Oxer Manttoni 2024

Oxer Bastegieta is a young Rioja winemaker, and Manttoni is one of his more personal reds, built around the native Tempranillo with a curated blend of Garnacha, Mazuelo, Maturana Tinta and Graciano. Each variety adds something: Garnacha brings ripe red fruit, Mazuelo and Graciano lend acidity, colour and structure, and Maturana adds dark fruit and freshness. The vineyards lie in Rioja, where clay and limestone soils and a climate caught between Atlantic and Mediterranean influences give ripe fruit with firm acidity. The wine ages ten months in oak barrels, a shorter stay that softens the tannins through slow oxygen exchange while keeping the fruit fresh and forward rather than heavily marked by wood. Farming is organic. The wine is a bright, deep ruby. The nose leads with red berries, cherry and plum over black pepper, dried herbs and a stony, earthy note. The palate is medium bodied and savoury, with fine tannins, lively acidity and a clean finish. Serve at 16 degrees. It suits roast meats, poultry and earthy dishes.