2021 Domaine Arretxea Irouleguy Blanc - Hegoxuri

Irouleguy is an appellation in extreme southwest France, in the Pyrenees Mountains and right on the border with Spain. It’s almost as close to Pamplona as it is to Biarritz. This is French Basque Country, ethnically and historically connected with El País Vasco in Spain. It is a land of steep, terraced vineyards, interesting local grape varieties both red and white, and a wine tradition dating back at least to the Middle Ages, when thirsty pilgrims passed through on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Unfortunately there aren’t (yet) a lot of quality-minded wine producers in Irouleguy, which is one reason that we don’t see a lot of the wines here in the U.S. Thérese & Michel Riouspeyrous sought to change that when they founded Domaine Arretxea in 1989. Their farming is certified organic and biodynamic; fermentations are indigenous. 

'Hegoxuri' ('southern white' in Basque) is a blend of 55% gros manseng, 25% petit manseng, and 20% petit courbu. It comes from two parcels, one of schist and the other sandstone. It fermented and was aged in a combination of 600-liter barriques and 1200-liter foudres for 10 months. About a third of the juice was macerated with the skins for 18 hours. The redolent nose suggests orchard fruits and a hint of tropical fruit - not as richness, but as depth. There is a lemony and stony character not unlike Chablis, but also a texture and breadth that wouldn’t be out of place in great chenin blanc from the Loire. The palate is deep, complex, and long. Drink it in a large stem with grilled fish, roasted chicken or game birds, or a cheese course. It’s also a wine worth aging for up to a decade.