Torre de Oña Finca Martelo 2021

Torre de Oña sits in the town of Páganos in Rioja Alavesa and has been run since 1995 by La Rioja Alta, which combines traditional ageing with modernised facilities. This reserve blends Tempranillo with Garnacha Tinta, Mazuela and a little Viura, drawing on the cool Atlantic-influenced corner of Rioja where calcareous clay soils and altitude give the fruit firm acidity and freshness. The grapes are fermented and then aged for twenty-four months in French and American oak barrels. That long barrel time allows steady oxygen exchange through the staves, rounding the tannins and layering the ripe fruit with sweet spice, vanilla and a savoury complexity, while the slow evolution in wood builds the leather and dried-herb character typical of an aged Rioja. It is bright cherry red, with ripe red fruit, leather, sweet spice and a hint of dried herbs on the nose. The palate is medium to full bodied, structured and fine grained, with a long savoury finish carried by integrated oak. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanting briefly, with roast lamb, grilled beef or a plate of cured Iberian ham.