become one of most critically lauded and sought-after wines of Europe.

We’re thrilled to share four of Artadi’s incomparable wines with you today, since you’re one of our most dedicated European wine collectors. 

James Suckling raved about the 100-point 2016 Artadi Viña El Pisón in his perfect review: “I am not sure I have tasted a young Spanish wine with such purity,” he said, while Wine Advocate said the 2016 “has to be one of the finest vintages of El Pisón in recent times,” in their 99-point ode. Deep and dense ruby with an intense wild blackberry core carrying sandalwood, black tea, and incense, this is an awe-inspiring bottle with an otherwordly balance of power and grace. As Suckling says: “You have to drink it now. But it will age forever.”

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of Artadi and Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, who recognized how great the Artadi vineyards could be back when they were part of a cooperative of thirteen growers. He purchased the estate, changed the philosophy, and began making single-vineyard bottlings from the separate sites. Located in arid Rioja Alavesa with the snow-capped Sierra de Cantabria looming to the north, Artadi now consists of 204 acres of diverse vineyards.

Let us explain the * above, because while the quality of the Artadi wines is remarkable, the changes they could catalyze are seismic. Rioja has long opted for one regional identity and chosen to focus on aging regimen—using terms like “Crianza” and “Reserva” on their labels—while shunning the names of specific villages and vineyards. Artadi sees this an affront to the region’s spectacular terroirs, and finds the idea that a consumer can walk into a supermarket and purchase a six-dollar Rioja Reserva incredibly damaging to the region’s reputation.

So Artadi left. It was a move that, for producers that rely on the Rioja name, would have been extremely reckless. But Artadi has established such a reputation with their terroir-driven single-vineyard wines that the decision has done nothing to quell their demand. And the critical praise has never been higher.