Inazio Urruzola Txakolina Naturala Hernio 2020

Region: Getariako, Spain

Grape Varieties: 90% Hondarrabi Zuri & 10% Gros Manseng

The cold and windy northern coast of Spain is home to the Basque country and their most famous wine Txakolina. Typically this low alcohol, searing white wine is the perfect complement to seafood, but Inazio pushed the limits of the region to craft a world class example that looks more like Savennières meets Chablis than classic Txakolina.

For this rare cuvée the family farms a specific, high elevation plot on Mount Hernio using organic practices. This small parcel is allowed to ripen more than others, allowing the grapes to reach higher levels of sugar. In addition to the classic Hondarrabi Zuri they also use 10% Gros Manseng, which adds extra aromatic dimension and texture. The whole clusters are pressed to tank and the must is fermented using only wild yeast. Once dry the wine is allowed to develop in tank for a full year, then bottled without sulfur and held an additional 6 months in bottle. The result is a wine far richer than typical Txakolina, but with the classic laser focus you know of these bottlings.

When you open this wine you will want to decant it to allow the full complexity of the bouquet to develop. The nose is an exotic combination of bees wax, orange blossom honey, bruised pears, vanilla wafers and sea spray. When you take a sip it begins shockingly round and textured for this category but then the tight core of minerality that rises late and carries into the finish. Drink 2025-2026 with shrimp in garlic sauce or seared swordfish with capers and lemon.