Artadi El Carretil 2021

2021 Artadi El Carretil Rioja Alavesa, Spain 100% Tempranillo 14.5% ABV Tasting Notes The 2021 El Carretil is an exceptionally elegant and mineral-driven expression of Tempranillo. The nose is intensely aromatic, with violets, wild blueberries, blackberries, white pepper, graphite, black truffle, and fresh herbs. On the palate, it is silky and seamless, with finely sculpted tannins and remarkable energy. Dark berry fruit is intertwined with graphite, oyster-shell minerality, savory herbs, spice, and subtle earthy notes. The finish is long, precise, and persistent, with an almost Burgundian sense of finesse despite the wine's power. Wine Advocate's Luis Gutiérrez described the 2021 as "the finest vintage of El Carretil to date." Interesting Facts Single-Vineyard Wine: El Carretil comes from a single parcel in Laguardia in Rioja Alavesa, rather than being a blend of vineyards. The vineyard's sandy-silt soils contain approximately 20% limestone, contributing to the wine's distinctive mineral character. 100% Tempranillo: This is pure Tempranillo, allowing the wine to showcase the grape and its specific vineyard site without blending in other varieties. Tiny Production: Only about 5,300 bottles of the 2021 vintage were produced. That makes this a genuinely limited-production wine rather than simply another Rioja bottling. Artadi Left Rioja DOCa: Artadi voluntarily left the Rioja DOCa in 2015, choosing to emphasize individual vineyards and terroir rather than the traditional Rioja classification system. This is an important part of the Artadi story and makes their wines particularly interesting to collectors. 2021 Was Exceptional for El Carretil: Wine Advocate initially scored the wine 95–97 points from barrel, then raised the finished wine to 98 points. James Suckling awarded it 99 points. Collector's Wine: The combination of tiny production, single-vineyard provenance, and extremely high scores puts El Carretil firmly into the serious Spanish wine/collector category. Critic Scores Critic Score James Suckling ⭐ 99 Wine Advocate – Luis Gutiérrez ⭐ 98 Wine Advocate – initial barrel score 95–97 Vinous – Joaquín Hidalgo 93 The James Suckling review specifically highlights white pepper, blueberries, graphite, violets, black truffle, oyster shell, and fine, chewy tannins, and recommends drinking from 2027 onward. Food Pairings This is a wine I'd pair with substantial but elegant dishes: 🥩 Grilled or roasted ribeye 🐑 Slow-roasted lamb with rosemary 🦆 Duck breast 🍄 Wild mushroom and truffle dishes 🐖 Iberico pork 🧀 Aged Manchego 🥘 Braised beef or lamb 🍖 Spanish-style suckling lamb Why We Love It This is not a typical Rioja. Artadi's philosophy is much more focused on vineyard expression, and El Carretil has the structure and mineral precision you'd expect from a great single-vineyard wine. The 2021 vintage is especially compelling. It combines ripe dark fruit with an unusually lifted floral character, fine tannins, and a strong mineral backbone. It's powerful enough for a steak but refined enough that I'd actually compare its texture and precision to a serious Burgundy. Serving Temperature: 60–64°F Decant: 1–2 hours, particularly when drinking young Drink Window: 2027–2040+ Style: Powerful • Elegant • Mineral • Structured • Age-Worthy