The 2022 Artuke La Condenada is an exceptional single-vineyard Rioja Alavesa red from Baños de Ebro, produced by brothers Arturo and Kike de Miguel of Artuke. La Condenada - meaning "The Condemned" - comes from a tiny 0.75-hectare vineyard planted in 1920 that had been virtually abandoned and was considered destined to disappear before Arturo de Miguel acquired and restored it. The vineyard preserves the traditional field-blend character of old Rioja plantings, with approximately 80% Tempranillo, 9-10% Graciano, 5-6% Garnacha and 5% Palomino Fino. Rather than blending away the individuality of the site, Artuke bottles La Condenada separately as one of the estate's most important expressions of Rioja Alavesa terroir.
Fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured for approximately 12 months in 600-litre oak vessels, the 2022 is concentrated but remarkably refined. It combines wild strawberry, plum and darker berry fruit with purple flowers, lavender, liquorice, garrigue, earth, wet stone and a distinctive chalky mineral character. The palate is juicy and energetic, with substantial depth, bright acidity and firm, finely shaped tannins carrying the wine through a long mineral finish.
