B-21 Top Recommendation
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Whether viewed as a simple rebellion or an act of treason, esteemed producer Bodegas Artadi sent shockwaves throughout Rioja in 2015 when they left the appellation. With the belief that the uniqueness of their wines was being diminished by the mass-produced regional blends sanctioned by the Rioja DOC, Artadi's bold move allowed them the freedom to produce wines that fully express their site-specific origins. But while the 93pt entry level 2018 Artadi Viñas de Gain and the prestigious flagship 99pt 2018 Artadi Il Pison may not bear the official Rioja designation on their labels, the pedigree of these wines cannot be denied, each offering exceptional quality and incredible value.
The Artadi story began in 1985 when the prime coop vineyards belonging to a group of local growers in the Rioja Alavesa sub-region were purchased by the visionary Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, who recognized the vineyards' untapped potential. Juan Carlos introduced a philosophy of sustainability and an emphasis on terroir, leading him to separately vinify the grapes from each vineyard to preserve their uniqueness based on soil, aspect and altitude, leading to the Bodega's first 100pt Robert Parker review in 2004. As the introduction to Artadi's range of Tempranillo based wines, the 2018 Viñas de Gain is a blend of various parcels ranging from 20-30 yeas, displaying rich vibrant red fruit with a firm, powerful structure and the signature Alavesa dusty minerality. The source for the legendary Artadi El Pison is an unassuming singular 2.4 hectare site of the same name in Laguardia at 480 meters, planted in 1945 on deep calcareous clay soils. Aged for 15 months in French oak, the magnificent 2018 Artadi El Pison offers an impeccable balance of dark fruit, spice and acidity with a powerful, never-ending finish, boasting massive structure and promising longevity for decades to come.
As the entry level offering in Artadi's range, the 2018 Artadi Viñas de Gain displays impressive purity of fruit with layers of flavors reminiscent of Burgundian complexity and at under $20, impressive value as well. As the top rated single-vineyard wine in Rioja if not all of Spain with extremely limited production, the 2018 Artadi El Pisón is a rare collectible, standing shoulder to shoulder among the world's great red wines, and according to the Wine Advocate's Luis Gutierrez, "superb." Two sensational wines from one of Spain's greatest estates, worthy of a place on the table and in the cellar, offered at the best prices on the market. | 
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