In the glass
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. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
Char-grilled beef frames the firm tannin. -
Aged Manchego
Hard cheese balances the mineral structure.
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.
- 2002 — La Poza de Ballesteros established as a single-vineyard bottling
Facts
- Producer
- Artadi
- 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
Scores
- Tim Atkin 94 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2021)
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).