2022 Artuke Finca de los Locos
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| Type of Wine | |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | 2025 - 2032 |
In stock
6 items available
Description
Artuke is a small family winery in BaƱos de Ebro, Rioja Alavesa. Brothers Arturo and Kike de Miquel (Artuke is a combination of their first names) have worked at their parents' company since 2003 and 2010, respectively, and they now advise the boys behind the scenes. The focus is entirely on making terroir-driven wines with vineyard expression, Burgundian complexity, and elegance.
This wine is made and named after their grandfather. In 1950, he bought a plot of "PeƱaescalera" in BaƱos de Ebro. It was a very unproductive plot in a high-lying part of the village where no one was growing grapes at the time. Moreover, the soil was far too stony, so everyone called him a fool for buying it. However, the "fool," or Los Locos, persevered, and today this 2.8-hectare plot is used to make a top-notch wine called Finca de los Locos, literally translated: the plot of the fools.
During an initial selection on the plot, the pickers themselves determine which bunches will be picked. These bunches are placed in small baskets and then transported in large baskets, no higher than 10 cm, to prevent the grapes from crushing each other and to preserve the fruit's integrity. Next, all the bunches are sorted on the selection table in the bodega. The bunches are destemmed and gravity-fed to stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Only indigenous yeasts are used. Malolactic fermentation takes place in wooden vats of 500 and 3500 liters. The wine is then aged in these same vats for a further 15 months.
The Artuke Los Locos is the most robust of all the Arturke family's crus. The wine is composed of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Graciano. It has a beautiful red color. The spicy Graciano, which makes up 20% of the blend, is clearly evident on the nose. The palate is predominantly black fruit with Mediterranean notes, yet elegant in style and again with quite a bit of acidity. It has great length. A very fine wine that cries out for fine meats such as venison, a fine tomahawk, or a thick rib eye. The wine also consistently receives very high ratings from international wine critics.
FACT: The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount . You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at checkout. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.
Specifications
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Appellation | Rioja Alavesa |
| Winery | Artuke |
| Grape | Tempranillo |
| Biological certified | Yes |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Drinking as of | 2025 |
| Drinking till | 2032 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 94 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Kruidig, Rood fruit, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 94
Reviewed by:
Luis GutiƩrrez
Release Price:
$51
Drink Date:
2025 - 2032
The label of the single-vineyard 2023 Finca de Los Locos now has the name of the "paraje" where the vines are, PeƱaescalera in BaƱos de Ebro. It comes from a 2.8-hectare plot planted in 1981 on sandy and gravel soils at 120 meters above sea level. This year, it's 70% Tempranillo, 25% Graciano and 5% white Viura, with more Graciano this time, which possibly contributes to the seriousness of the wine. It comes in at 13.8% alcohol and a pH of 3.42, very good and balanced parameters that imply freshness. It matured in 3,500-liter oak vats for 12 months. It's perfumed and elegant, floral and herbal, with dark fruit and a medium to full-bodied palate with very fine tannins and great harmony. 10,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2024.
Artuke has 33 hectares of vineyards, and they have been certified organic since 2021; and five of their seven wines are certified too. Production fluctuates between 160,000 and 180,000 bottles.
2023 was not as warm as 2022, and the nights were cooler, like years ago, which helped to retain good freshness in the wines.
Published: Feb 27, 2025
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
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Wijnhuis
Artuke is a small family winery, founded by father Miguel Blanco in 1991 and for about 10 years now with the help of sons Arturo and Kike (together 'Artuke'). Together they cultivate 22 hectares, spread over 32 different plots, some of which are top crus. They are also the forerunners of the Rioja'n Roll movement that saw the light in this area a few years ago.
Young winemakers from Rioja worked together with the same philosophy; Terroir wines are made in a natural way, without fuss, and with respect for their region and especially their landscape and their varieties, in the first place Tempranillo, of course, but also other old cƩpages that are often planted together in the vineyard. Originally from Rioja Alavesa in BaƱos de Ebro, they also have some nice plots with vieilles vignes in Samaniego and San Vicente de la Sonsierra and even in Abalos in Rioja Alta. For us, they are the pioneers of the new generation in Rioja.
The whole family has its roots in Rioja and in viticulture. Father Miguel Blanco decided in 1991 not to sell his grapes anymore, but to start on his own account. He launched his wines under his own name. The sons were raised on the small family estate and grew up among the vineyards and the bottles. In 2003 Arturo joined the domain and in 2010 the youngest son Kike. The first thing the new generation did was to study the different plots and terroirs their father owned.
All their vineyards were planted in gobelet or 'bushvines', which made them more resistant to drought and extreme climatic conditions. The new vineyards they plant today are also systematically planted in Gobelet. They also decided to adopt the biodynamic practices for their vineyards and, along with a number of other young winemakers, were the forerunners of the innovative Rioja 'n Roll movement. 2016 was the first vintage that they made their wines according to their terroir and divided them into 'premiers crus' (Finca de los Locos and Paso las MaƱas) and 'grands crus' (La Condenada and El Escolladero).
