Jurançon, France - 40% Raffiat de Moncade, 40% Gros Manseng, and 20% Petit Manseng. The wine is aged on soils with calcareous clay pebbles. The wine is racked for a few hours and then placed in 500-liter barrels with significant turbidity, where it undergoes spontaneous, slow alcoholic fermentation with native yeasts, which ends after 6 months. Complete malolactic fermentation is completed. Aged on total lees without racking. Subsequent blending. No sulfur addition.
Dry white wine with yellow fruit on the nose. Citrusy on the palate, with tension and refreshing acidity, saline, complex, and a long finish. Recommended by El Sommelier.
Imanol Garay Ixilune 2020
Imanol Garay is a new viticulturist to follow very closely. In a short time, he has demonstrated unsuspected talent and creativity for someone who does not come from the traditional wine world.
Graduated as Industrial Chemical Engineer at the University of Pau, he worked between 2007 and 2016 as commercial technician of the French Adon Cooperage for France and Switzerland, where he acquires the decisive experience in the construction of his own taste, fruit of his numerous meetings with open producers and sensitive as well as in the knowledge of vinification and aging.
In 2007 he planted a small vineyard of Cabernet Franc in his Orthez residence and, in 2012, he made his first wine "Abiatu" in collaboration with a friend, in the denomination of Madiran (Southwest of France). In 2013 he produced for the first time "Ixilune" a magnificent dry white of Jurançon with Petit Corbou and Petit Mansen. Both wines are available in their second vintage 2015 at El Sommelier.
In 2014, the range grows around the theme of wines of the "Piedmont" Pirenaico elaborating this cold season garnacha from the Sierra de Izco (Navarra), with a fresher and more floral profile than usual. The wine takes him to France where he breeds. One part is bottled as Clandestinus and the other part will finish breeding in 60l gravel amphoras. called Clandestinum.
In 2016 he plants his first official vineyard, 0.75 Ha. Of white varieties in St Etienne de Baigorry, in the AOC. Irouleguy (French Basque Country), on parcel of "ofitas", steep slope (40-50%), density 6000 feet / ha, in organic agriculture. And soon she will give birth to new projects such as a new Txakolí in collaboration with a Bizkaia winery.
Paring: cannelloni, lasagne, poultry, spicy dishes with aromatic herbs, small game, poultry and rice, hocks, grilled meats, suckling pig, roasted vegetables ...
