Gaintza Txacholina White Wine 2019 , Basque Country, Northern Spain

Their flagship and eponymous white 2019 Txakolina is the classical tapas (locally known a pintxos) Txakoli, fresh and with a slight spritz that provides even more freshness. It's produced with 85% Hondarribi Zuri and 15% Gros Manseng grapes from limestone and clay soils with a granite mother rock, and it has 11.6% alcohol and a touch of sugar to compensate the acidity. In a healthy year like 2019, they didn't need to add any yeast for the fermentation. It has textbook herbal, citrus and green apple aromas. If I had to show someone what a textbook traditional Txakoli is like, I'd uncork this bottle. It has the austere, sharp and lightly fizzy style with citrus and green apple notes and a dry, tickling palate with an almost salty sensation in the finish. It's light and mellow, perhaps I'd like it a bit more with a touch less sugar.

Rating: 90+