When Juan-Carlos López de Lacalle shocked the wine world by leaving the Rioja DOCa in 2015, it was a radical commitment to his roots. By moving away from traditional aging classifications, Artadi became the region's great iconoclast, focusing instead on the unique "climats" of Rioja Alavesa. At the heart of this revolution is the 2021 Valdeginés, a 100% organic, single-site Tempranillo grown in the high-altitude, calcareous clay soils of Laguardia. Here, the Lacalle y Laorden family recovers the "wise experiences of our grandparents" to produce a wine that defines the Spanish avant-garde.  

Luis Gutiérrez of The Wine Advocate has long heralded Artadi as a pioneer that changed the trajectory of the region. He praises López de Lacalle as a leader in the "movement toward site-specific, terroir-driven wines," placing the estate at the "pinnacle of quality" in Spain. While many single-vineyard bottlings lean toward Burgundy, this beauty offers a more Bordeaux-inspired structure. Upon release, the wine was noted for being austere, but with a few extra years of bottle age, it has hit a "sweet spot" where those tightly coiled elements have integrated into a harmonious expression of pure fruit and stone.  

Gutiérrez captures this energy perfectly, noting that while the wine is "serious," it possesses a "jovial palate, with energy and charm". He highlights its immense potential and the balance required to age gracefully, echoing James Suckling’s praise for its "chalky rounding of tannins" and "long, mineral finish". Today, the 2021 Valdeginés stands as a testament to Artadi’s dedication to defining the personality of each terroir through respectful intervention.  

The 2021 Artadi Valdeginés offers a sophisticated lift of black pepper, red cherries, and hibiscus, underscored by mineral notes of crushed stone and oyster shells. While some Riojas are delicate, this is regal and elegant with a Bordeaux-like structure—angular yet pure. The palate is dry, juicy, and taut, with bold tannins that have begun to round out, revealing a concentrated core of red berry fruit and balsamic herbs.  While it has hit a perfect "sweet spot" for early enjoyment with a decant, this wine is built for the long haul. Expect it to reach peak complexity between 2028 and 2045.

Critical Acclaim:

96 Points, James Suckling:

• "A nice lift of black pepper to the red cherries, hibiscus, mineral and oyster shells. Scented, with more width than depth on the nose. Chalky rounding of tannins dissipate in a concentrated, medium- to full-bodied palate. Long, mineral finish to close. 

95 Points, Podium Award, Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: 

• "(100% tempranillo). Colour: cherry, purple rim. Nose: fruit expression, red berry notes, floral, sweet spices, balsamic herbs. Palate: flavourful, fruity, good acidity, long.”

94+ Points, Wine Advocate: 

• “The wine is a little austere, very integrated and harmonious, with fine tannins. It feels very young and undeveloped but with high potential, with all the elements and balance to age nicely in bottle. The 2021s are going to need time in bottle. Carlos López de Lacalle says Valdeginés is a serious wine but with a jovial palate, with energy and charm.”