Domaine Arretxea - Hegoxuri 2023
Hegoxuri 2023 from Domaine Arretxea embodies the noblest and most ambitious dimension of Irouléguy whites, a cuvée that combines density, tension, and aromatic expression of great purity. The pale gold, bright color announces a wine of stature but with great finesse. The nose opens with precise aromas of ripe lemon, pear, white peach, and discreet exotic fruits, mingled with notes of white flowers, wild fennel, and warm stone. One can already perceive the depth of the terroir blending schist and sandstone, which brings a vibrant minerality to the bouquet. On the palate, the attack is ample, supported by a pure fruit perfectly balanced by ripe acidity. The texture, dense yet slender, unfolds with a delicate touch and remarkable freshness. The long, saline finish extends with accents of citrus, fine herbs, and a noble bitterness.
Upon aeration, Hegoxuri 2023 gains complexity and reveals subtle nuances of anise, star anise, grapefruit zest, and fresh almond. The texture becomes more enveloping but remains traversed by a mineral tension that structures the wine and gives it striking verticality. The gentle vinification, with slow pressing and natural fermentations, followed by perfectly controlled aging in large oak vats and demi-muids, brings precision and depth without ever weighing down the texture. Every detail seems calibrated to maintain the balance between breadth and aromatic brilliance. The wine breathes sincerity and mastery of the estate, committed to organic and biodynamic viticulture where terroir expression is paramount. Hegoxuri 2023 thus appears as a white of great stylistic maturity, vibrant, pure, and remarkably coherent.
At the table, Hegoxuri 2023 shows exceptional gastronomic versatility. It will elevate a roasted noble fish, pike-perch or sea bass with beurre blanc, shellfish, scallops, free-range poultry with citrus, or a risotto with herbs and morels. Its mineral freshness and aromatic elegance also make it an ideal companion for refined plant-based cuisine: white asparagus, braised fennel, roasted root vegetables, young or aged sheep’s milk cheeses. Already sumptuous in its youth thanks to its brilliance and precision, it has a beautiful aging potential that will reveal notes of dry honey, dried fruits, beeswax, and fine spices while retaining its tension. It is a great white from Irouléguy, built on purity, depth, and minerality, which brilliantly illustrates the rigor and sensitivity of Arretxea.
Grape varieties: Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, Courbu, Petit Courbu