In the meantime they still make a young cosechero wine and a 'vin de village', the Pies Negros, from the village of Abalos. Today they are one of the big names for the future in the well-known Rioja region.
Rioja, of course, means Tempranillo, and that is also the main grape variety in their vineyards. They work with a lot of vieilles vignes, which means that on the corners of the plots, and often also between the Tempranillo vines, other grape varieties are often planted. They do not vinify these separately, but believe in their terroir and in the coupage of their terroir. That is why up to 20% of other grape varieties are often used, such as of course Graciano, which is increasingly seen in Rioja, but also Garnacha and Cagazal, a Rioja variant of the well-known Palomino.
In vineyards planted just after the phylloxera, around 1920, the latter is often found to fill the gaps. After all, Palomino was a fast grower with high yields. And in coupage with Tempranillo, these other grape varieties give a nice variety and freshness.
Terroir
Artuke mainly works in Rioja Alavesa. These villages usually have a little more Atlantic influence than Rioja Alta. Their best vineyards are in BaƱos de Ebro, Samaniego and San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Some nice vineyards also in Abalos, just over the border in Rioja Alta, but below the Sierra Cantabria, so the most Atlantic part of the Rioja Alta.
Abalos: 8 different plots for Pies Negros and 1 plot for the grand cru El Escolladero. Both are mainly lime-clay soils, located between 530 and 600 m altitude.
Samaniego: for 1er cru Paso Las MaƱas, lime-clay soil, on a 15% slope from north to south, between 680 and 700 m altitude.
BaƱos de Ebro: plots for their base wines and for 2 crus:
Finca de los Locos: sandy stony soils on a north-south slope of 3% between 520 and 530 m.
Grand Cru La Condenada: sandy soil with sandstone in the subsoil at 540 m altitude.
Vinification
All plots are biologically farmed and most plots use biodynamic practices. Artuke's wines are sometimes called the most Burgundian of Rioja because of their elegant and fine style. No āpower Tempranilloā is made here. All grapes are harvested by hand and brought to the bodega in small baskets. All grapes pass the selection table. These are de-stained and then transported by gravity to stainless steel tanks.
Fermentation takes place with native yeasts. Malolactic fermentation in large wooden foeders. Then an Ć©levage of another 13 to 16 months, depending on the wine, in large wooden casks (between 500 and 3500 litres). The 2 grands crus come in 600 liter foeders.
Artuke is a small family winery in BaƱos de Ebro, Rioja Alavesa. Brothers Arturo and Kike de Miquel (Artuke is a combination of their first names) have worked at their parents' company since 2003 and 2010, respectively, and they now advise the boys behind the scenes. The focus is entirely on making terroir-driven wines with vineyard expression, Burgundian complexity, and elegance.
This wine is made and named after their grandfather. In 1950, he bought a plot of "PeƱaescalera" in BaƱos de Ebro. It was a very unproductive plot in a high-lying part of the village where no one was growing grapes at the time. Moreover, the soil was far too stony, so everyone called him a fool for buying it. However, the "fool," or Los Locos, persevered, and today this 2.8-hectare plot is used to make a top-notch wine called Finca de los Locos, literally translated: the plot of the fools.
During an initial selection on the plot, the pickers themselves determine which bunches will be picked. These bunches are placed in small baskets and then transported in large baskets, no higher than 10 cm, to prevent the grapes from crushing each other and to preserve the fruit's integrity. Next, all the bunches are sorted on the selection table in the bodega. The bunches are destemmed and gravity-fed to stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Only indigenous yeasts are used. Malolactic fermentation takes place in wooden vats of 500 and 3500 liters. The wine is then aged in these same vats for a further 15 months.
The Artuke Los Locos is the most robust of all the Arturke family's crus. The wine is composed of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Graciano. It has a beautiful red color. The spicy Graciano, which makes up 20% of the blend, is clearly evident on the nose. The palate is predominantly black fruit with Mediterranean notes, yet elegant in style and again with quite a bit of acidity. It has great length. A very fine wine that cries out for fine meats such as venison, a fine tomahawk, or a thick rib eye. The wine also consistently receives very high ratings from international wine critics.
FACT: The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount . You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at checkout. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Appellation | Rioja Alavesa |
| Winery | Artuke |
| Grape | Tempranillo |
| Biological certified | Yes |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Drinking as of | 2025 |
| Drinking till | 2032 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 94 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Kruidig, Rood fruit, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 94
Reviewed by:
Luis GutiƩrrez
Release Price:
$51
Drink Date:
2025 - 2032
The label of the single-vineyard 2023 Finca de Los Locos now has the name of the "paraje" where the vines are, PeƱaescalera in BaƱos de Ebro. It comes from a 2.8-hectare plot planted in 1981 on sandy and gravel soils at 120 meters above sea level. This year, it's 70% Tempranillo, 25% Graciano and 5% white Viura, with more Graciano this time, which possibly contributes to the seriousness of the wine. It comes in at 13.8% alcohol and a pH of 3.42, very good and balanced parameters that imply freshness. It matured in 3,500-liter oak vats for 12 months. It's perfumed and elegant, floral and herbal, with dark fruit and a medium to full-bodied palate with very fine tannins and great harmony. 10,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2024.
