Fresh and rich in nuances, Itsasmendi Eklipse 2019 is an original red txakoli made from the harmonious coupage of the French pinot noir, perfectly adapted to the lands of Biscay, and the native hondarrabi beltza and berdexa zarie. Surprising and unique.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
48% Hondarribi Beltza, 42% Pinot Noir, 10% Cabernet Franc
Type of barrel
French oak vats of 2000 liters
Barrel aging time
10 months
Capacity (cl)
75
General Information
Although txakoli is associated with white wine, more and more Basque wineries are including reds among their creations, which, as in the case of Itsasmendi Eklipse 2019, are a more than pleasant surprise. This is because this markedly Atlantic coupage conquers with its aromatic complexity, elegance, seriousness, persistence, and good acidity.
This different approach comes from Bodegas Itsasmendi, one of the leading firms of Bizkaiko Txakolina. The production of Itsasmendi Eklipse 2019 is part of an R&D project, sponsored by the D.O. itself and the Provincial Council of Biscay, to promote the revitalization of red wines in this Basque province.
For its creation, the winery based in Gernika selected the best fruits of pinot noir, hondarrabi beltza, and berdexa zarie cultivated in vineyards over 20 years old located in Muskiz, Gorliz, and Bakio. The proximity to the Cantabrian Sea, which fosters a microclimate with less rainfall than in the rest of the province, and the clay-loam soils of limestone origin, where the vines grow, endowed the grapes with great freshness, a balsamic touch, and a certain minerality. These characteristics were complemented by a good structure, thanks to fermentation in stainless steel conical tanks and the meticulous aging for 10 months in new French oak barrels and vats to which the txakoli was subjected.
The result of this entire process is Itsasmendi Eklipse 2019, an Atlantic-style red from the D.O. Bizkaiko Txakolina ideal to accompany, especially, hearty gastronomic proposals such as stews and casseroles, game dishes, and even fish.
Tasting notes
Of a brilliant ruby red color and light layer.
On the nose, it stands out for its complexity, with aromas ranging from red fruits, sloe berries in liqueur, to aromatic plants and nettles with a certain minerality, including balsamic notes.
On the palate, it is fresh, with good acidity, elegant and long. Seemingly light but with great persistence in the mouth.
The winery
Winery
Bodegas Itsasmendi is one of the leading wineries in Vizcaya, renowned for its magnificent txakolis. It was back in 1989 when a group of winegrowers decided to join forces to revive the cultivation and production of the traditional Basque white wine. Their collective effort materialized in 1995 with the inauguration of their first facilities in Muskiz, which, with the turn of the new century, specifically in 2002, gave way to the current winery in Gernika.
The 35 hectares of Itsasmendi vineyards are located in an absolutely privileged setting: the mountainous slopes near the Bay of Biscay, part of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Divided into 15 distinct plots, with varying soils and even microclimates, the winery's vineyard is undoubtedly the cornerstone of a project that is among the most authentic, personal, and at the same time, most innovative in the D.O. Bizkaiko Txakolina.
Environmental respect, through sustainable viticulture that always seeks the highest quality, and the use of native varieties such as hondarrabi zuri and hondarrabi zuri zerratia, together with the expertise in the winery, make Itsasmendi's txakolis complex, rich wines in constant evolution and as natural as the spectacular environment from which they originate.
The 35 hectares of Itsasmendi vineyards are located in an absolutely privileged setting: the mountainous slopes near the Bay of Biscay, part of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Divided into 15 distinct plots, with varying soils and even microclimates, the winery's vineyard is undoubtedly the cornerstone of a project that is among the most authentic, personal, and at the same time, most innovative in the D.O. Bizkaiko Txakolina.
Environmental respect, through sustainable viticulture that always seeks the highest quality, and the use of native varieties such as hondarrabi zuri and hondarrabi zuri zerratia, together with the expertise in the winery, make Itsasmendi's txakolis complex, rich wines in constant evolution and as natural as the spectacular environment from which they originate.