Vina El Pison by Artadi

Structure

Bodyfull

Tanninfirm

Acidityhigh

Sweetnessdry

Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2018: best 2028 to 2048.

vintage10 yrs30 yrs32 yrs

Critic scores

Critic	Vintage	Score
Wine Advocate reviewed 2021	2018	97/100
Tim Atkin reviewed 2020	2018	97/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryVery Long finish

Aroma: black cherry, blueberry, violet, graphite, sweet spice

Palate: silky black fruit, fine-grained tannin, mineral, floral

Spain's most celebrated single-vineyard Tempranillo, from a tiny old-vine plot at Laguardia; intense yet ethereal, with floral lift, silky tannins and profound minerality.

What it pairs with

Venison loin Dark game meets El Pison's silky black fruit and graphite.More wines for venison →
Chuleton de buey a la brasa A grand aged-beef chop for Spain's icon single-vineyard red.More wines for steak →Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
Aged hard cheese Crystalline cheese sharpens the long mineral finish.More wines for 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 Vina El Pison

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 hard cheese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Vina El Pison comes from a 2.4-hectare old-vine plot first bottled on its own in the 1990s. It is one of Spain's most sought-after wines and the flagship of Artadi's site-driven philosophy.

1985Artadi founded by Juan Carlos Lopez de Lacalle
2015Artadi leaves the Rioja DOCa to label by site

Facts

Producer: Artadi · visiting guide
Grapes: Tempranillo (100%)
Classification: Vino de Espana (formerly DOCa Rioja, left 2015)
Oak: Around 18 to 20 months in new French oak
ABV: 14.5%
Price: EUR 250 to 500 at retail
Drinking window: 10 to 30 from vintage
First vintage: 1985

Frequently asked about Vina El Pison

What does Vina El Pison taste like?

On the nose, black cherry, blueberry, violet, graphite, sweet spice. On the palate, silky black fruit, fine-grained tannin, mineral, floral. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. Spain's most celebrated single-vineyard Tempranillo, from a tiny old-vine plot at Laguardia; intense yet ethereal, with floral lift, silky tannins and profound minerality.

When should I drink Vina El Pison?

Drink 10 to 30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Vina El Pison?

Venison loin is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Aged hard cheese. Dark game meets El Pison's silky black fruit and graphite.

Is Vina El Pison 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 Vina El Pison?

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