2021 | Bodegas Orben "Malpuesto" | Rioja | Spain

"Badly placed" — a low-yield old-vine single vineyard in the high Rioja Alavesa, and one of Spain's great outliers.

Orben is Artevino's boutique project, reinterpreting Rioja through micro-plots of old vines in the highest reaches of Rioja Alavesa around Laguardia. "Malpuesto" takes its name from the vineyard itself — badly placed, poorly planted, low-yielding. Exactly the kind of site that produces concentrated, characterful fruit when someone bothers to farm it properly. 100% Tempranillo, small production, and a world away from oaky old-school Rioja.

A single-vineyard Orben is new-wave Rioja with real intensity. Boutique high-altitude project, old-vine single vineyard, 100% Tempranillo → structured, voluptuous, complex → you're drinking contemporary Rioja.

• 100% Tempranillo
• Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa — Spain
• Bodegas Orben (Artevino) — "Malpuesto"
• Low-yield old-vine single vineyard · high altitude · small production

Intense bright cherry colour with ripe, wild black fruit aromas; structured and voluptuous on the palate with a silky, earthy touch and an extremely fruit-forward, meaty, persistent and complex finish. Translation: a structured, generous Rioja — wild dark fruit with an earthy, silky texture and real persistence. Fruit-forward and meaty rather than oak-driven; modern Rioja with intent.

A single-vineyard modern Rioja. Exactly the bottle for grilled red meat, lamb, or hard cheese.