Domaine Arretxea - Irouléguy - Tradition 2017
Domaine Arretxea (which means "stone house" in Basque) is located in the town of Irouléguy, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region. It is one of the smallest vineyards in France, and the only one in the Basque country. The Estate was created in the 1990s, with the first vinification in 1993. Today, Arretxea cultivates 5 hectares of vines, in terraces and hillsides at the foot of the Jarra Mountain: 3.5 hectares of White, 4 hectares of Red and 1 hectare of Rosé. The vineyard has been certified in organic farming since 1998 and now works in biodynamics.
The cuvée Tradition is a blend of Tannat, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon harvested manually. The grapes are destemmed then fermented with natural yeasts, without inputs. The maceration lasts 3 weeks then is followed by aging in concrete tanks for about 18 months. This wine has an aging potential of 6 to 8 years, and it is advisable to decant it before tasting.
Grape varieties: Tannat, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon