Artuke Pies Negros 2017

Produced with grapes from vineyards in the village of Ábalos close to the Sierra Cantabria, the 2017 Pies Negros is mostly Tempranillo with some 12% Graciano. The destemmed but uncrushed grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in 500-liter oak barrels for one year, except for almost 25% of the volume, which was kept in concrete. This wine starts showing how the 2017s here transcend the year. In Ábalos, they didn't have much frost, and the early harvest resulted in fresher wines even if the tannins are a little sharper. This wine has good ripeness and doesn't show any oak whatsoever. The wines from this year are quite pure and fresh for the conditions of the year. It's drinking very well now, but the balance and stuffing hint at a good evolution in bottle. 65,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2018.

Artuke is based in Baños de Ebro, but this comes from the de Miguel family's vineyards in Ábalos between 550 and 650 metres. Combining Tempranillo with 12% Graciano, it's rich, plush and aromatic, with plenty of concentration, understated oak and a zesty, refreshing finish. 2022-27