Kalamity 2017

“Oxer is a very exciting new project using old vine parcels from the Rioja Alavesa. This stunning white comes from a 96-year-old, one-hectare parcel in Elvillar and is a blend of Viura with 3% Malvasia, aged is used French oak. It’s a modern/traditional cross over style, with citrus peel, aniseed and nutmeg notes and good grip and depth.”.

TIM ATKIN, MW

Young Soul

Oxer always wanted to make wines in La Rioja Alavesa and in 2005 he moves to Laguardia convinced of the uniqueness of the area. In  2009 he makes his first wine with grapes purchased from the growers in the area (grapes from old vineyards). The experiment succeeds. He falls in love with this  region and its stunning vineyards. Oxer then decides this is the place where he wants to settle and further express the art of winemaking. Relatively new to the region, but already enjoying national and international recognition.

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Old Vineyards 

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Convinced of their singularity, Oxer invests each cent earned in buying old plots. Artillero is one of these beauties: 98 years old, located in Elvillar  (La Rioja Alavesa) at 600 metres altitude and creator of the white Iraun and red Artillero. This is only just the beginning. Oxer is in continuous search for old jewels. A visionary man with a plan: achieving immortality of his wines.  

Eye for quality and detail

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The vineyards in La Rioja Alavesa are worked organically following the principle of regenerative agriculture. Man and mule work the land with great care and respect for the old vines. Different kinds of European oak are being selected for each and every single wine, and barrels and foudres are tailor-made accordingly (Francis and Stockinger). Even naming and labelling are carried out with minute detail for meaning and symbolism, expressing oxer´s universe.

Elegance, freshness and refinement

All the meticulous work in vineyard and winery culminates in extremely fresh and elegant wines. These are the characteristics Oxer strives for in all his wines. 
Old vines, only natural acidity by picking early, little extraction, spontaneous fermentation and fermentation and ageing in a mix of vessels (stainless steel tanks, concrete egg, amphorae, foudres and oak barrels different sizes) all contribute to achieving this fine wine profile.

​“Wines to drink and to store.  All human wisdom for the soft scent of wine”  OMAR KHAYYAM

DOCa Rioja

Varieties: 50% Tempranillo, 47% Garnacha, 2% Viura, 1% Garnacha Blanca

Production: 1.200 bottles

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KALAMITY was first made from the 2014 vintage and released in 2016. The idea is to bring together various grape varieties and different subregions (Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa) in one wine.

Vineyards

A vineyard of 3ha located in Cárdenas (Rioja Alta) at 580 metres altitude, dating back to 1903. Iron-rich clay soil.
A 96 year old vineyard of 1 ha located in Elvillar (Rioja Alavesa) at 600 metres altitude. Calcareous clay soil.

Winemaking

The best grapes from each plot are selected and vinified separately in 500 litre French oak barrels, using indigenous yeasts. After 12 months of ageing the blend is being decided.

Character

Kalamity shows an array of aroma´s, from red fruit to animal notes and from violets to truffle. These aroma´s will develop into even more complexity in the coming years. A wine with enormous length and minerality. 

What's in a name

The eye-catching name and label express Oxer´s love for Shakespeare. ¨Honi soit qui mal y pense¨ (Shame be to him who thinks evil of it) comes from the play ´The Reign of King Edward the Third´..

Analysis

Alcohol 14%

pH 3,48
Total acidity (in tartaric acid) 6,4 g/l

Acknowledgements

Kalamity 2015: 95 points (Guía Peñin 2019)
Kalamity 2015: 94 points (Robert Parker 2018)
Kalamity 2015: 95 points - Tim Atkin MW Rioja 2018 Special Report
Kalamity 2014: 93 points (Robert Parker 2016)
Kalamity 2014: 92 points - Tim Atkin MW Rioja 2017 Special Report
Kalamity 2014: 93 points – James Suckling 2016