Artillero

Variety

100% Tempranillo 

Production

1933 bottles

ARTILLERO is the perfect expression of Tempranillo from old vines growing on the soils of Rioja Alavesa. Powerful, yet elegant.

Vineyard

DOCa Rioja. A 99-year (1919) old vineyard of 1 ha located in Elvillar (Rioja Alavesa) at 600 metres altitude with calcareous clay composition. A mixed plot of Tempranillo, Viura and Garnacha Blanca that only yields 3000 kg per hectare.

Winemaking

The fermentation of the hand-picked grapes is carried out in concrete egg, stainless steel tank, amphora and open barrel using indigenous yeast. The malolactic fermentation takes place in concrete egg and French oak barrels of 400 and 500 litre. After racking the wine remains another 13 months in oak for ageing.

Tasting note

Black fruit (bramble, cherry, elderberry, roasted plum) together with the well integrated oak give Artillero its softness. This is balanced by a pleasantly fresh acidity and grippy but fine-grained tannin structure. Flavours of black fruit, sweet spices, violets and a touch of leather. An intense lively wine.

What ́s in the name

The former owner of this vineyard used to be a gunner in the civil war. Artillero (Spanish for gunner) became his nickname. Grateful for the great care he took of the vineyard, now 99-year old, Oxer decided to name both the plot and the wine after him.

Analysis

Alcohol 14%

pH 3,71

Total acidity (in tartaric acid) 4,89 g/l

Acknowledgements

Artillero 2014: 92 points – Guía Peñin 2019

Artillero 2014: 92 points – Robert Parker 2016

Artillero 2014: 92 points – Tim Atkin MW Rioja 2017 Special Report Artillero 2014: 93 points – James Suckling 2016