Artadi

In 1985 a group of winemakers in Alava with rooted traditions who focused on the vineyards and its wines, founded Artadi, with obsession for the careful cultivation of the vineyards for personality on the individual wines.

In 1996 and 1999, the same conviction guided them to pursue the project in Navarra and Alicante. The viticultural traditions are maintained, fighting against the use of chemicals to make a living wine, respectful of the environment.

There is complete absence of fertilizers and synthetic chemical substances used in the fields, to make wines that are organic, sustainable and environmentally-friendly. They preserve the biodiversity of the indigenous grape varieties, rejected the large-scale industrial production to maintain sustainable systems with organic procedures.

Biodynamic practices are also adopted. Native yeast, low-sulfur content, working with gravity are some other winemaking practices demonstrating their philosophy.

Located in the heart of Alava, Artadi owns 83 hectares of vineyards planted in soils with wide geological diversity. Clay and limestone primarily compose these nutrient-poor soils, with the sites giving singularly to the native Tempranillo variety.

In Artazu the vineyards are old, with the heritage of growing old vines, with the area well defined by both brown-limestone and clay-calcareous soils, focusing on Garnacha. In Alicante the historic wine region the property was acquired in 1999, with the keen intent to produce wines of authenticity and personality, focusing on the terroir.

I have recently tasted the 2010 Valdegines and below is my tasting note:

Appearance

Bright and clear, it has deep purple color, with slight fading rims and legs.

Nose

Clean, with medium (+) intensity of red fruit of raspberry and strawberry, black fruit of blackberry, oak notes of cedar and vanilla, dairy notes of butter, maturity notes of savory, kernel notes of chocolate. The wine is developing.

Palate

Dry with medium acidity, the wine has medium (+) tannin of ripe and velvety, with medium (+) alcohol and medium body, demonstrating medium (+) intensity of flavors including red fruit of raspberry and strawberry, black fruit of blackberry and plum, oak notes of vanilla, maturity notes of cigar-box. The wine has a medium (+) finish.

Conclusion

Very good quality Rioja with an intense nose showing good complexity, the wine has a robust character and showing powerful structure, with nice acidity to balance well with the concentrated flavors, and the wine also finishes with a fairly long finish. Ready to drink now, the wine can benefit from further ageing of another 2-3 years.