Txomin Etxaniz 2022
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James
Suckling -
Wine
Spectator
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Made up almost entirely of Hondarrabi Zuri, with the remaining Hondarrabi Beltza, the grapes come from Ametz Mendi and a handful of other historic vineyards within Getaria of Getariako Txakolina DO. The vines were planted from 1915 to 2000 upon beds of sandy, chalky loam. The winery sorts and selects for the healthiest grapes. Following a cold maceration, the grapes are destemmed and pressed in a closed pneumatic press. The fermentation is done by selected indigenous yeast and is maintained at very low temperatures to retain some dissolved CO2. The wine ages for six months in stainless steel sur lie before bottling.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Tangy and incisive nose full of chalk and lime citrus. Fresh and bright on the palate with a subtle, smart sweetness that balances the high, bright acidity.
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Wine Spectator
A minerally white, with generous flint and saline underscoring the ripe, juicy white cherry, tangerine and pear fruit and accents of verbena and fresh tarragon. Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza.
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Txomin Etxaniz is owned and was founded by the Txueka family. One of the most historic and important families in this region, there is primary source documentation proving that the family has been producing wine near the town of Getaria since 1649, around when the town was founded.
In 1980, Iñaki Txueka started a movement with the goal of revitalizing Txacoli from Getaria and was a leader in the foundation of the official D.O. Getariako Txakolina in 1989.
The Txueka family currently works exclusively with the indigenous varieties of Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza, planted between 1915 and 2000 on pergolas and terraced trellises. The slopes that the vines are planted on are incredibly steep, so where pergolas cannot be used, the family plants on trellis. The winery and vineyards are only located 100m from the Atlantic, so precipitation levels are extremely high. The must is fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeast at very low temperatures to retain a small quantity of dissolved CO2. The resulting wines are beautifully refreshing, high acid white wines that pair flawlessly with seafood.
There are hundreds of white grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles.
On the southern edge of the rocky Bay of Biscay in northern Spain, this is Basque country and home to the refreshing and slightly effervescent (usually) white wine, Txakoli. Three subregions compose the larger one: Getariako Txakolina, Bizkaiko Txakolina and Arabako Txakolina. While Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza are the main grape varieties, other French varieties are scattered throughout the region.