“Artuke has seen one of the best progressions in Rioja in the last few years and is one of the finest young family wineries in the region.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

We’ve been shouting this from the rooftop! Unfortunately, the folks across the street at Lagunitas don’t seem to care.

So today we’re putting it in writing. And pinning it to inboxes of the people who will care - Martin Luther style, to spread the truth about this 94 POINT, genre-redefining, uber-tasty (and quite affordable) Rioja.

Forget about the “Rioja” you think you know! None of that over-American oaked blend from across the region, fancy looking while hollow inside nonsense here today.

Here’s to NEW RIOJA.

Bordeaux precision, Burgundy sensibility, Iberian soul. Single vineyards grown and bottled with love and care only the greatest wines of the world see. And there emerges a brave new region within a good old region, you never knew existed.

Don’t believe us? Try a bottle or three. And make sure you try their mind-blowing white found here in the Store too, while it lasts. Or at least hear what Vinous has to say: “Today, Rioja has two speeds. The first is set by the big producers who are responsible for the region’s worldwide fame and its association with extensive oak aging. The second is the more dynamic side, where producers display pride in their place of origin and stylistic choices, more interested in bringing out individual characters than adhering to an established style… the rich nuances found in Rioja today will take your palate on a rewarding joy ride.”

And NO producer can do that as articulately as Artuke. Per Vinous again, “A member of the Rioja’n’Roll group, Artuke harvests grapes from Baños in Sonsierra and bottles their wines by village. Under the auspices of oenologist Arturo de Miguel Blanco, the style is modern and hefty without drowning out the subtle qualities of Sonsierra or the chalky texture imbued by the terroir. This is a producer to follow.”

It was Jancis Robinson who first woke up to this exciting underground movement, “Rioja’n’Roll is the name of an unofficial association of 8 restless winemakers in Rioja. They share the same purpose: introducing the B-side of present-day Rioja… and have been turning heads since they gathered in the summer of 2015… Take a good look at my tasting notes and you will find some of the most promising new-wave riojas, produced in a respectful way, ‘looking back at our ancestors.’ This is clearly a group of winemakers to follow closely.”

And follow we will, as this wine is OFF THE CHARTS. To picture it in your glass, think of a hypothetical love child of a top Pinot from Willamette Valley, and a juicy Etna red that’s lava-hot with a glowing flow of pure fruit. If you ask the brothers, there’s a bit of Côte-Rôtie in there too. Pretty much it’s a Rioja only by being within the confines of that appellation, transcending anything else you’ve ever had from there. It must be tasted to be believed. As Jancis Robinson wrote for the inaugural vintage, “the wine is more physical than elegant but is really terrific. Where does this surprising savory fruit come from? Unusual richness for a Rioja.”

Very limited – you’ve been warned.

94 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“The 2020 Finca de Los Locos mentions Paraje Peñascalera, the place in Baños de Ebro, where they have a terrace that was planted in 1981 at 120 meters above the river with sandy and gravel soils with a high content of limestone. It has a lot of finesse with subtle aromas and very integrated oak. It’s 78% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano and 2% Viura that fermented uncrushed with indigenous yeasts and matured in 3,500-liter oak foudres for one year. It was expressive from the moment I poured it in the glass, and the palate is velvety with bright acidity and very fine tannins, nicely textured and elegant. It’s 13.9% alcohol and feels very limestone driven. Drink 2022-2030.”