Astobiza Malkoa 2018

Astobiza is a winery in the village of Okondo in Álava, working within the Txakolí de Álava appellation in the Basque Country. Txakoli is typically a young, low-alcohol white with sharp acidity, but this Malkoa bottling takes a different path: the wine is aged for twenty-two months in old stone fermentation tanks known as lagares, a long élevage that gives it more weight and complexity than the everyday style. The grape is Hondarrabi Zuri, the region's signature white variety, grown in a cool, wet Atlantic climate where sea influence and steady rainfall keep the fruit fresh and the natural acidity high. The extended time in stone, with its slow contact between wine and spent lees, builds texture and a savoury depth while the neutral vessel adds no oak flavour, and a degree of gentle oxidative handling adds nutty complexity without dulling the fruit. The result is pale straw, with green apple, lemon and a distinct saline, stony character on the nose. The palate is dry and textured, the lees weight carried by bright acidity and a briny, mineral finish that reflects the maritime setting. Serve well chilled at 8 to 10 degrees. It is made for the sea: anchovies, grilled fish and shellfish.