Oxer Bastegieta Rioja Garnacha Suzzane 2018

94 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): “The varietal Garnacha red 2018 Suzzane refers to Leonard Cohen’s song of the same name and is an ode to women. It was produced with grapes from three hectares of 117-year-old vines in the zone of Cárdenas, where the soils are red and have a lot of iron. It fermented in a combination of concrete and oak vats and 500-liter barrels with 20% full clusters and indigenous yeasts followed by malolactic in concrete and foudre and 12 months’ aging in 500-liter barrels and a Stockinger foudre. This wine has nothing to do with past vintages, when I found too prominent oak. Here, the oak is perfectly integrated and neatly folded into the delicate Garnacha fruit, coming through as delicate and floral (violets). It’s nicely textured, velvety and very pure. The wine is tasty and has bright flavors, and it has light, great persistence and length, with some extra structure from the stems. 4,600 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2019. Drink: 2020-2028. (Oct 2020)”

93 points Tim Atkin, MW: “(14.5%). Suzzane – and yes, that’s the correct spelling – is inspired by Leonard Cohen but also springs from Oxer Bastegieta’s fecund imagination. Made from a three hectare parcel of Grenache planted in Cardenas in 1903, it’s dense and full-bodied with clove spice from 20% whole bunches, a hint of oak and floral bramble and blueberry fruit. The acidity drives the finish. 2023-30. (2021)”