Located in Irouléguy, in the heart of the Basque country, Domaine Arretxea (literally “the house of stone”) has been managed by Thérèse and Michel Riouspeyrous since 1989. This family-owned property, belonging at one time to grandfather Michel, spreads over 8 hectares. They grow Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes, and Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Courbu for their whites. The domaine has been certified organic since 1998 and is now also biodynamic. Domaine Arretxea has come to be one of the best representatives of this region’s wines.

Nestled in the heart of the Basque Country, Irrouléguy is one of the oldest vineyards in South West France. Pantxuri fully expresses the unique Basque identity. Ideally exposed to the south and south-west, the Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng vines grow on well-drained, low-fertility schist soils, which bring mineral tension to the wine. Manual harvests are followed by careful sorting to retain only the healthiest, ripest bunches. In the winery, fermentation is carried out by native yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats. Ageing on fine lees, partly in vats and partly in seasoned casks, contributes fullness and complexity.
In the glass, the pale yellow hue introduces a floral, fruit-driven nose offering notes of white flowers, apple, pear and fresh herbs, lifted by a fine mineral edge. On the palate, a generous and precise structure reveals a perfect balance between saline tension and delicately fruit-driven flavours.