Located in Irouléguy, in the heart of the Basque country, Domaine Arretxea (literally “the house of stone”) has been managed by Thérèse and Michel Riouspeyrous since 1989. This family-owned property, belonging at one time to grandfather Michel, spreads over 8 hectares. They grow Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes, and Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Courbu for their whites. The domaine has been certified organic since 1998 and is now also biodynamic. Domaine Arretxea has come to be one of the best representatives of this region’s wines.

The cuvée Haitza – “oak” in Basque – is produced using Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is powerful and expressive, with ripe black fruits aromas (blackberry, black cherry), and animal and spicy (clove) notes. The attack is warm, with an imposing tannic structure, the substance is dense and the length impeccable. To produce this cuvée, the grapes are picked by hand. The grapes, grown organically and biodynamically on complex and varied soils (sandstone, schist, cannel coal and ophite), are destemmed before undergoing natural fermentation. The grapes are steeped for three weeks and the wine matured on its lees in casks for around 18 months.