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Please join us Saturday from 1:00-4:00. Mark Longsworth of Salveto Imports will be here to pour some fantastic wines from Artadi.
Artadi was founded in 1985 by Juan-Carlos López de Lacalle. Quickly, they became known as one of the best wineries not just in Rioja, but all of Spain. In 2015 Juan-Carlos (for many reasons) pulled Artadi out of the Rioja DO and decided to forge his own path. The wines remain fantastic (probably even better since they don't have to play by any rules!). And you do not want to miss the chance to taste them.
Mark will pour the following:
Izar-Leku Mahastiak (Artadi) - Izar-Leku
The third vintage of this mineral and salty sparkling white is the 2017 Izar-Leku, which was produced with a blend of 90% Hondarrabi Zuri and 10% Hondarrabi Beltza grapes from 20- to 60-year-old vines in Zarautz on sandy slate and clay soils. It fermented in stainless steel, and one-third of the volume matured in barrel with lees for six months before it was put in bottle to referment and spend an additional 36 months with lees, much longer (double the time!) than the 2016. It's 12.55% alcohol and has a pH of 3.13 and 8.2 grams of acidity (tartaric acid) and no residual sugar. It has higher acidity, which gives it more freshness; there's only partial malolactic; and the wine benefitted from more time in bottle to polish that acidity. It's yeasty and smoky with finesse and complexity, more than in previous years, given the extended contact with the lees. There are some apple notes, and it's clean and with finesse, with ultra fine bubbles and a lively sensation in the palate. There's more depth and length. It's a clear improvement over the already-excellent previous vintages. 20,000 bottles produced. It was disgorged in May 2021. Izar-Leku Mahastiak is the joint venture between Artadi and cider producer Zapian to produce a sparkling wine in the Txakoli zone of the Basque Country.
94 Points Luis Gutierrez Wine Advocate
| Sale $34.99 | SKU 92704 |
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2018 Artadi - Vinas de Gain BLANCO
The white 2018 Viñas de Gaín Blanco comes from a number of vineyards in Laguardia and Elvillar at 450 to 700 meters in altitude on clay and limestone soils. In this rainy and cooler year, it fermented with some skins and then matured for two years and four months in stainless steel (plus a handful of barrels) and finished with 13% alcohol and a pH of 3.33. It has a strong and acute note of fennel and aniseed, white flowers and musk, with a lively palate from the cool vintage; it's balanced and has purity, without very showy aromas—a white for food. 12,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2020. In 2020 and 2021, there will be a little less white wine, as they have added some white grapes to the reds
92-93 Points Luis Gutierrez Wine Advocate
| Sale $19.99 | SKU 93923 |
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2019 Artadi - Vinas de Gain
The young red 2019 Viñas de Gaín was produced with Tempranillo grapes from different vineyards in Laguardia and Elvillar at 450 to 700 meters in altitude, and it fermented in oak and stainless steel vats followed by malolactic in barrel and an élevage in barrel for nine months. They aimed for a fresh, fruit-driven and juicy red that comes from a low-yielding year, so the wine is concentrated but keeps the approachable style. It has nice balance. In warmer and riper years, they do shorter macerations at lower temperature and a short élevage to keep the aromatic and fruit-driven character, avoiding heavy wines. This is always a very good value within the Artadi range. 90,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2020.
92 Points Luis Gutierrez Wine Advocate
| Sale $19.99 | SKU 92986 |
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2019 Artadi - Valdeginés
The 2019 Valdeginés comes from an east-facing plot of five hectares opposite La Poza de Ballesteros. The plot was planted 35 to 40 years ago at 600 meters in altitude in the village of Laguardia, and it gets the morning sun. 2019 is a fresh and fruit-driven vintage. Despite the warmth of the year and the lack of water, it has ripe fruit. And it has 14.65% alcohol and mellow acidity, but the palate is not heavy; it's quite fluid. It's harmonious and with very fine and round tannins. A gentle and elegant Valdeginés with lots of licorice, which seems to be the character of the year. The wines are quite approachable and ready in general, but this overdelivers. 20,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2021.
94 Points Luis Gutierrez Wine Advocate
| Sale $54.99 | SKU 92987 |
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