Santa Cruz de Artazu Blanco 2019

Mineral, roasted spices, dried lemons and some white fruit. Excellent acidity and salinity on the palate, showing good substance and a nice phenolic kick at the end. An outstanding garnacha blanca. Drink or hold.

The white 2019 Santa Cruz de Artazu Blanco was cropped from two Garnacha Blanca plots they planted in the last 15 years with the local strain from Artazu. 2019 was a dry and warm year with low yields. It fermented in stainless steel with some skins and finished fermenting in barrel and then was kept in stainless steel for two years. This has 13.1% alcohol and a pH of 3.22 with 6.15 grams of acidity. It's aromatic and expressive, with notes of peach and flowers (more Viognier than Marsanne), some nuts and herbs, with plenty of acidity to keep the vibrant medium-bodied palate. The oaking is very light, and the wine is fruit-driven. 3,000 bottles were filled in November 2022.

A really complex Garnacha Blanca, from Artazu’s vineyards in the Valdizarbe sub-zone, that shows the potential of this variety for ageing. The wine offers some exotic notes with lychee and caramelised pineapple, and the palate has gained in weight with time, displaying stone fruit, tarte tatin and quince. Underlying salinity keeps the wine really lively and fresh. The wine was fermented in oak but notably then kept in stainless steel for more than two years which seems
to have allowed the wine to express the true character of the vineyards. 2024-28