Oxer Wines
Tasting Oxer Bastegieta wines is always a unique experience. Of Basque origins, in 2009 he settled in Laguardia in Rioja Alavesa where he produces a vast array of iconoclastic, personal and deeply complex wines. The approach is of the non-interventionist type, and every plot is vinified separately using different kind of vessels. With the label Marko, Oxer is also producing some wines in the Bizkaiko Txakolina appellation, in his native Kortezubi on Bizcayan coast. Very limited quantities available.
‘Marko Gure Arbasoak’
Gure Arbasoak is Basque for “our ancestors”. It represents the respect for the ancient Basque culture. 70% of the wine is fermented in 500 litre French oak barrels and foudres, and 30% in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, using indigenous yeast, the wine is aged for 9 months in contact with its lees. ripe yellow apple and pear, as well as herbaceous and floral notes. The barrel fermentation and bâtonnage add smoky and yeasty complexity as well as creamy texture. A pleasant dry and mineral finish.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Rioja Alavesa
VINTAGE: 2024
STYLE: white
GRAPE: Hondarribi Zuri Zerratia, Hondarribi Zuri, Izkiriota Txikia
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: oak, foudre
MATURATION: stainless steel
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 12.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
‘Matalaz’
Matalaz was a priest who led a popular uprising against the nobility, fighting for the interests of the peasants, but his struggle against the French army failed. He was beheaded, and his head was displayed at the entrance to the city as a warning to the people. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts in a 6,500L vat with 20% stems. Malolactic fermentation takes place in used 500L French oak barrels. The wine is then aged for 8 months in 500L barrels.
Red fruit with pronounced floral notes reminiscent of young wines from the villages of Rioja Alavesa. Pleasantly fresh acidity, elegant and long on the palate.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Rioja D.O.
VINTAGE: 2024
STYLE: red
GRAPE: Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Viura y Graciano
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: stainless steel
MATURATION: oak barrel
FILTRATION: filtered
ALCOHOL: 14%
CASE SIZE: 6
‘Suzzane’
Suzzane refers to Leonard Cohen’s song Suzanne and is an ode to women. Fermentation takes place in 500 litre used French oak barrels and concrete egg, using indigenous yeasts. The wine ages for approximately 12 months in 500 litre French oak barrels and concrete egg. The seductive velvet texture is balanced by juicy acidity and softly gripping tannins. Flavours of red cherry, bramble and plum, sweet spicy flavours such as cinnamon and cacao, tobacco and violets. All leading to a concentrated and complex aftertaste.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Rioja
VINTAGE: 2024
STYLE: red
GRAPE: Garnacha
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: French oak, concrete egg
MATURATION: French oak, concrete egg
FILTRATION: unfiltered
ALCOHOL: 14%
CASE SIZE: 6
‘Manttoni’
Destemmed and then fermented spontaneously in oak, matured in 600 liter french oak barrels. Deep black-ruby red colour. The nose is more reminiscent of Ribera del Duero, black bread, mulberry, tarragon, myrrh, juniper, sweet, heavy fir honey. Tremendous power and almost voluptuous heaviness in the berry mouth, loads of salt, sea buckthorn, sweet spiced bread with lots of orange zest and sweet cassis.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Rioja
VINTAGE: 2024
STYLE: red
GRAPE: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: French oak
MATURATION: French oak
FILTRATION: unfiltered
ALCOHOL: 14%
CASE SIZE: 6
‘Kuusu’
A vineyard of just 0.9 hectares planted in 1920 in Vilabuena del Peno (Toro appellation, north of Salamanca). Partly ungrafted vines, which is safe on sand, as phylloxera does not like sand. Destemmed and then fermented uncrushed in 1000 liter oak with natural yeast, followed by malolactic fermentation on the full lees and maturation in used 500 liter foudre, bottling after 12 months. Rich Amarena cherry with mulberry on the nose, blueberry peel, black healing earth. Rich but also incredibly fine. Sweet and sour mouth with blackcurrant acidity, cassis and a quirky mixture of elderberry
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Rioja
VINTAGE: 2024
STYLE: red
GRAPE: Tinta de Toro, Albillo
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: French oak, foudre
MATURATION: French oak, foudre
FILTRATION: unfiltered
ALCOHOL: 13%
CASE SIZE: 6
‘Tartalo’
Tartalo comes from the ancient Basque mythology, the name of an enormously strong one-eyed Basque giant. The fermentation of the hand-picked and destemmed grapes is carried out in open vat (1000 litre) and open barrels using indigenous yeast. The malolactic fermentation takes place in French barriques and in a 47mm thick Stockinger barrel of 600 litre. The wine remains in oak for 12 months for ageing. incredible structure and elegant flavours. Pronounced, fine-grained, velvety tannins balanced by flavours of black cherry, bramble and black plum. Herbal notes (thyme) and sweet spices. Rustic tones (leather) in the background. And an enourmous long and chalky finish.
Quick Facts
APPELLATION: Rioja
VINTAGE: 2024
STYLE: red
GRAPE: Tempranillo, viura, graciano
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: French oak, Barrique
MATURATION: French oak, Barrique
FILTRATION: unfiltered
ALCOHOL: 13.5%
CASE SIZE: 6