2013 La Poza de Ballesteros
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Tasting notes
Deep vivid ruby. Heady dark berry, incense, floral oil, vanilla and exotic spice aromas, along with a hint of smoky minerality. Alluringly sweet, spice-laced blackberry and cassis flavors reveal a subtle touch of mocha. The interplay of depth and energy here is quite impressive. Takes a turn to more red fruit character on the strikingly long finish, where fine-grained tannins add shape and grip.
Critic scores
Average Score
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Warmer vineyards seem to have worked quite well in a cool vintage like 2013, as is the case of the 2013 La Poza de Ballesteros. The wine was clearly marked by the vintage, with some peppery notes, quite austere, López de Lacalle called it 'static'--I'd say more austere and a little backward, and with nice complexity and depth in the finish. This is less exuberant and Mediterranean than in other vintages, but with less acidity than other wines from 2013. 5,300 bottles were filled in July 2015.
About the producer
Owner and winemaker Juan Carlos López de Lacalle is among an elite group of global vintners whose expertise creates wines that stand above others in their regions. Artadi produces refined Rioja in unoaked and oaked styles, including superb Reservas and single-vineyard wines such as Viña El Pisón.