It was with great delight that we brought Artuke in to the Justerini & Brooks fold following a trip to Rioja last year. In this, our second official release, we extol the virtues of Artuke’s spectacular 2018s: truly an awe-inspiring range sure to set hearts a-flutter.
A shining example of what the “new” Old World can achieve, this small family estate produces fresh, enticing Riojas with a real Burgundian lilt. Brothers Arturo and Kike de Miguel, despite their imposing figures, take a delicate approach in the pursuit of terroir-transparent regional, village and single vineyard wines. This is highly unusual in a region still dominated by co-operatives and industrial scale blending.
Read MoreBased in Banos de Ebro in Rioja Alavesa, they have established new vineyards in prime nearby locations, such as Paso Las Manas: an exposed site planted on clay and mountain rock at 720m, and worked diligently to regenerate mature, low yielding vineyards such as Finca Los Locos, which was planted in 1981 on chalky gravel soils. They consider these two vineyards their “Premier Crus”. The two “Grand Crus” in the portfolio are El Escolladero: planted in 1950 on pure limestone, and La Condenada: planted in 1920 on iron-rich sandstone. At the entry level, Artuke (2019) is a regional “Joven” wine, made via carbonic maceration and aged in concrete for five months. Pies Negros is a village wine produced from 20-80 year old vines. All the wines apart from the Artuke “Maceration Carbonica” are aged in top quality, neutral French casks for 12-16 months. Fermentations are spontaneous and sulphur additions are kept to a minimum.
2018 was by no means plain sailing in Rioja because of the humid spring and early summer, but August and September paved the way for a good harvest, and the wines are breathtaking. More Atlantic than Continental, Artuke’s 2018s are extremely vivid and mineral with crisp, invigorating acidities and finely judged tannins. They have a more natural flow than the darker, more brooding 2017s. Elemental spice meets dancing ethereal fragrancy.
If you are yet to experience the magic of Artuke, we recommend buying a spread of wines (for they are such great value after all!). Artuke and Pies Negros will drink straight away, Finca Los Locos and Pasos Las Manas over the next two to three years, and El Escolladero and La Condenada over the next decade or more.
For full tasting notes click here. Please note that we have very limited quantities of El Escolladero and La Condenada available.
The wines are all in stock and available for immediate delivery.