Grown in the nutrient-poor, calcareous clay sub-soils that surround the ancient walled village of Laguardia, the 12.3-acre Valdeginés vineyard is located at an altitude of 1,728 feet above sea-level. A densely-spaced, east-facing vineyard, Valdeginés, planted in 1989, consists of two micro-terroirs where vines lie either in the shallow soil of soft sandstone slopes or along the ancient rock terraces on cooler, deeper soils. A blend of both hillside and terrace fruit, Valdeginés is consistently both incredibly complex and pleasing on the palate. As all of the ARTADI vineyards are dry-farmed and maintained naturally, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are never used in this inimitable single vineyard.
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2021
Country:
Spain
Region:
La Rioja
Appellation:
Vino de Espana
Variety:
Tempranillo
Color:
Red
Farming Practice:
Practicing Organic
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | ES-ART-02-21 | 6/750ml |
Resources
Press & Reviews
James Suckling
Score
96
Date
2023-09-18
"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. Drink from 2025."
Wine Advocate
Score
94+
Date
2024-03-09
"The bottled 2021 Valdeginés showed much better than the unbottled sample I tasted last time. 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. 15,000 bottles were produced, which is the largest production of the single-vineyard wines. It was bottled in May 2023."
Vinous
Score
93
Date
2024-04-18
"Being one of the pioneers of village and terroir-driven wines in Rioja, Artadi focuses on balancing a mixture of the terroir and his personal style. The 2021 Valdeginés is a good example of this approach, crafted from Tempranillo planted on deep clay soils in Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa. A purple wine, the aromas offer notes of black tea and violets, along with crushed plums and fresh cherries. Dry, juicy and taut, with bold and reactive tannins, the powerful and rich palate lingers on its fruit notes—a Rioja red with a personalized Bordeaux touch."
REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES
2022
Tim Atkin, MW
Score
97
Date
2025-02-27
"Valdegin,s is one of the younger vineyards at Artadi, planted in two stages in 1989 and 1992 at 600 metres in Laguardia. The 4.4-hectare site is rich in clay as well as limestone and has an appealing combination of colour, intensity and patrician tannins. Violet and rose petal aromas segue into a palate that's fresh, focused and lightly reductive, with redcurrant and strawberry fruit and understated oak. 2027-2040"
2022
James Suckling
Score
96
Date
2024-10-03
"Admirable notes of flowers and minerals with precise chalky tannins. The aromas and flavors range from hibiscus, red berries and cherries to stones. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, and what I like about this is that there's slightly more stone than fruit on the palate. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold."
2022
Wine Advocate
Score
94
Date
2025-02-27
"The 2022 Valdegin,s comes from a warm and dry year and fermented in open-top oak vats and matured in barrels and nine months in demi-muids. However, the wine has more freshness than expected, and the nose comes through as fresher than that of the 2023 I tasted next to it. This vineyard has an east exposure and soil with a higher percentage of clay, with limestone one meter down that gives it punch. It has very fine, chalky tannins. Like many 2022s, it finished in the higher part of the estimated window last year. 14,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2024."
2022
Vinous
Score
93
Date
2025-05-22
"The 2022 Valdegines, from Laguardia, opens with vibrant red fruit, floral violet notes and a subtle herbal character reminiscent of undergrowth. The palate is tight, energetic and structured, with a chalky texture and a juicy, fresh, grippy finish."
2020
James Suckling
Score
96
Date
2023-08-24
"Naturally high concentration like the rest of Artadi wines. Crushed wet stones, more red and blue fruit than black fruit. Oyster shells, too. Nice chalky tannins on the palate, showing more suppleness and fluidity in the middle. Long and mineral finish. Drink now."
2020
Wine Advocate
Score
94
Date
2023-02-28
"The 2020 Valdegin,s was bottled after the shorter ,levage in barrel, as it was transferred to tank after it finished malolactic. It has 14.5% alcohol and a fruit-driven personality and is fresh and balanced with very fine, grainy tannins. Valdegin,s is 4.1 hectares of vines planted in Laguardia between 1982 and 1989 on silty and limestone soils. It fermented in open oak vats with a soft vinification followed by malolactic and nine months in barrel. This is elegant, balanced and medium-bodied, with a very silky mouthfeel, fine tannins and a clean and harmonious finish. 13,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2022. It was a short crop; they lost maybe 40% to mildew, and that might have given it additional concentration."
2019
James Suckling
Score
96
Date
2022-09-13
2019
Wine Advocate
Score
94
Date
2021-12-30