Oxer Ahari 2023

Oxer Bastegieta is a young Basque winemaker working in D.O.Ca. Rioja with a focus on old-school viticulture and minimal intervention. Ahari, named after a ram-shaped elf from Basque folklore, is built around Tempranillo with a portion of Graciano and a little white Viura, the latter co-fermented to add lift and freshness. The vineyards sit on calcareous clay soils, and the cool nights and old-vine fruit give a wine with bright acidity and savoury depth rather than weight. Organic farming keeps yields modest and the fruit clean. After fermentation the wine spends twelve months in oak barrels, where gentle oxygen exchange rounds the tannins and adds a cedar and spice frame while the fruit and minerality stay clear. The colour is medium ruby. The nose shows red cherry and wild berry over dried herbs, crushed pepper and a leathery, earthy note. The palate is medium bodied and finely structured, with fresh acidity, fine grainy tannins and a long, savoury mineral finish. Serve at 16 degrees, decanting briefly. It is a natural partner for roast and grilled meats and earthy vegetable dishes.