Bat Gara Urtaran Cuveé Hondarrabi Zuri/Riesling 2021 75 cl.

Urtaran is a white wine made from 95% Hondarrabi Zuri and 5% Riesling from vineyards in the Ayala Valley near Lezama, at an altitude of 340-400 m.a.s.l. The subsoil consists of clay, calcareous clay and crumbling sandstone. The vineyards are cultivated according to the “integrated agriculture” principle, with minimal intervention. The grapes are harvested manually at the end of October, at an optimal balance between sugar and acid. They are transported in small boxes of 15 kg. to avoid mashing and oxidation.

It is the “typicality” and the character that are prioritized during the vinification, and therefore a gentle pressing in a vertical press and a spontaneous fermentation with the grapes’ own yeast cells in a combination of 600 l. chestnut barrels and 500 l. oak barrels from Hungary are used. Subsequently, the wine “sur lie” matures for 8 months in the same type of cask.

Urtaran has a glossy, straw yellow colour. In the aroma, the woody character (vanilla) comes through nicely without dominating, as the wine also offers the Hondarrabi Zuri grape’s very typical nuances of nuts, hay and pickled citrus fruits. Already in the aroma, you sense a great depth, concentration and harmony in the wine. The different types of wood have undoubtedly added complexity to the taste, which has a good fatness and velour, as well as juicy notes of peach, pear and mango. Like its younger brother Uno, Urtaran has a fresh, crisp and slightly salty finish, but here you sense an even greater class and concentration. A very characterful wine. Try it with grilled fish and shellfish as well as tasty red mold cheeses.

Bodega BAT GARA is located approx. 25 km. south of Bilbao, near the village of Lezama between the Sierra Salvada mountains and the Gorbea Natural Park, – in the middle of the DO Arabako Txakolina (Txakoli de Álava). The winery was founded by restaurateur and viticulturist Jose Cruz Guinea and farmer and viticulturist Txema Gotxi, who thus united their forces and shared passion for the magnificent wines of Arabako Txakolina and the local grape variety, Hondarrabi Zuri.

Today, the property consists of two single fields, which are divided into smaller plots: Urtaran of 4 ha. and Arrugalde on 2 ha. The fields are planted with the varieties Hondarrabi Zuri and the variety Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratia, but a little Riesling is also grown, which also gives excellent results in the district. For the vines, a single Guyot binding has been chosen, which provides good sun exposure but also air around the grapes, which i.a. provides good cooling. The subsoil is mainly clayey and gives the grapes a natural acidity that gives fresh and crisp wines with good grape “typicality”.

The yield never exceeds approx. 42 hl./ha. It is the “typicality” and elegance that are prioritized during vinification, and therefore a gentle pressing is carried out as well as a spontaneous fermentation with the grapes’ own yeast cells, followed by a stay “sur lie” in min. 5 months. The wines from Bodega BAT GARA are considered among the elite in Arabako Txakolina