ESF

8.9

solid rendition of this charming Basque wine: not terribly expressive on the nose or palate - some citrus & salinity, minerals and river stones. a hint of effervescence, racy acidity, angular, this wine needs the proper food pairing of seafood and briny bits of goodness for it to shine. — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

On the southern edge of the rocky Bay of Biscay in northern Spain, this is Basque country and home to a slightly effervescent white wine, Txakoli. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits with a light spritz in the glass. On the palate flavors of green apple and lemon citrus, vivid briny acidity with floral notes. Medium finish ending with fruit and spicy mineral character. — a year ago

Phil Kessling

9.0

Redefining Txakolina for me. Crisp, citrus, wet rock and unfiltered. This is the way all Txacoli should taste. Perfect on a hot summer night. Seek this one out. — 4 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

Brilliant sparkling from the Basque country. 3y on the lees, brut nature.
Very fresh & lively with yellow apple, lemon peel and salty wet stones. So fresh.
On the palate fresh, pure, focused yet with a fine creamy mouthfeel. Very fine froth, great balance & length. This has richness of matter yet is so poised. So fresh and so elegant.
Brilliant! — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Made from 150 year old pre-phylloxera Hondarribi Beltza vines. a rare red version of this spritzy, Basque wine. Cabernet Franc like, aromas of fruit and herb notes. On palate flavors of juicy red fruits, soft tannins, medium finish ending with mineral character. — 6 years ago

Will

9.2

Shake well. Pour from height. — 6 years ago

OMG PEDRO

9.5

Serious cider for serious drinkers... the combination between the apples and noble smoky wood made my day. Fermented to perfection. Dry, tart and smoky with a clean and refreshing finish. It taste like ancient wisdom got thirsty. Can’t get much better than this... IMPERATIVE!!! # To serve, we splash it into the glass, pouring from a very long distance so the cider aerates — if you let it linger too long in the glass, the aeration gets lost and the cider won’t be enjoyable to drink. — 8 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Don Próspero – Tannat 2017
Canelones, Uruguay 🇺🇾

Overview:
Made from Uruguay’s flagship grape, this 100% Tannat hails from the Canelones region, the country’s viticultural heartland. It captures the bold, structured, and unapologetically powerful style that has put Uruguay on the wine map.

Aromas & Flavors:
Dark fruit at its core, black plum, blackberry, and cassis, wrapped in notes of cedar, baking spice, and a touch of earth. After hours in the decanter, it remained tight yet expressive, with hints of licorice and savory herbs peeking through.

Mouthfeel:
Full-bodied with gripping, chewy tannins and firm dryness. The structure dominates, yet there’s depth and intensity that suggests longevity. Still evolving in the glass.

Food Pairings:
Perfect with rich and fatty dishes that tame its tannins, think grilled ribeye, lamb shanks, or slow-braised short ribs. Also works with aged Manchego or blue cheese.

Verdict:
A serious, food-demanding Tannat that showcases Uruguay’s bold personality. Not a casual sipper, but for the right pairing it becomes absolutely delicious. With its muscle and backbone, this vintage still has 5–8 years of cellaring potential ahead. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Uruguay is the only country where Tannat is the national grape, brought over by Basque settlers in the 19th century. Canelones, just north of Montevideo, produces nearly two-thirds of Uruguay’s wine and is known for its Atlantic breezes, which help balance Tannat’s tannic intensity with freshness. — 8 months ago

Louis Martin

9.0

A bit bitter on its own, balances itself out when paired with a fatty meat (in this case, a Basque region raised pork loin). — 2 years ago

Nikki Goddard, DWS

9.4

Absolutely stunning Chenin. Aromatic, slightly oxidative nose, with notes of dried apricot, almond skin, Macintosh apple peel, Basque cider, preserved lemon, white truffle, and castelvetrano olive. Bracing, saline acidity on the palate with a slightly oily texture and a nutty finish. Just a pure delight!!! — 4 years ago

Ericsson

9.3

No secret I love this Spanish Basque Country gem and the juice keeps getting better vintage after vintage, this one is no exception.

The color is pale yellow and visibly fizzy.

The nose is fresh, with lime, green strawberry and wet stone.

On the pallet there is a slight effervescence; lemon zest, high acidity, and a saline component. The finish is clean and compared to previous vintages this is more balanced with pronounced honeysuckle.

It is dry, acidic, light alcohol, immediately enjoyable, and traditionally paired with seafood; however this time I paired it with spicy Asian lo mein noodles. The freshness really counterbalanced the heat in the dish and made for a savory experience. — 5 years ago

Eric L

9.6

The effervescent basque coast wine to buy — 6 years ago

speedy duncan

9.0

Beautiful place different grape fabulous experience with tapas and hake — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

On the southern edge of the rocky Bay of Biscay in northern Spain, this is Basque country and home to a slightly effervescent white wine, Txakoli. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits with a light spritz in the glass. On the palate flavors of green apple and lemon citrus, vivid briny acidity with floral notes. Medium+ finish ending with fruit and spicy mineral character. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Let’s face it, “Irouléguy” might fun to say…but it’s likely to be a hard sale at most tables. However, when the former, longtime winemaker at Pétrus is behind it, wine folks will perk up and listen. And that’s the situation we have here with Herri Mina. The story goes, Jean-Claude Berrouet after spending over 30 years as the winemaker at Chateau Pétrus, returned to his Basque homeland to create Herri Mina. He made two wines: a Blanc and a Rouge. This is the former and it’s fabulous.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2022 Blanc is a blend of Gros Manseng, Petit Corbu, Petit Manseng. It pours a bright straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe tropical and orchard fruit: pineapple, green apple, some stone fruits, yellow flowers, nuts, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, slightly saline and there’s a rich, creamy texture. Classy. Drink now through 2032. — a year ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Yum! Cranberry-rhubarb-rose water mid-summer glory. Low ABV, enough acidity to scrub a couple layers of enamel off your teeth. Perfection with fresh heirlooms, BBQ chicken, and cold spicy peanut noodles….I love basque Tzakolina with its vivacious light pink personality. Note to self: purchase a boatload before it’s gone. — 4 years ago

Ericsson

9.2

This is one of my favorite white wines of all time and this vintage is the best I’ve ever tasted. Lemongrass, honey suckle, saline notes, mist, and slightly effervescent. Seaside liquid freshness with low acidity, low alcohol, but medium plus body. From an indigenous grape in Basque Country in Norther Spain, so pleasantly good, a crowd pleaser for sure! Good value to top it all off, hovering around the twenty some dollar range. — 5 years ago

Nora Pedersen

10

Basque region, effervescent — 6 years ago

Andrew Mueller

9.2

Very dry white from the Basque Country in Spain. Often drunk out of a Porron pitcher. Had it with pan-seared swordfish...outstanding combination. — 7 years ago

Ben Butkus

9.0

Almost like a Basque cider. Worked with her cod, held up to my duck, delightful quaffer. — 8 years ago

with Beth