Artadi El Carretil Rioja Alavesa 2019 Red Wine 75cLBy Winebuyers

Artadi is somewhat of a newbie in terms of Rioja – established only in 1985 – but quickly rose to the highest level of quality in Rioja. Artadi has been hugely successful with vineyards in Navarra (Artazu) and Alicante (El Segue) and is also among the best of those appellations. The range includes excellent village wines and several single vineyard wines, all exemplary quality. The top wine is Vina El Pison, from a 2.4ha single vineyard of very old vines near Laguardia. Since 2015 Artadi chose no longer to use the DOCa of Rioja, rather labelling the wines “Laguardia”. Regardless of classification, this is a powerful but extremely elegant representation of wines from Rioja, of which it is at least geographically part. El Carretil is made from a 5.6-hectare single vineyard plot, in Laguardia, planted in 1975 to Tempranillo. Vines are south-east facing, at 500 meters of altitude, and in deep clay-limestone soils. 100% Tempranillo, El Carretil ferments for a period of time before being bottled. This wine is suitable for both men and women.