Oxer Tartalo 2019
Oxer Tartalo has notable structure and elegant flavours. Black cherry, bramble and black plum fruit interlay with rustic leather tones, thyme and sweet spices. Pronounced yet velvety tannins on the palate, which closes in an enormously long and chalky finish.
Fun Fact: The name Tartalo comes from the enormously strong one-eyed giant in ancient Basque mythology. The quote on the back label is from the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch: "From my rotting body flowers shall grow and I am in them and that is eternity".
87% Tempranillo, 10% Viura and 3% Graciano.
The fruit comes from low-yielding vines in Somo, a 0.7 hectare vineyard in Elvillar (Rioja Alavesa) that dates from the year 1920. The vineyard sits at 600 metres altitude and is made up of calcareous clay soil with a high limestone content.
Handpicking and destemming of the grapes. Fermentation in 1,000L open vat and barrels using indigenous yeast. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French barriques and 600L Stockinger barrels. The wine then ages in oak for 12 months.