2012 Santa Cruz de Artazuri
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Tasting notes
Garnacha located in Artazu village at 450-600 m, calcareous clay soils. Hand-harvested and low yields of 2,500 kg/ha. Cold maceration and fermented for 12 days. 12 months in 500-l French oak barrels. Very ripe character of the fruit showing plums, prunes and figs. Fleshy fruit sensation and juicy palate. Very well charged with ripe fruit. Touch of chocolate on the back palate. Very Garnacha and outstanding savoury fruit. (FC)
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Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Garnacha. Just 6 ha. 90- to 100-year-old vines. 25 hl/ha. 500-litre barrels and only about 20% new. Very juicy and intense but dry finish. Just a little dry on the end. Should age pretty well. (JR)
The 2012 Santa Cruz de Artazu is a ripe and powerful vintage, with penetrating aromas of black fruit, some minty notes, good complexity, and a pungent palate, with good depth and persistence. The round tannins still bite a bit, but are better balanced than the 2011, and should get polished with some time in bottle. This has very good balance and structure, and should make old bones. This is a great vintage for Santa Cruz, a powerful Garnacha. Drink 2015-2020. Artazu is the name of the Navarra winery belonging to Juan Carlos Lopez de Lacalle from Artadi in Rioja and other partners. They work exclusively with old vine Garnacha and are located in the cooler higher-altitude part of the appellation, in a village called, errY Artazu! The project kicked off in 1996 when they bought ten hectares of over 60-year-old Garnacha. The first vintage produced was 2000. They have now planted three hectares of Garnacha Blanca from the old vines that were interplanted with the red. They only use 500-liter barrels for the Garnacha, and prefer used barrels to new ones. Imported by Folio Fine Wine Partners, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 256-2700, www.foliowine.com
About the producer
Owner and winemaker Juan Carlos López de Lacalle is among an elite group of global vintners whose expertise creates wines that stand above others in their regions. Artadi produces refined Rioja in unoaked and oaked styles, including superb Reservas and single-vineyard wines such as Viña El Pisón.