Grape variety: 100% Tempranillo
Awards for the 2004 vintage:
100 points – Robert Parker / Wine Advocate – one of the highest possible scores, awarded to this vintage and mentioned as an exceptional wine with great ageing potential.
97 – 99 points – Tom Cannavan – extreme concentration, deep dark fruit and complex aromatics earned these high scores.
99 points – Decanter – in a special selection, Viña el Pisón was named one of the best wines from the Rioja region.
Vineyard:
The Viña el Pisón vineyard covers 2.4 hectares and was already planted back in 1945. It lies at altitude in the Laguardia area, on mineral-rich soils that are particularly poor in nutrients and rich in limestone and clay. As a result, the grapes very closely “reflect” the character of the local terroir - producing wines with pronounced structure, depth and minerality that perfectly mirror the specifics of the site where they grew.
Ageing:
The grapes are hand-picked and carefully selected so that only the best berries enter vinification. After maceration and fermentation in traditional wooden or stainless steel vessels, malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels, which softens the acids and gives the wine greater roundness. This is followed by long ageing in new French oak barrels, typically 15 – 18 months, which lends the wine complex structure, depth and delicate notes of spice and wood. After barrel ageing, the bottles continued to age, contributing to their harmonious development and rounding out the character of their rich, fruity consistency and elegant tannins. The wine is designed for long development in the cellar.
Aroma and taste:
The Artadi Viña el Pisón 2004 wine offers an extraordinarily complex and mature aromatic expression that gradually unfolds in the glass. Dominant notes of dark, perfectly ripe fruit, especially black cherries, blackberries and plums, are complemented by delicate nuances of blueberries and dried fruit. These are gradually joined by notes of cedar, tobacco, dried herbs, black pepper and cloves, along with hints of coffee, dark chocolate and a mineral undertone, which reflect the long ageing in new French oak as well as the bottle development. On the palate the wine is full, concentrated and perfectly structured, with firm yet silkily mature tannins and fresh acidity, which gives it energy even after years of ageing. The fruit core blends harmoniously with the gently spicy, toasty notes of the barrel and moves into a long, elegant finish with a lightly mineral close.
Tasting notes:
This is a wine for collectors, lovers of intense and complex red wines, and for special occasions. It is ideally suited to rich dishes such as roasted and grilled red meat, braised lamb, beef ragù or mature cheeses. Thanks to its structure and complexity, it deserves decanting and enjoying in the right glass, which will open up all of its aromatic nuances.
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Origin: D.O.Rioja