Artuke has 33 hectares of vineyards, and they have been certified organic since 2021; and five of their seven wines are certified too. Production fluctuates between 160,000 and 180,000 bottles.
2023 was not as warm as 2022, and the nights were cooler, like years ago, which helped to retain good freshness in the wines.
Published: Feb 27, 2025
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Artuke is a small family winery, founded by father Miguel Blanco in 1991 and for about 10 years now with the help of sons Arturo and Kike (together 'Artuke'). Together they cultivate 22 hectares, spread over 32 different plots, some of which are top crus. They are also the forerunners of the Rioja'n Roll movement that saw the light in this area a few years ago.
Young winemakers from Rioja worked together with the same philosophy; Terroir wines are made in a natural way, without fuss, and with respect for their region and especially their landscape and their varieties, in the first place Tempranillo, of course, but also other old cƩpages that are often planted together in the vineyard. Originally from Rioja Alavesa in BaƱos de Ebro, they also have some nice plots with vieilles vignes in Samaniego and San Vicente de la Sonsierra and even in Abalos in Rioja Alta. For us, they are the pioneers of the new generation in Rioja.
The whole family has its roots in Rioja and in viticulture. Father Miguel Blanco decided in 1991 not to sell his grapes anymore, but to start on his own account. He launched his wines under his own name. The sons were raised on the small family estate and grew up among the vineyards and the bottles. In 2003 Arturo joined the domain and in 2010 the youngest son Kike. The first thing the new generation did was to study the different plots and terroirs their father owned.
All their vineyards were planted in gobelet or 'bushvines', which made them more resistant to drought and extreme climatic conditions. The new vineyards they plant today are also systematically planted in Gobelet. They also decided to adopt the biodynamic practices for their vineyards and, along with a number of other young winemakers, were the forerunners of the innovative Rioja 'n Roll movement. 2016 was the first vintage that they made their wines according to their terroir and divided them into 'premiers crus' (Finca de los Locos and Paso las MaƱas) and 'grands crus' (La Condenada and El Escolladero).
In the meantime they still make a young cosechero wine and a 'vin de village', the Pies Negros, from the village of Abalos. Today they are one of the big names for the future in the well-known Rioja region.
Rioja, of course, means Tempranillo, and that is also the main grape variety in their vineyards. They work with a lot of vieilles vignes, which means that on the corners of the plots, and often also between the Tempranillo vines, other grape varieties are often planted. They do not vinify these separately, but believe in their terroir and in the coupage of their terroir. That is why up to 20% of other grape varieties are often used, such as of course Graciano, which is increasingly seen in Rioja, but also Garnacha and Cagazal, a Rioja variant of the well-known Palomino.
In vineyards planted just after the phylloxera, around 1920, the latter is often found to fill the gaps. After all, Palomino was a fast grower with high yields. And in coupage with Tempranillo, these other grape varieties give a nice variety and freshness.
Terroir
Artuke mainly works in Rioja Alavesa. These villages usually have a little more Atlantic influence than Rioja Alta. Their best vineyards are in BaƱos de Ebro, Samaniego and San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Some nice vineyards also in Abalos, just over the border in Rioja Alta, but below the Sierra Cantabria, so the most Atlantic part of the Rioja Alta.
Abalos: 8 different plots for Pies Negros and 1 plot for the grand cru El Escolladero. Both are mainly lime-clay soils, located between 530 and 600 m altitude.
Samaniego: for 1er cru Paso Las MaƱas, lime-clay soil, on a 15% slope from north to south, between 680 and 700 m altitude.
BaƱos de Ebro: plots for their base wines and for 2 crus:
Finca de los Locos: sandy stony soils on a north-south slope of 3% between 520 and 530 m.
Grand Cru La Condenada: sandy soil with sandstone in the subsoil at 540 m altitude.
Vinification
All plots are biologically farmed and most plots use biodynamic practices. Artuke's wines are sometimes called the most Burgundian of Rioja because of their elegant and fine style. No āpower Tempranilloā is made here. All grapes are harvested by hand and brought to the bodega in small baskets. All grapes pass the selection table. These are de-stained and then transported by gravity to stainless steel tanks.
Fermentation takes place with native yeasts. Malolactic fermentation in large wooden foeders. Then an Ć©levage of another 13 to 16 months, depending on the wine, in large wooden casks (between 500 and 3500 litres). The 2 grands crus come in 600 liter foeders.