2011 El Pison Riserva
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Tasting notes
2.4 ha planted by his grandfather in 1945. ‘At the beginning I didn’t think of it as a good wine, just an homage to my grandpa. No fertiliser, no pesticides.’ Slowly he acquired more and more from the rest of the family. 1991 was the first year he produced it, having acquired the vineyard in 1981. Yields 45 hl/ha, a bit more than the single vineyards because of the site's 'energy'. Deep soil. Protected exposition, almost like a clos. Just outside Laguardia. Pison is the hammer of a mill. Dark crimson. Scented and very intense. Very rich and sweet and super-charming. Not transparent, different from traditional rioja but very convincing and rich. Complete. A bit like a blend of brambles and Marmite – in a nice way. (JR)
Critic scores
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
(all tempranillo; malo and 14 months of aging in new French oak): Opaque ruby. Intense, smoke- and mineral-accented dark berry and cherry-cola aromas are complicated by notes of rose pastille, incense and Indian spices. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated red and dark berry liqueur flavors that are given spine and definition by juicy acidity. Shows superb energy and thrust on the spicy, extremely persistent finish, which is firmed by smooth, slow-mounting tannins. This exotic wine is already showing wonderfully.
The 2011 Vina El Pison was one of the first single-vineyard wines in Rioja (and in the whole of Spain as a matter of fact) and today it’s a famous vineyard throughout the world. It was planted by Juan Carlos Lopez de Lacalle’s grandfather in 1945. The 2.4 hectare vineyard is located in Laguardia at 480 meters above sea level. The grapes ferment in open wooden vats and the wine ages for 15 months in French oak barrels. The 2011 is unashamedly ripe, with intense aromas of violets and ripe black cherries, verging on the black olives, with plenty of notes of spices. It has a very clear and persistent note of cinnamon and vanilla. It improves greatly with air and time in the glass. The palate reveals some grainy tannins, bright acidity, medium to full-bodied, with an intense, extra-long finish. Drink 2016-2028. 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
The 2011 Vina El Pison was one of the first single-vineyard wines in Rioja (and in the whole of Spain as a matter of fact) and today it’s a famous vineyard throughout the world. It was planted by Juan Carlos Lopez de Lacalle’s grandfather in 1945. The 2.4 hectare vineyard is located in Laguardia at 480 meters above sea level. The grapes ferment in open wooden vats and the wine ages for 15 months in French oak barrels. The 2011 is unashamedly ripe, with intense aromas of violets and ripe black cherries, verging on the black olives, with plenty of notes of spices. It has a very clear and persistent note of cinnamon and vanilla. It improves greatly with air and time in the glass. The palate reveals some grainy tannins, bright acidity, medium to full-bodied, with an intense, extra-long finish. Drink 2016-2028. ||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 Wine Advocate.December, 2013
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.