Bodegas Señorío de Arana, Viña del Oja Rioja Tinto, 2023

Grapes

Tempranillo

Vintage report

The 2023 growing season in Rioja was shaped above all by heat and drought, continuing a pattern that has become increasingly familiar across northern Spain. A dry winter gave way to a warm spring and a summer that pushed temperatures to uncomfortable levels across much of the region, stressing vines and concentrating sugars rapidly. Yields were down in many areas, and growers had to pick their moment carefully — those who waited too long risked losing freshness, while those who moved early captured real precision. The result was a harvest of relatively small, thick-skinned berries with good natural structure.

What came out of the cellar leans rich and full, with Tempranillo producing wines of real depth and firm tannin — not a vintage for those after something light-footed and immediately giving. Garnacha, particularly from older high-altitude vines, performed well, holding onto acidity where the flatland fruit struggled. Across the board, this is a vintage that rewards patience. The top Reservas and Gran Reservas are worth leaving alone until at least 2027 or 2028; the better Crianzas are drinking well now with food.