Domaine Hegaldaka - Christian Bourrus - Irouléguy White 2024
On the heights of Saint-Jean-le-Vieux, in the heart of the Basque Country, Hegaldaka tells the story of a conversion and a deep attachment to a family land. Christian Bourrus chose to create his estate on a promontory of the Arradoy massif, where two hectares of vines form, seen from the sky, the silhouette of a bird with outstretched wings. Planted in 2019, this young vineyard presents a remarkable geological feature: it combines, on a single property, limestone formations and ophites, volcanic rocks characteristic of certain Pyrenean terroirs. The diversity of exposures, from southeast to west, further enriches the possibilities offered by this small mosaic of soils. In this mountain region subject to Atlantic influences, southern winds also play an essential role in the ripening of the grapes. Christian Bourrus has chosen to dedicate his vineyard entirely to the traditional white grape varieties of Irouléguy, cultivated organically. Hegaldaka, whose name evokes flight in the Basque language, thus produces a single wine, the fruit of a personal project where every decision aims to express the particularities of this terroir.
The Irouléguy White 2024 combines Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, and Petit Courbu, three grape varieties whose complementarity allows for a combination of aromatic intensity, volume, and freshness. Petit Manseng brings its natural concentration and remarkable acidity, while Gros Manseng contributes to the generosity of the fruit and the liveliness of the whole. More discreet, Petit Courbu intervenes with its finesse, enriching the texture and aromatic nuances of the blend. The vines, still young, benefit from organic management and a manual harvest particularly suited to the vineyard's configuration. After gentle pressing of whole clusters, the work in the cellar favors low-intervention vinifications and aging on lees intended to develop the wine's depth. For this 2024 vintage, Christian Bourrus extended the aging by an additional winter and chose not to perform any filtration, with a limited addition of sulfur only at bottling. This approach makes perfect sense in a year marked by reduced yields and a natural freshness that helps preserve the wine's balance.
This Basque white possesses the character of wines that combine pronounced ripeness with particularly structuring acidity. Its aromatic expression evokes ripe citrus fruits, quince, white peach, and acacia flowers, with more discreet nuances of zest and exotic fruits. The palate is distinguished by a broad body, nourished by the lees work, immediately balanced by the characteristic liveliness of the Mansengs. The 2024 vintage brings a tension that runs through the tasting and prevents the natural richness of the grape varieties from dominating the whole. The finish stretches on citrus fruits, accompanied by a slight zesty bitterness and a saline sensation that enhances its gastronomic dimension. Still young, this wine has the necessary structure to evolve favorably in the bottle, gradually developing notes of wax, dried fruits, and spices. A langoustine carpaccio, roasted turbot, farm poultry with morels, or a refined Ossau-Iraty will offer beautiful pairings with its depth and freshness.
Grape varieties: Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, and Petit Courbu
