Medium-ruby color; rich cherry, berry hint of oak and rose petals on the nose; raspberry, blackberry, dark cherry, cranberry on the palate.
Rich with nice depth and body; somewhat aggressive tannins and toasty oak (12 months in French wood); good balancing acidity. Very drinkable and approachable, delivers the bigness of a Napa-Carneros pinot noir.
Artesa was founded in 1991 by the Codorníu Raventós family, owners of wineries in native Spain and Argentina. The family is the oldest company in Spain with a winemaking legacy in the Penedès region near Barcelona that dates back to 1551. At first, the winery focused on sparkling wines, then turned to Napa’s classic still wines—pinot noir, chardonnay, and cabernet sauvignon. The company changed the winery’s name from Codorníu Raventós to Artesa in 1997, signaling a new focus on artisan wines. “Artesa” is Catalan word for “handcrafted.”
Ana Diogo-Draper is the winemaker. She has more than 15 harvest under her belt, specializes in small lot winemaking, and champions responsible, sustainable land management. All Artesa estate vineyards are Green Land Certified by the Napa Valley Vintners Association; all grapes are farmed and harvested by hand. The winery is an architectural treasure designed by famed Barcelona architect Domingo Triay in the early 1990s. Fountains abound and from an elevated terrace, on clear days, you can catch a glimpse of the San Francisco skyline. The visitor center presents original works of sculpture, painting, and mixed-media by Gordon Huether, the winery’s artist in residence.
Artesa Winery Estate Reserve Napa Valley Pinot Noir 2013 is tasty treasure produced by wine family with four centuries of experience. $37-40
http://www.artesawinery.com/
Other photos: Various views of dramatic Artesa winery in Napa.
