Artadi "Pagos Viejos" Rioja 2004

Saturated purple.

Vinturi - hazelnut, earth, shoe polish, baked black fruit, licorice nose. Later - iron in the empty glass.

Round and mouth-filling initially, then significant acid-driven tannin constricts the side teeth. Runs on two tracks. shows a bit of citrus and red fruit in the mid-palate. Interestingly, this is more bound up than the Numanthia. But both are loaded and need many more years in bottle.

Day 4 - More contained than the Numanthia, no gimmicks. Still suave and integrated. Deep. Some caramelized fruit, easy access, with acid structure on the front teeth. Fairly stiff, actually.

$60