Marko Loretxoa

D.O. Rioja

2019

What’s in a Name

Loretxoa means little flower and is a reference to a song of Benito Lertxundi, an acclaimed Basque singer-songwriter. The quote on the label is from Swiss poet Hermann Hesse: “The sun speaks to us through light. Flowers give voice to fragrance and colour. The air communes through clouds, snow and rain“.

Varieties

50% Hondarribi Zuri Zerratia, 35% Hondarribi Zuri and 15% Izkiriota Txikia

Vineyard

The vineyards are located in the village of Kortezubi, a little old town in Bizkaia, famous for its prehistoric caves which form a Unesco World Heritage Site. The vineyards are located on a clay loam topsoil over limestone subsoil. Slate can be found in some parts.

Winemaking

After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine is transferred to ex-Fino Sherry casks, filled to 80% of the capacity, where the wine ages for 2 months under a veil of yeast (flor).

 

PRODUCTION

2,6k Bottles

Produced/Year

Character

Marko Loretxoa shows citrus aromas with that veil background and that salinity that transports you directly from north to south, to sea on both sides of the peninsula in a single drink. Acidity and salinity is what best defines this txakoli. Guardianship txakoli no doubt.

ROBERT PARKER