Artadi 'Izar-Leku' Sparkling Hondarribi Zuri 2018

The Land

The Izar-Leku sparkling wine is born from vineyards located in the seacoast town of Zarautz in the Basque Country, Spain. The vines are perched above the ocean on raised trellises, growing on clay soils streaked with slate and basalt. This coastal location provides the ideal conditions for growing the Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza grapes used in this wine, resulting in a ripping acidity and saline expression. This is a project created by the Artadi family, drawing on their long winemaking history in Rioja, and showing an important cultural link.

The Wine

This 2018 traditional-method sparkler is a blend of 92% Hondarribi Zuri and 8% Hondarribi Beltza, aged for 30 months on its lees after the secondary fermentation. The resulting wine is a bone-dry, zero-dosage expression, with a fascinating and complex aromatic profile. Expect abundant yeasty aromas, a noticeable saline note, and a clean, delicate texture with abundant bubbles. The palate is vibrant and lively, driven by a high acidity and a long, persistent finish. The combination of the coastal site and extended lees aging provides an incredible amount of depth and complexity.

The People

The Izar-Leku project is a collaboration between Artadi's López de Lacalle family and grower Inaxio Manterola. It represents a desire to exploring the terroir of the Basque Country and to producing high-quality traditional-method sparkling wines that seek to show the best of this unique region. This project highlights the pursuit of purity, finesse, and depth, while also remaining true to the style and the character of the grape and location.