Irouleguy Rouge Tradition ARRETXEA 2022

Irouleguy Rouge Tradition ARRETXEA, biodynamic wine, Basque wine, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, full, robust, savoury and delicious.  The Irouleguy Rouge Tradition ARRETXEA is a cement-aged Tannat-based red, given fragrance by its Cabernet partners. Fascinating aromas abound of forest fruits allied to sous-bois (undergrowth), fern and tea. The wine is elegant and fine on the palate with delicious acidity. These are wines of real purity, depth in both colour and body and terroir, leave open a couple of hours before drinking with serious red meat grilled over the coals.

Michel Riouspeyrous is a native Basque. He met his Alsatian wife Thérèse while on a charity mission to Africa. On their return to France they got married and decided to start their own domaine by renting two hectares of vineyards. Domaine Arretxea was born in 1989. Arretxea (from the Basque word 'arre' meaning stone and 'xea' meaning house) is a small six-hectare domaine entirely planted on south-facing terraces in the heart of the region, a stones throw from the Spanish border. Michel and Thérèse practise organic viticulture throughout their vineyard & use biodynamics in particular on the plot where they grow white grapes. All the wines focus on promoting the terroir and the unique flavours of the local grapes, Tannat for reds, Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng and Petit Corbu for whites.