En Voz Baja Nace La Sierra 2023

En Voz Baja farms several hectares of long-held family vineyards in Yasa de las Cuevas, near Calahorra in Rioja Oriental, the warmest part of Rioja. Carlos Mazo runs the estate now, replanting Garnacha on vertical trellising alongside the traditional Tinto Velasco and the rare local white Calagraño grown here for generations. The warm, dry climate of the eastern zone ripens Garnacha fully and gives ripe, fruit-forward reds, while the field-blend approach adds complexity from the older local varieties. The 2023 is aged eleven months in French oak, where slow oxygen exchange through the wood softens the tannins and adds a light spice frame without burying the fruit. Farmed organically, it keeps a fresh, direct character. The colour is bright red and the nose shows ripe red berries, plum and cherry with black pepper and dried herbs. The palate is medium bodied and supple, with soft tannin, good acidity and an earthy, savoury finish. Serve at 16C in a Burgundy glass. It is a good all-rounder with roast and grilled meats.