2016 Artadi Artazu Pasos de San Martín Red

(92 Points) Surprisingly enough, I found more Mediterranean notes of herbs, oregano and sun-dried tomato in the 2016 Pasos de San Martín than in the 2017 Santa Cruz de Artazu, despite the cooler vintage and the cooler zone in San Martín de Unx. This had a short élevage of only seven months in 500-liter French oak barrels, and the oak feels very integrated, with the wine coming through as floral and fruit driven. There is always an acute note of violets in this wine. This is nicely textured with fine-grained chalky tannins and more freshness on the palate than what the notes in the nose might point at.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate