2022 Txomin Etxaniz, Getaria Bianco, D.O. Getariako Txakolina, Spain.
The light bodied, pure and zingy Txomin Etxaniz Basque white, from the classic Getariako Txakolina coastal region southwest of San Sebastian on Spain’s cool Atlantic side, is slightly spritzy, refreshing and exceptionally bone dry with loads of lime citrus and steely mineral tones, making it perfect for Summer sipping and great with shellfish and especially oysters and clams. The Txomin Etxaniz vineyards and winery are located in Getaria, the heart and soul of txakoli wine with its history and tradition being a marriage of the land and sea. This remote region is all about txakoli and fishing, which lthrives together in, what the winery says, perfect harmony, and represent their essence, authentic character and personality. The Txomin Etxaniz winery is owned and was founded by the Txueka family, who have deep roots in the D.O. Getariako Txakolina, dating back to 1649, and they have been instrumental in the promotion of the region and upping the quality here. This latest offering from Txomin Etxaniz is delicious stuff and I highly recommend chasing a few bottles down and enjoying them over the next year or so. After the first sip, there’s additional brisk tart peach, melon and quince fruits, to go with a main citrus core and delicate aromatics, saline and light herbal notes.
The Txomin Etxaniz Txakolina is made with 100% Hondarrabi Zuri grapes that see an inox, all stainless steel, cool temperature controlled fermentation and short aging process to promote the renown clarity and crisp details that are highlight this region’s white wines. During this process the wine captures CO2 and the wine gets it effervescent zestiness, that adds to the racy and energy driven profile that we all love about Getariako Txakolina white wines. For generations, Txomin Etxaniz has existed here in the Txakoli zone, making it one of the go to properties in the region and a go to label for quality. The Txueka’s, led by Iñaki Txueka, helped lead the efforts back in 1980s to establish the regions official recognition, which finally got its own D.O. in 1989, which has become one of Spain’s most exciting spots for unique and distinctive wines. The Txueka family, as noted by their US importer Chambers and Chambers, exclusively uses the indigenous Hondarrabi Zuri (white) and Hondarrabi Beltza (red) grapes, with vines that were planted between 1915 and 2000 on pergolas and terraced trellises, just over a hundred yards from the Ocean. These Txakolina wines, which are, ultra pale, low alcohol, with this one coming in at barley 11%, and bright with acidity, all of which make them mouthwatering good, with Txomin Etxaniz and their wines, including this one and their Rosé, being a great examples of place, are good way to discover this part of Spain.
($25 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive