Oxer - Suzzane 2022

Druvor

Garnacha

Tasting note

[vintage 2020]

The Garnacha red 2020 Suzzane was quite open, a little more advanced than the other 2020s, ripe and heady but with a vibrant palate that was not consistent with the notes I found in the nose. He sent me a second bottle that I tasted at home, and the profile was completely different: floral, young and spicy with a medium body and very fine tannins, a long, dry finish and still young and energetic. There are only 2,000 bottles. In 2020, the Garnacha had lower yields because of poor flower settling and some hail. On hold. It was bottled in September of 2021.

There are three new reds from Oxer in Rioja, a revamped white and a new wine from a project in Toro. I mainly tasted wines from 2020, a vintage that he likes. They are floral and mineral with good acidity and moderate alcohol, which Bastegieta defines as a very elegant year, with similar acidity to 2018. In fact, the wines follow the line of the 2018 but are more elegant, with silkier tannins, beautiful textures and vibrant freshness. He feels the work with the soils is helping to fix the pH in the wines; he uses cover crops, because he thinks they give the wines a different structure. He works using organic methods and uses biodynamical preparations, but he doesn't have or seek any kind of certification.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

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• Suzzane 2020: 93 points – Wine Advocate
• Suzzane 2018: 94 points – Wine Advocate
• Suzzane 2016: 92 points – Wine Advocate
• Suzzane 2015: 93 points – Wine Advocate
• Suzzane 2014: 91 points – Wine Advocate

DOCa Rioja

Varieties: 100% Garnacha

Production: 3.000 bottles.

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SUZZANE expresses perfectly the characteristics that Garnacha offers us in Riojan soils. Moreover does it reflect the respect we have for the old vineyards of the region.

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Vineyard

A vineyard of 3ha located in Cárdenas (Rioja Alta) at 580 metres altitude, dating back to 1903. It has an iron-rich clay soil with over 10% of rocks and gives low yields of 2000 kg per hectare. The various parcels this vineyard is comprised of show small differences which add to the complexity of the wine.

Winemaking

Fermentation takes place in 500 litre new and used (50/50) French oak barrels, using indigenous yeasts. During malolactic fermentation bâtonnage is carried once a week during 6 months. The wine is then racked and aged for approximately 12 months in the same 500 litre French oak barrels.

Character

Suzzane is a very elegant wine. The seductive velvet texture is balanced by juicy acidity and softly gripping tannins. Aroma´s of cherry, berry and kirsch, spicy flavours such as cinnamon, and some leathery notes. All leading to a lingering mineral aftertaste. 

What's in a name

Suzzane refers to Leonard Cohen´s song Suzanne and is an ode to women. Elegance is key in this wine.

Analysis

Alcohol 14,5%

Total acidity (in tartaric acid) 6,18 g/l

Acknowledgements

Suzzane 2015: 93 points – Guía Peñin 2019
Suzzane 2015: 93 points - Robert Parker 2018
Suzzane 2015: 93 points - Tim Atkin MW Rioja 2018 Special Report
Suzzane 2014: 91 points - Robert Parker 2016
Suzzane 2014: 93 points - Tim Atkin MW Rioja 2017 Special Report
Suzzane 2014: 92 points - James Suckling 2016
Suzzane 2013: 95 points, Outstanding - Decanter March 2017 (Best Premium Riojas)