Artuke La Condenada 2023

Cellar for up to 20 years. Decant for an hour or more before serving. La Condenada is a distinctly Spanish red blend, composed of 80% Tempranillo, with smaller portions of Graciano, Palomino, and Grenache. It bursts with scents of blackberry, strawberry, and cassis, with underlying hints of purple flora and spice. Bodegas Artuke was founded in 1991, when Roberto de Miguel decided to make the leap from selling wine en masse to bottling it himself. Its name is borrowed from his two sons – Arturo and Kike, who now run the winery themselves. Of the 22 hectares of vineyards that Artuke draw from, situated between the towns of Baños de Ebro and Ábalos, in Rioja, approximately 7.5 were once completely abandoned – a marker of the winemakers’ determination to preserve their landscape. Finely-grained tannins and delicate minerality meet you in the mouth, coupled with vibrant acidity. Black and red fruits envelope the tongue, along with dried herbs and hints of mulled wine spices, such as cinnamon and star anise. The fruits were harvested from an old vineyard planted in sandy soils, before being aged in French oak for 14 months. It is a brilliant pairing partner for mature cheese, roasted meats, or a roast vegetable soup.

Price: £82.14 from 8wines UK