Getariako Txakolina Inazio Urruzola Txakolina Blanco 2018

Alana L rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Txakoli… Just the name brings me straight back to Spain’s Basque country and to memorable evenings in San Sebastian’s pintxos bars (and to both the unique way they serve it, poured from a bottle held high into small glasses creating bubbles, and the unique ‘price per toothpick’ pintxos payment system many of them use!).

This typically low-alcohol (frequently below 11% abv), fresh, bright, dry, mineral and (usually, though not always) slightly effervescent wine is made from a majority of indigenous grapes (hondarrabi zuri and / or hondarrabi beltza) mixed with smaller percentages of other varietals. Wines from the Getariako subregion, where this wine is from, come from the area surrounding San Sebastian.

Harder to find outside of the Basque region (over 80% of the production is consumed locally leaving little for export), it’s a delightful warm-weather wine that is just begging for a terrace – close your eyes and you’re transported directly to a warm Mediterranean beach!

Steeped in history (the winery is located in a 14th century estate and the winepress was built in the 16th century), Inazio Urruzola practices sustainable farming and hand harvesting.

Fermented in stainless steel at low temperatures, left on the lees for 3 to 4 weeks with daily removal, and lightly filtered, Getariako Txakolina Inazio Urruzola Txakolina Blanco 2018 is made with Made with 80% Hondarrabi Zuri, 15% Chardonnay and 5% Petit Corvou. Pale yellow-green in colour, it has tons of citrus (lemons, lime, tangerine) on the nose and palate, along with green apple, white flowers, Dry, fresh, tangy, with just a very light level of fizz, a bit of salty minerality from the coastal wind, a light body and high acidity.

It’s vibrant and refreshing and deliciously… Txakoli! Screaming out as an aperitif wine, or with fish and seafood. Beach optional. THE refreshing summer white.

David met the winemaker at Prowein and fell under the spell of his first Txakolina (with the added interest of a natural Co2 aspect to it)! Through his agency, David Francis Wine, David carries a small, but beautifully curated and original selection of wines from Italy, Spain, Moldova and Quebec. He’s chosen each one for a reason and is more than happy to share the stories behind each as well as why they made it into his offering! I was lucky enough to meet him recently and to taste through a selection of wines that reflect what he does with his young (2 years) agency: have a limited, different, high quality selection of wines at price points ranging from $15 - $45.

Cheers!