This is not your traditional Rioja which emphasizes long oak-ageing, producing earthy wines with elements of leather, dried herbs and complex aromas of vanilla and wood from the oak. Rather, Bodegas Artadi is on the cutting edge of the self-named alta expresión school of Spanish winemakers who are producing wines with higher extract, deeper color and more pronounced fruit. The Vinas de Gain is 100% Tempranillo, sourced from 40- to 60-year-old vines and aged in 40% new French oak for 12-14 months. A saturated purple color, it delivers an expressive bouquet of wood smoke, pencil lead, mineral, blueberry, and blackberry. Layered and full-flavored on the palate, it is nicely balanced with the structure to evolve for 4-6 years. Try this wine with roast pork or dry-cured ham.

Producer

Owner Juan Carlos Lopez de la Calle has been surrounded by old vines and great wines since early childhood when he used to accompany his grandfather during harvest time in Rioja. Dedication to detailed, delicate and hard work is something he learned at an early age, and these are governing principles for his three award-winning wineries in Rioja, Navarra and Alicante. Artadi’s ideology is that “the value of a great wine is intimately linked to the land and its people.” The conviction to safeguard this intimate link is what drove Juan Carlos to make wine in three distinct regions of Spain. Producing wines made from the single most important variety of each appellation, working with estate-grown fruit and developing a team of viticultural experts that respect the traditions and climate of each region are Bodegas Artadi’s fundamental keys to success. If asked, Juan Carlos would say the peculiarity of different soils, disparate climates and the inherent excellence of the grape varieties are the genesis of the authenticity of Artadi’s portfolio of wines. Indeed when one looks at Artadi’s contribution to Spanish winemaking, we find wines with character, personality and identity that reflect their roots in natural viticulture.