La Poza de Ballesteros, Bodegas Artadi 2011

Like the 2010, the 2011 La Poza de Ballesteros is pure Tempranillo from a 3.6 hectare vineyard planted in 1960 in the village of Elvillar. The destemmed grapes ferment in open wooden vats and age for 14 months in French oak barrels. The soils here are deeper, the vines are older, and the microclimate is different, more Mediterranean. It’s opposite Valdegines, each of the plots on different sides of a small river. La Poza is east-facing and gets the afternoon sun and therefore the fruit is riper, with the freshness of bayleaf, with cigar box and black spices. It is very tasty, and ends almost salty. Drink 2015-2023.