Artadi | Rioja | Quintanilla | 2021 | 750ml | bio

Description

Product description for Artadi Quintanilla 2021 (bio)

Among the many wineries that have become known far beyond Rioja since the 1980s, Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi occupy a special position. Artadi is among the region’s top wineries, producing wines that have come from purely organic vineyards, now also biodynamically cultivated, since the 1980s. In 1985, several families joined together to form a cooperative, but they disagreed, so two of the families, Lacalle and Laorden, took over the winery. The re-establishment in 1992 marked the beginning of Artadi’s consistent rise. This also included leaving the Rioja Winegrowers’ Association, which is why the term “Rioja” is no longer found on wine labels. Artadi is one of the region’s best wineries, cultivating a more modern style. This is also due to the fact that it owns some of the best sites in Rioja, with vineyards like El Pisón and others.

Information about the Wine

Like few other Spanish bodegas, Artadi represents the transition from cellar-influenced to terroir-influenced wines. Since the 1990s, the winery in the Basque region of Rioja has focused on expressing the character of specific sites in its wines. The organically certified red wine “Quintanilla” comes from a two-hectare, east-facing vineyard in the municipality of Elvillar. We are located in the higher and cooler part of the Alavesa, at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria. The 74-year-old Tempranillo vines grow on clay and limestone soils. As with all Artadi wines, the grapes are destemmed and fermented spontaneously. The wine is aged in oak barrels of various sizes and ages.

Colour

Purple red

Nose

Although the nose initially appears sparse and closed, it is compelling and of great intensity. Initially, one smells pure chalky minerality. After some time in the air, the bouquet changes significantly: the minerality is joined by dark fruits such as ripe plums, licorice, and a chocolate note. The wine should definitely be decanted in its current young state.

Palate

Like all Artadi wines of the 2021 vintage, the Quintanilla possesses impressive freshness. And just as on the nose, the palate initially displays plenty of earthy minerality, while the fruit is more restrained. Only with increasing aeration do the cool, dark fruit aromas that characterize this red wine emerge. Added to this are chalky tannins, a dense structure, and a piquant spice on the long finish. For me, Quintanilla is Artadi’s most purist and challenging single-vineyard wine: for example, it’s less expressive than San Lazaro, less playful than Valdegines, and less rounded than La Poza, but it still has an incredibly interesting personality. Mies van der Rohe famously knew that less can be more. In this sense, Quintanilla is more Bauhaus than Baroque. A food pairing is a must for this wine.

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Keywords: Artadi Quintanilla 2021 bio Rioja Spain

Wine Advocate

Score: 94+

The bottled 2021 Quintanilla comes from a very white soil that is very rich in limestone. The wine has a lot of tension and tannins with more grip than La Hoya. It has balance but feels dynamic and has very good depth. It has notes of licorice and a minty touch. It feels really energetic and nicely textured, with a fine thread on the palate and some austerity, similar to La Hoya (they are only 100 meters apart), but La Hoya is juicier and this is more serious and austere. 3,000 bottles were filled in May 2023.
Luis Gutiérrez

Vinous

Score: 94

The 2021 Quintanilla is 100% Tempranillo from a vineyard planted on calcareous soils in 1950 in Elvillar de Álava, Rioja Alavesa. Deep purple in color, it showcases enticing aromas of cherry, blueberry and strawberry, complemented by hints of wild herbs and violets. It’s dry, chalky and compact on the palate, possessing a taut and energetic character that highlights the blue fruit notes. This is a terroir-driven wine with a modern twist, emphasizing focus and a fruit-forward expression.
— Joaquín Hidalgo
Drinking window: 2024 – 2040
Review date: Apr 2024

Producer website: https://artadi.com/en/artazu-navarra