Aseginolaza & Leunda - Txuria, Navarra, Spain (2023)

TASTING NOTES

Almost Pouilly-Fuisse like, this is a full-ish bodied, phenolic wine with an impression of river stones, key lime pie and a flinty, salty character. Bright, linear and very textural. 

Old bush vines grown in the calcareous-rich soils of Dicastillo at an elevation of 490m, Txuria undergoes fermentation at lower temperatures 10-16 C and is aged with fine lees for 8 months, half of the wine in stainless steel vessel and the other half in 400 L and 225 L old French oak barrel. 

This winery emerged from the vision of Jon Aseginolaza and Pedro M. Leunda, environmental biologists who transformed their passion for wine into a pioneering venture in the historic vineyards of Navarra.

Navarra's viticultural evolution, often in the background of its famous neighbour, Rioja, has experienced significant shifts. Originally, Navarra's winemaking identity was intertwined with Garnacha grapes. However, to expand its market reach, the region began adopting Tempranillo and other international varieties, inadvertently diluting its unique viticultural identity and yielding subpar examples of varieties that should not have been planted there.

Jon and Pedro diverge from this path, focusing on rejuvenating old vineyards, especially those rich in Garnacha located in the limestone-rich northern subregions. These non-irrigated bush planted vineyards, characterized by their hilly locations, ancient vines, and diverse soil types ranging from calcareous sandstone to clay, reflect the region's unique terroir. They are not only preserving Navarra's winemaking legacy but also infusing it with new vitality.

Their approach to winemaking, favouring minimal intervention, results in wines that are authentic, lighter-bodied, and true to their origins.