France — wine

Irouléguy AOC

France's smallest and most remote wine appellation, on the steep Atlantic slopes of the Pyrenees in the Basque Country near Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The same grapes as the Spanish Basque txakoli tradition — Tannat and Cabernet Franc (Axeria) for reds, Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng for whites. Extraordinary altitude (up to 400m), Atlantic rainfall and schist soils create wines of intensity and freshness unusual for Southwestern France.

Year Rating Notes
2023 Basque Pyrenean conditions were balanced; the granite-schist sites delivered characteristic mineral freshness in both white and red.
2022 Irouléguy 2022: Atlantic Pyrenean schist harvest; Tannat and Manseng of remarkable freshness
2021 Irouléguy 2021: Atlantic Pyrenean schist harvest; Tannat and Manseng of remarkable freshness
2020 Irouléguy 2020: Atlantic Pyrenean schist harvest; Tannat and Manseng of remarkable freshness
2019 Irouléguy 2019: Atlantic Pyrenean schist harvest; Tannat and Manseng of remarkable freshness
2018 Irouléguy 2018: Atlantic Pyrenean schist harvest; Tannat and Manseng of remarkable freshness
2017 Atlantic year; elegant, fresh style — particularly successful for whites