Artazu Santa Cruz Blanco 2019

Located in the northernmost part of Navarre, the Artazu estate lies near the village of the same name, north-west of Pamplona, in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The vines of the Santa Cruz Blanco cuvée thrive on breezy slopes at relatively high altitude, enjoying a cool Atlantic climate tempered by continental influences. The soils, mostly clay-limestone, offer natural drainage and good water reserves, allowing slow, balanced ripening of the grapes while preserving marked acidity and mineral expression in the wines.

From old Garnacha Blanca vines grown at altitude and harvested by hand, this wine is made by gently pressing whole grapes, followed by fermentation in oak barrels with native yeasts. Ageing continues on fine lees in barriques, with regular bâtonnage, to gain volume, texture and aromatic complexity while preserving the freshness and minerality characteristic of the Artazu terroir.

This wine reveals notes of stone fruit, ripe citrus and crisp white fruit, complemented by delicate floral touches, fine spicy nuances and a subtle mineral dimension reminiscent of wet stone. On the palate, the texture is ample yet taut, carried by lively acidity and a slightly creamy texture, with perfectly integrated oak and a long finish, saline and refreshing, that underlines the precision and balance of the whole.

The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.