Irouléguy 2023 Arretxea | Southwest

The Irouleguy Tradition from the Arretxea wine estate is a wine that Thérèse and Michel Riouspeyrous have shaped with their own hands and in their own image. They love sun-drenched, gourmet wines. This Tradition cuvée comes from vines planted on a small corner of Basque paradise, ideally exposed to ripen the grapes. The vines are planted on terraces, providing almost identical sunshine all day long. All the vines making up the blend - Tannat, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon - have been cultivated biodynamically since 1993.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : This Irouléguy Tradition cuvée is fabulous in many ways. In particular, the different terroirs that make up the blend. The 3 grape varieties are scattered over sandstone, schist, ampelite and ophite soils. All this diversity of terroirs adds complexity to the wine and creates a real osmosis during tasting. Arretxea wines are not sulfured during winemaking, and no additives are added. Ageing takes place in concrete vats on fine lees for 18 months. This helps soften the tannins, as Tannat is a fairly tannic grape variety, hence its name.

On the nose, the wine is sunny, powerful and racy. Notes of blackcurrant, boxwood, cedar and a touch of blood come through perfectly after decanting. Decanting is not necessary beyond 4 years.

On the palate, the wine is unctuous and greedy, coating the palate from the outset. The blend of 3 grape varieties from very different soils brings remarkable balance and freshness to the whole. This is an admirably concentrated and delicious wine that is sure to please lovers of sun-drenched wines.