Deep ruby color; cherry, black tea, spice, vanilla, cedar on the nose; cherry—both dried and sour, blackberry, plum, roasted tomato, oak on the palate.
Dry; reserved, balanced tannin and acidity (3.60 pH). Dusty, with some earthiness, in the mouth. Nicely red-wine focused with impressive length. Blend of 95% tempranillo, 5% mazuelo, garnacha, and viura. The vines are more than 60 years old and distributed across north-south facing slopes with exposure to both sun and wind. 14.5% ABV
Grapes were harvested, destemmed, and crushed, then cold-soaked for nine days to emphasize color and varietal characteristics. After alcoholic fermentation, 100% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in both French and American oak barrels for 64 days with weekly bâttonages. Aged two years in 80% American and 20% French oak. Racked four times during aging.
Torre de Oña traces its roots to 1890 when five Riojan and Basque families founded the Sociedad Vinícola de La Rioja Alta. A woman, Doña Saturnina García Cid y Gárate was the first president. In 1904, Don Alfredo Ardanza, a La Rioja Alta founder, merged his Ardanza Winery into the operation. In 1941, the company settled upon it present name, La Rioja Alta, S.A. The group celebrated its 100th birthday in 1990 with plantings for a new winery, Áster. In 2015, Top Merchant picked Bodegas Áster’s Finca El Otero as the best wine in the world. In 2019, Wine Spectator selected La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 as one of the best wines in the world.
Torre de Oña Finca Martelo Rioja Reserva 2015 is mouth-filling with rich, dark fruits. Parade of plum, blackberry, dark cherries. Admirably long finish; a quality wine. Quality effort from a storied maker in Rioja. Pair with beef, especially braised and roasted meats; lamb; veal; cured sausages; poultry; lasagna; pizza; Mexican food–tacos, nachos, chile rellenos. Cheese—manchego. $33-40
