Oxer Marko Gure Arbasoak 2025

Oxer Bastegieta is a small organic grower in Kortezubi, in the D.O. Bizkaiko Txakolina in the Basque Country. Marko Gure Arbasoak is a Txakoli made from the native Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratie with a little Petit Manseng, drawn from eight plots across five hectares and hand-harvested. This is a cool, damp, Atlantic-influenced region, and that maritime climate gives Txakoli its defining freshness, high acidity and saline, coastal character. At 14 per cent this is a riper, more serious style than most Txakoli, and the small amount of aromatic Petit Manseng adds stone fruit and lift. Three months in oak barrel is the point of difference: rather than adding obvious oak flavour, the wood softens the grape's sharp acidity and builds texture and depth through lees contact. The colour is pale straw with green highlights. The nose shows lemon and white peach over green apple, white flowers and a clear sea-spray note. The palate is dry and taut but fuller than a standard Txakoli, the barrel giving weight while the Atlantic acidity keeps it fresh into a long, saline finish. Serve at 9 to 11 degrees. It is made for seafood.