🇪🇸 Ozu by Otazu Chardonnay 2023

Unoaked Chardonnay that actually has a point of view: bright, clean, and quietly textured. Straight out of D.O. Navarra, from Otazu’s own estate vineyards, with a little lees magic for extra glow. 

Wine Description 

Ozu by Otazu Chardonnay 2023 is 100% Chardonnay from Señorío de Otazu, an estate near Pamplona that treats wine like a full sensory experience, not a spreadsheet. This bottling stays in stainless steel and spends three months on its lees, so you get freshness with a soft, not-tryhard roundness. 

If you want the vibe of “crisp white” but with a little more body and a cleaner finish than most, this is your move. It’s built around fruit and lift, not oak and cosplay. 

Also, the label is inspired by Manolo Valdés’ “Ariadna”, because Otazu is obsessed with the crossover of wine and art and honestly, same. 

Vine-to-Table: Meet the Winemaker 

Enrique Basarte is Otazu’s Technical Director, brought in to strengthen the winery’s research-driven focus on terroir. He’s an Agronomical Engineering graduate (University of Navarra), trained in oenology at the University of La Rioja, and rounded it out with additional study in Burgundy and Bordeaux, plus he previously led the creation and positioning of Navarra’s Domaines Lupier. 

The Vibe 

Weeknight-flex white that still behaves at the table: polished, fresh, and quietly confident. Think “I showed up clean, not loud” energy, the kind of bottle that disappears faster than the group chat can pick a restaurant.

What it tastes like

Lemony-bright and clean, with floral notes and white-fruit character (pear is a recurring theme), then a palate that feels a bit fuller than you expect, finishing fresh and fruity. It’s friendly, not syrupy, and it keeps its balance because the acidity shows up to do its job. 

Pairing + When to drink it 

Bring it to seafood, grilled or baked fish, and white meats when you want a white that won’t get bullied by the food. It also plays very nicely with rice dishes and simply seasoned pasta, especially anything that leans Mediterranean. Drink now for peak snap and brightness. 

Quick Specs 

• Producer: Bodega Otazu (Señorío de Otazu)

• Winemaker: Enrique Basarte 

• Region/Appellation: D.O. Navarra 

• Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

• Vintage: 2023 

• Winemaking/Aging: Static settling, fermented in stainless steel with temperature control; 3 months on lees in tank

• ABV: 13.5% 

• Bottle size: 750 ml

FAQs 

Q: Why does Ozu by Otazu use “Ariadna” on the label, and what’s the Dionysus connection?
A: Otazu says the Ozu range label is inspired by “Ariadna” by artist Manolo Valdés, tying the wines to a myth where Ariadne and Dionysus fall in love. They even reference Enopion, the figure linked to bringing winemaking techniques down to Earth. 

Q: Who is Enrique Basarte, and what did Otazu bring him in to do?
A: Otazu hired Enrique Basarte as Technical Director to reinforce the winery’s technical team and deepen its terroir research. His background includes Agronomical Engineering at the University of Navarra, enology training at the University of La Rioja, and additional study in Burgundy and Bordeaux. 

Q: Where are the vineyards for Ozu by Otazu Chardonnay 2023, and what kind of climate is this?
A: Bodeboca describes the vineyards as north–south oriented and located in the Pamplona basin, with a continental climate influenced by the Atlantic. Translation: you can get brightness and tension without the wine feeling skinny. 

Q: What does “3 months on lees” actually mean in this wine’s case?
A: Otazu states the wine stays in contact with its own lees for three months before bottling, and Bodeboca specifies that as aging on lees in tank. That’s a classic way to build texture and mouthfeel without leaning on oak. 

Q: Is this a big industrial site, or more of a parcel-driven estate?
A: Bodeboca notes 110 hectares divided into 30 parcels, typically 1–5 hectares each. That setup makes it easier to pick and choose lots and keep the wine consistent without flattening the character. 

Q: How close is Otazu to Pamplona, and why do people talk about it as wine-plus-art?
A: Otazu describes the winery as located just 8 km from Pamplona and positions the experience as an overlap of contemporary art, culture, and wine. It’s not just a tasting room, it’s an entire aesthetic.