Wine Advisor
Artuke, Finca de Los Locos 2020
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
The 2020 Finca de Los Locos mentions Paraje Peñascalera, the place in Baños de Ebro, where they have a terrace that was planted in 1981 at 120 meters above the river with sandy and gravel soils with a high content of limestone that is currently being certified organic; the 2021 vintage should already carry the certification. It has a lot of finesse with subtle aromas and very integrated oak. It's 78% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano and 2% Viura that fermented uncrushed with indigenous yeasts and matured in 3,500-liter oak foudres for one year. It was expressive from the moment I poured it in the glass, and the palate is velvety with bright acidity and very fine tannins, nicely textured and elegant. It's 13.9% alcohol and feels very limestone driven. 9,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2022.
About the Producer
Artuke is a small winery located in Baños de Ebro, a village in Rioja Alavesa on the banks of the river. In 1991, Roberto de Miguel decided to move away from bulk wine production onto bottled wine. Now his children Arturo and Kike, whose names are the basis of the winery they now lead, are shaping this project, firmly rooted in its surroundings and landscape. Artuke is part of Rioja’n’Roll, a group of young producers who are committed to making singular wines which reflect their origins and terroir. Conscious of their heritage —they carried out a detailed study of the soils in their plots, located in Baños de Ebro, Ábalos, San Vicente de la Sonsierra and later in Samaniego— they fight to preserve it rather than transform it. That is one of the reasons behind their efforts to work the 25 hectares they own in the old way —no trellis on site; their plants are all bush vines, even the new ones.
