Artadi Vina El Pison 2011

Dark cherry, cherry cola, smoked stone and incense on the nose, with rose petal and Indian spice threading through the background. Entry is rich and plush, concentrated fruit with real sweetness, but bright, juicy acidity keeps everything honest and provides the structural spine. Tannins are smooth and measured, building quietly toward a finish with genuine length and a peppery kick. Fourteen months in all-new French oak sounds aggressive on paper, yet the wood sits in the background, lending architecture without crowding the fruit. Drinking well now from El Pisón's famous old vines above Laguardia, with plenty of runway remaining.