2023 Arretxea, Irouleguy Blanc, Gres

Domaine Arretxea is a benchmark estate in the Irouléguy appellation of the French Basque Country, founded in 1989 by Michel and Thérèse Riouspeyrous. The estate’s vineyards are planted on steep, terraced slopes of iron-rich red sandstone known locally as grès, where they farm using biodynamic principles to maintain the health of their vines. This wine is made from a blend of Petit Courbu, Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng, offering a profile of quince, apricot, and pineapple with a broad texture and a distinct saline backbone. The 2023 vintage benefited from favorable autumn conditions, which supported full ripening while allowing the fruit to maintain its inherent tension and structural precision. With its balance of stone fruit richness and mineral energy, this wine is ready to enjoy tonight but possesses the poise to evolve further in the cellar.