Artuke 2020/21 Finca de los Locos 750ml

The 2020 Finca de Los Locos mentions Paraje Peñascalera, the place in Baños de Ebro, where they have a terrace that was planted in 1981 at 120 meters above the river with sandy and gravel soils with a high content of limestone that is currently being certified organic; the 2021 vintage should already carry the certification. It has a lot of finesse with subtle aromas and very integrated oak. It's 78% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano and 2% Viura that fermented uncrushed with indigenous yeasts and matured in 3,500-liter oak foudres for one year. It was expressive from the moment I poured it in the glass, and the palate is velvety with bright acidity and very fine tannins, nicely textured and elegant. It's 13.9% alcohol and feels very limestone driven.

Score: 94 points -- Luis Gutierrez, Robertparker.com, July 2022

Finca de los Locos - great name - is a 2.8-hectare vineyard that was planted close to the bodega in 1981 on chalk and gravel soils. A blend of Tempranillo, 20% Graciano and 5% Viura, this is scented, focused and pithy, with aromas of thyme and lavender, pomegranate and redcurrant fruit and the sculpted tannins that are a feature of Arturo de Miguel's winemaking.

Score: 94 points -- Tim Atkin, Rioja 2024 Special Report

This small 22 hectare estate is spread over 32 different vineyard plots in the villages of Baños de Ebro and Abalos which makes it one of the smallest and most carefully run in the district. The difference in climate, altitude and soil types between the plots bring rich benefits and distinctive nuances to the character of each wine product at the estate. This is backed up by the lack of trellising in the vineyards and a reliance, even with their oldest vines, of bush vine plantation and hand picking of the grapes into small containers. The Bodega in its current incarnation came into existence in 1991 when Miguel Blanco and his wife, Conchi, broke with a hundred years of family tradition and began to bottle their own wine. Up until that time the grapes and juice had been sold off to other producers. Over the years the passion of Miguel and Conchi influenced their sons, Arturo and Kike, to take over the running of the winery. With a dedication to blending grapes and producing wines sourced from the different areas their vineyards are located, the family has set aside the traditional Rioja classification system. While this was a difficult decision the brothers wanted to maintain greater control in the maturation and release of their wines so that they could adjust the ageing length and barrel ageing requirements to suit the nature of their wines more precisely. The brothers aren’t ones to shy away from a challenge and as such they are always on search for new vineyard sites, either existing or that they will plant, that are located at higher elevations. The goal as always is to adapt the vineyards to their grape growing style with the aim to continue to craft their lovely, pure expressions of terroir driven wines from Rioja. This is a unique find and we look forward to sharing the wines with you.