Espilako Xuria - Paul Carricaburu 2019
Domaine Espila (Espilako Xuria) is located in Ascarat, in the Iroulégy vineyard in the French Basque Country. An agricultural engineer by training, Paul Carricaburu returned to Ascarat in 2004 after several years in Africa, to revive the family farm thanks to the wine of Irouléguy. From 2008 to 2013, he planted several small plots of Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Petit Courbu vines; three plots of 0.3 hectares and one plot of 0.5 hectares. He offers his first vintage in 2018, also cultivates cereals, legumes, oleaginous fruits and breeds small horses from the Basque country. The vineyard has been managed in organic farming since 2016, certified since the 2019 vintage.
This first cuvée is composed of Petit Manseng (70%) cultivated on sandstone and clay-limestone terroirs, Petit Courbu (20%) cultivated on a clay-limestone soil, and Gros Manseng (10%) cultivated on a terroir of Keuper's ophite. The grape varieties are vinified in stainless steel vats and the aging is carried out on fine lees.
Grape varieties: 70% Petit Manseng, 20% Petit Courbu, 10% Gros Manseng
