Artuke La Condenada Rioja 2018

Their most special wine could be the 2018 La Condenada. It's from a single vineyard in the village of Baños de Ebro at 530 meters in altitude on sandy and sandstone soils. The 80% Tempranillo and 20% other varieties (Graciano, Garnacha and the white Palomino Fino) of uncrushed grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in 600-liter oak barrels for 12 months. This is always more floral and aromatic, possibly because of the finer, sandy soils. It's super elegant, subtle, aromatic and really attractive. It opens up very slowly in the glass, unfurling new aromatic layers with great poise and harmony. It's juicy and very precise, clean, defined like a laser cut, with symmetry and harmony. This has to be the finest vintage they have produced, and I think it's the best wine they have ever done. LUIS GUTIERREZ