Grès white Irouléguy 2024 Arretxea | Southwest

Description: Grès white Irouléguy 2024 | Arretxea

The Arretxea estate is one of the leading producers inthe Irouléguy appellation, located in the heart of the French Basque Country at the foot of the Pyrenees. With Grès 2024, it offers a white wine sourced from plots with distinctive soils that give it its unique character. Long committed to environmentally responsible viticulture, the estate has been certified organic since 1998 and also practices biodynamic farming. This meticulous approach helps preserve the richness of the soils and fully express the character of this terroir in southwestern France.

Terroir and Grape Varieties

The Grès cuvée takes its name from the red sandstone soil, rich in iron oxide, which imparts a distinctive minerality. Facing west-southwest, the vines benefit from moderate sun exposure, which helps preserve the freshness of the aromas. The blend combines equal parts of 50% Petit Manseng and 50% Gros Manseng: the former brings liveliness and tension, while the latter adds roundness and body. Together, they create a dry white wine of beautiful complexity.

Viticulture and Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand to select the best ones, followed by fermentation in 1,200-liter oak casks. The wine is then aged there for 10 months, a choice that preserves the fruit’s freshness while developing its finesse. Finally, it rests for one year in the bottle before release, to achieve greater balance and fully reveal its aromas.

Grès white Irouléguy 2024 | Arretxea: The Sommelier’s Review

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin

Arretxea’s Grès is one of the most remarkable dry whites from Irouléguy, an appellation best known for its reds and rosés. It stands out for its minerality, which stems from the red sandstone soils and gives it a very distinctive character. This white wine can be enjoyed now, but a few years of aging will allow its aromas and complexity to develop further. To fully appreciate it, it is recommended to serve it at 11°C in attractive glasses.

The Nose

The nose opens with notes of fresh citrus, pear, and slightly candied apricot, accompanied by a delicate floral touch. A mineral note, reminiscent of stone and iron, rounds out the profile. The wine thus offers a fresh and balanced profile, without any heaviness.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is fresh and lively, with good body and acidity that lends it length. Its texture remains refined and balanced, blending the roundness of Gros Manseng with the freshness of Petit Manseng. The finish is long and marked by a lovely minerality, reflecting its terroir.

Irouléguy: Everything You Need to Know About This Appellation

The Irouléguy appellation is the only wine appellation in the French Basque Country. Located at the foot of the Pyrenees, it is characterized by its steep slopes and varied soils, composed primarily of red sandstone, schist, and clay-limestone. Its climate, influenced by both the ocean and the mountains, favors limited yields and wines with a distinct character. The whites are made from Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, and Courbu. Rarely found on the market, they stand out for their freshness and beautiful expression of the terroir.

Le Grès d’Arretxea holds a unique position, thanks to its distinctive soil, precise exposure, and aging in large oak casks, which preserves the expression of the terroir. This white wine from Irouléguy combines depth and freshness, with aging potential that will allow it to gain complexity over the years.