Artadi El Pisón 2016

Artadi's flagship single-parcel Tempranillo from Laguardia has been making the case for Rioja terroir since the 1990s, and the 2016 is a compelling argument. A cold, atypical vintage shaped a wine that leads with dark cherry, bay leaf, dried herbs and a faint thread of earth. Rich and substantial on entry, with a juicy core pulled into focus by chalky texture and fine-grained, lively tannins. Still clearly in its early stages, primary, nuanced, and built for the long haul.