Oxer Bastegieta Kalamity White 2023

The Wine Advocate
RP 95

Luis Gutiérrez: The expressive and spicy Kalamity White 2023 was made from white varieties—Viura, Calagraño, Torrontés, Malvasía Riojana, Maturana Blanca, and Garnacha Blanca—that are interplanted with the red grapes used to make the original Kalamity red. It is well-ripened, with 13.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.4, and has a dry, chalky finish. It remains very youthful and marked by its 10 months of aging in 600-liter oak barrels, in the Burgundy style, imparting notes of yeast and smoke, as well as white fruits, pollen, and spices. It has a medium-bodied palate with pure, vibrant, and savory flavors. A wine to cellar. A total of 3,100 bottles were produced. Bottling took place in September 2024.

The highly creative Oxer Bastegieta continues to release new wines and labels full of personality, including, in this case, two new Riojas inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. In addition to his Rioja line, I also tasted one of his Txakoli and a red produced in Toro. And there’s more to come, as he has acquired new vineyards and plans to plant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir! In Rioja, he owns 11.3 hectares, 6.8 hectares in Bizkaiko Txakolina and 2.5 hectares in Toro. Despite the diversity of labels, production remains relatively small, at around 65,000 bottles.