2023 Marko Terlegiz Bizkaiko Txakolina

The spicy and smoky 2023 Terlegiz, which means "bee sanctuary" in the Basque language, was produced with a blend of grapes—Hondarribi Zuri Zerratia, Hondarribi Zuri, Izkiriota Txikia and Izkiriota Handia—from one of the oldest vineyards in the zone, co-planted with those varieties (and probably more) on sandy limestone soils (but also with slate!), which give the wine a chalky texture and a sapid finish. It has 13.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.3 and comes through as creamy, spicy and still a little oaky. The full clusters were pressed and the juice fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wine matured in 600-liter barrels and Austrian oak foudres for six to seven months. 4,100 bottles produced. it was bottled in May 2024.