Artuke Paso las Mañas 2018

The second vintage of a vineyard at 700 meters in altitude in the village of Samaniego is the 2018 Paso Las Mañas, pure Tempranillo planted in 1990 and 2013. It fermented destemmed and with indigenous yeasts and matured in two 3,500-liter oak foudres for 12 months. This was a little closed at first and showed shy and subtle. It has an elegant and aromatic profile, in this case, possibly from the higher altitude of the vineyard. This is elegant and a little lighter than Finca de los Locos, but it still has firm tannins and a serious backbone. This feels fresher than the 2017, more delicate, more Burgundian, whereas the 2017 was more Rhône-ish. This is really very good, and it's remarkable for a young vineyard that already delivers low yields. I think that is sign of a very good place. So, when these vines get older, the wine should get even better. 6,000 bottles were filled in January 2020.

Paso Las Mañas comes from a high-altitude zone in Samaniego called El Chorro, located between 600 and 715 metres on the flank of the Sierra de Cantabria. The vines are still young at only eight years' old, but this is a wonderfully balanced, concentrated wine with remarkable freshness, precision and chalky focus. Sappy tannins, black cherry fruit and very subtle wood combine beautifully on the palate. 2023-31