2017 Pujanza Norte

From one of the highest vineyards in Rioja Alavesa, the 2017 Bodegas Pujanza Norte is a striking single-vineyard red that brings altitude, precision and power together in the glass. Sourced from the tiny 2.7-hectare El Norte vineyard at 720 metres above sea level, this is Rioja in a modern, terroir-driven style—intense yet remarkably refined. Consistently praised by top critics, the 2017 vintage continues the wine’s track record for elegance, balance and age‑worthy structure.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Pujanza Norte 2017 shows a deep, vibrant ruby colour with a youthful sheen at the rim. The nose is immediately expressive, offering lifted aromas of fresh red fruit—think red cherries, wild strawberries and redcurrants—layered with liquorice, subtle vanilla, a gentle smoky note, fresh Mediterranean herbs and a fine, chalky minerality. As it opens, delicate hints of spice, graphite and a whisper of ink add further complexity. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet finely etched, with a beautiful interplay between ripe fruit, lively acidity and firm, polished tannins. The red fruit core is joined by darker berry tones and savoury spice, while the influence of 14 months in French oak shows as well-integrated notes of toast, vanilla and subtle cedar rather than overt wood. The texture is both powerful and elegant, with refined tannins giving grip without harshness and a long, mineral-driven finish. Built to age, this vintage has a generous drinking window: it is already very enjoyable now with some aeration, but will continue to develop secondary notes of leather, tobacco and truffle over the next 8–12 years, and potentially longer under good cellaring conditions.

Production
The grapes for Pujanza Norte come exclusively from Finca El Norte, a 2.7-hectare vineyard in Rioja Alavesa planted on clay-limestone soils where layers of limestone lie just 50 cm beneath the surface. At 720 metres of altitude, it is one of the highest sites in Rioja, giving cooler nights, slower ripening and exceptional natural freshness. The vineyard is worked according to organic principles, with great emphasis on biodiversity—flowers are planted among the vines to encourage the roots to delve deeper in search of water, concentrating flavour and reinforcing the wine’s distinct character. Harvesting is done entirely by hand, with strict selection in the vineyard and at the winery. After careful destemming, fermentation takes place with close temperature control to preserve aromatic purity, followed by 14 months of ageing in French oak barrels, which lend structure and complexity without overshadowing the fruit or the expression of terroir.

Food & Serving
Pujanza Norte 2017 is a superb partner for refined yet flavourful dishes: think grilled or roasted lamb, ribeye steak, Iberian pork presa, game birds, or slow-braised beef cheeks. It also pairs beautifully with dishes featuring mushrooms, roasted root vegetables, truffle, and aged hard cheeses such as Manchego, Comté or Pecorino. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for optimal expression. Decanting is recommended—around 1–2 hours before serving when young—to allow the aromas to fully open and the tannins to soften, especially if enjoyed within the first few years of release.

Producer
Bodegas Pujanza is the vision of Carlos San Pedro, a meticulous winegrower who represents the new wave of Rioja Alavesa producers focused on vineyard expression and top-tier quality. Based in Laguardia, one of Rioja’s most celebrated subzones, the estate works primarily with high-altitude, limestone-rich vineyards, crafting wines that emphasise purity of fruit, freshness and a clear sense of place. Carlos and his team are known for their almost obsessive attention to vineyard management and continuous quality improvements, a philosophy that has earned Pujanza consistently high scores—often well above 90 points—from influential critics such as Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and the Guía Peñín. Pujanza Norte, together with Cisma, stands among the flagship reds of the estate, while the winery’s whites have been recognised by Decanter and Tim Atkin as some of the very best in Spain, cementing Bodegas Pujanza’s reputation as a benchmark modern producer in Rioja.

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