2011 Artadi, La Poza de Ballesteros, Rioja

Like the 2010, the 2011 La Poza de Ballesteros is pure Tempranillo from a 3.6 hectare vineyard planted in 1960 in the village of Elvillar. The destemmed grapes ferment in open wooden vats and age for 14 months in French oak barrels. The soils here are deeper, the vines are older, and the microclimate is different, more Mediterranean. It’s opposite Valdegines, each of the plots on different sides of a small river. La Poza is east-facing and gets the afternoon sun and therefore the fruit is riper, with the freshness of bayleaf, with cigar box and black spices. It is very tasty, and ends almost salty. Drink 2015-2023. I tasted Artadi’s 2010s and 2011s, as they seem to be selling the new vintages very fast and they even sell part of their wines en primeur. 2010, 2011 and 2012 have been very dry years. I didn’t have the chance to taste any 2012s, but I look forward to doing so the next time around. 2011 seems to be more fruit forward, more primary, without the complexity and depth of the 2010s, which were very elegant and is a superb vintage for Artadi. There are differences in texture between the two years, 2010 being more gentle, rounder and silkier and 2011 a bit wilder with a touch of rusticity. When it comes to production methods, only Tempranillo is used (except for the white which is produced exclusively with Viura), they destemmed all the grapes, the press wine never makes it into the final blends, and they only use French oak barrels. Imported by Folio Fine Wine Partners, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 256-2700; www.foliowine.com

2009 was the first vintage. West-facing vineyard so riper than Valdeginés. Dark crimson, explosive nose. Very sweet and smooth. Lots of freshness. Very complete. Very successful and harmonious. Good spine. (JR)