{"product_id":"artadi-el-carretil-2021","title":"Artadi El Carretil 2021","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\n\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2021 Artadi El Carretil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRioja Alavesa, Spain\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e100% Tempranillo\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e14.5% ABV\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2021 El Carretil is an exceptionally elegant and mineral-driven expression of Tempranillo. The nose is intensely aromatic, with \u003cstrong\u003eviolets, wild blueberries, blackberries, white pepper, graphite, black truffle, and fresh herbs\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the palate, it is \u003cstrong\u003esilky and seamless\u003c\/strong\u003e, with finely sculpted tannins and remarkable energy. Dark berry fruit is intertwined with \u003cstrong\u003egraphite, oyster-shell minerality, savory herbs, spice, and subtle earthy notes\u003c\/strong\u003e. The finish is long, precise, and persistent, with an almost Burgundian sense of finesse despite the wine's power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWine Advocate's Luis Gutiérrez described the 2021 as \u003cstrong\u003e\"the finest vintage of El Carretil to date.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInteresting Facts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSingle-Vineyard Wine:\u003c\/strong\u003e El Carretil comes from a single parcel in \u003cstrong\u003eLaguardia in Rioja Alavesa\u003c\/strong\u003e, rather than being a blend of vineyards. The vineyard's sandy-silt soils contain approximately \u003cstrong\u003e20% limestone\u003c\/strong\u003e, contributing to the wine's distinctive mineral character. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e100% Tempranillo:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is pure Tempranillo, allowing the wine to showcase the grape and its specific vineyard site without blending in other varieties. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTiny Production:\u003c\/strong\u003e Only about \u003cstrong\u003e5,300 bottles\u003c\/strong\u003e of the 2021 vintage were produced. That makes this a genuinely limited-production wine rather than simply another Rioja bottling. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArtadi Left Rioja DOCa:\u003c\/strong\u003e Artadi voluntarily left the Rioja DOCa in 2015, choosing to emphasize individual vineyards and terroir rather than the traditional Rioja classification system. This is an important part of the Artadi story and makes their wines particularly interesting to collectors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2021 Was Exceptional for El Carretil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wine Advocate initially scored the wine \u003cstrong\u003e95–97 points from barrel\u003c\/strong\u003e, then raised the finished wine to \u003cstrong\u003e98 points\u003c\/strong\u003e. James Suckling awarded it \u003cstrong\u003e99 points\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCollector's Wine:\u003c\/strong\u003e The combination of tiny production, single-vineyard provenance, and extremely high scores puts El Carretil firmly into the \u003cstrong\u003eserious Spanish wine\/collector category\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritic Scores\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"group TyagGW_tableContainer\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"TyagGW_tableWrapper flex flex-col-reverse w-fit\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"w-fit min-w-(--thread-content-width)\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"last:pe-10\"\u003eCritic\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"last:pe-10\"\u003eScore\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e⭐ \u003cstrong\u003e99\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate – Luis Gutiérrez\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e⭐ \u003cstrong\u003e98\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate – initial barrel score\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e95–97\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinous – Joaquín Hidalgo\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e93\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe James Suckling review specifically highlights \u003cstrong\u003ewhite pepper, blueberries, graphite, violets, black truffle, oyster shell, and fine, chewy tannins\u003c\/strong\u003e, and recommends drinking from \u003cstrong\u003e2027 onward\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a wine I'd pair with substantial but elegant dishes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🥩 Grilled or roasted ribeye\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🐑 Slow-roasted lamb with rosemary\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🦆 Duck breast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🍄 Wild mushroom and truffle dishes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🐖 Iberico pork\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🧀 Aged Manchego\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🥘 Braised beef or lamb\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e🍖 Spanish-style suckling lamb\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy We Love It\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is not a typical Rioja.\u003c\/strong\u003e Artadi's philosophy is much more focused on vineyard expression, and El Carretil has the structure and mineral precision you'd expect from a great single-vineyard wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e2021 vintage is especially compelling\u003c\/strong\u003e. It combines ripe dark fruit with an unusually lifted floral character, fine tannins, and a strong mineral backbone. It's powerful enough for a steak but refined enough that I'd actually compare its texture and precision to a serious Burgundy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60–64°F\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecant:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e1–2 hours\u003c\/strong\u003e, particularly when drinking young\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDrink Window:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2027–2040+\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Powerful • Elegant • Mineral • Structured • Age-Worthy\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"IN THE CRU","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47392344015004,"sku":null,"price":235.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0377\/6253\/1460\/files\/Untitleddesign_10.png?v=1786482247","url":"https:\/\/inthecru.com\/products\/artadi-el-carretil-2021","provider":"In The Cru","version":"1.0","type":"link"}