La Poza de Ballesteros by Artadi

Structure

Bodyfull

Tanninfirm

Acidityhigh

Sweetnessdry

Finishlong

Oakoak aged

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2018: best 2024 to 2038.

vintage6 yrs20 yrs22 yrs

Critic scores

Critic	Vintage	Score
Tim Atkin reviewed 2021	2018	94/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: black cherry, plum, violet, graphite, spice

Palate: dark fruit, firm tannin, mineral, savoury

Another of Artadi's single-vineyard old-vine Tempranillos, this plot giving a slightly darker, more structured wine with the house's mineral signature.

What it pairs with

Venison loin Dark game meets the wine's structured dark fruit.More wines for venison →
Chuleton de buey a la brasa Char-grilled beef frames the firm tannin.More wines for steak →Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
Aged Manchego Hard cheese balances the mineral structure.More wines for aged hard cheese →

With cheese

Queso Camerano Our pick Bottled as Vino de España since leaving the Rioja appellation, these old-vine Tempranillos aged in French oak bring cherry, violet and a mineral edge with high acidity; a hard curado Camerano's salt and wild-herb notes meet that fruit.

How to serve La Poza de Ballesteros

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
Pair with. Venison loin, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Aged Manchego. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

La Poza de Ballesteros is a named single-vineyard Tempranillo in Artadi's site-driven range.

2002La Poza de Ballesteros established as a single-vineyard bottling

Facts

Producer: Artadi · visiting guide
Grapes: Tempranillo (100%)
Classification: Vino de Espana (formerly DOCa Rioja, left 2015)
Oak: Around 14 to 16 months in French oak
ABV: 14.5%
Price: EUR 50 to 85 at retail
Drinking window: 6 to 20 from vintage
First vintage: 2002

Frequently asked about La Poza de Ballesteros

What does La Poza de Ballesteros taste like?

On the nose, black cherry, plum, violet, graphite, spice. On the palate, dark fruit, firm tannin, mineral, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Another of Artadi's single-vineyard old-vine Tempranillos, this plot giving a slightly darker, more structured wine with the house's mineral signature.

When should I drink La Poza de Ballesteros?

Drink 6 to 20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with La Poza de Ballesteros?

Venison loin is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Aged Manchego. Dark game meets the wine's structured dark fruit.

Is La Poza de Ballesteros vegan?

No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.

What grapes are in La Poza de Ballesteros?

The blend is Tempranillo (100%). The wine is classified as Vino de Espana (formerly DOCa Rioja, left 2015).

Taste it where it is made: tastings near Artadi

Rioja: Bodegas Altanza

Starts 10 km awayGuided tour1.5 hours4.5 from 12 reviewsfrom €25

Visit a unique Rioja winery and discover Altanza, a place where wine tourism goes far beyond a tour with a tasting.

Check dates and book

Rioja: Wine tour with a winery owner

Starts 15 km awayGuided tour7 hours5.0 from 22 reviewsfrom €300

Taste selected wines at 3 different wineries in Rioja. Visit our own winery from 1881, La Bodega del Tesoro. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a wooden wine press.

Check dates and book