Domaine Arretxea - Dolia Red 2022
Domaine Arretxea (which means “the stone house” in Basque) is located in the town of Irouléguy , in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It is one of the smallest vineyards in France, and the only one in the Basque country. The estate was created in the 1990s, with the first vinification in 1993. Today, Arretxea cultivates 5 hectares of vines, on terraces and hillsides at the foot of the Jarra Mountain: 3.5 hectares of White, 4 hectares of Red and 1 hectare of Rosé. The vineyard has been certified organic since 1998 and now works biodynamically .
Dolia is a blend of Tannat (70%), Cabernet Franc (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) , grown on a red sandstone terroir. After maceration, fermentation and aging are carried out in 400 liter dolia for 6 to 8 months . “Dolia” refers to a type of storage container from Roman times, made from terracotta, that was used for a variety of purposes, including storing food, oil, and wine. Dolia were large egg-shaped containers that were buried in the ground to maintain a stable temperature for their contents.
Grape varieties: 70% Tannat, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon