D.O. Bizkaiko Txakolina, Cava Izar-Leku 0.75l

Awards: 94 points - Robert Parker

Grape variety: Made from grapes of the native varieties Hondarrabi Zuri (50%) and Hondarribi Beltza (50%).

Vineyard: Izar-Leku, which means "place of the stars", comes from the Gipuzkoa region, from 60-year-old Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza vines grown on clay slopes with slate and basalt. The grapes are hand-harvested, in small 10-kilogram crates.

Ageing: Once the harvest reaches the winery, cold maceration takes place for 1 or 2 days before the whole grapes are gently pressed. The floral must is transferred to stainless steel tanks, where it ferments for around 10 days at a controlled temperature of 16ºC. The resulting wine then rests for 6 months in the same tanks together with the original yeasts, until it is bottled. It is made using the traditional method (champenoise), with a second fermentation in the bottle lasting 30 months.

The bottles are kept at low temperatures, between 11ºC and 13ºC, which encourages slow fermentation and results in a wine with very fine bubbles.

Taste and aroma: Complex and distinctive on the nose. Notes of citrus and tropical fruit blend with subtler hints of undergrowth and wild aromatic herbs, such as mint and lavender. The taste is dominated by very pleasant mineral nuances, which linger on the palate long after drinking.

Tasting notes: We recommend serving it at a temperature between 9ºC and 11ºC. Izar Leku Brut pairs excellently with starters such as foie gras, caviar or duck ham, as well as with main courses of seafood, white fish, rice or sushi.

Alcohol content: 12.5%

Origin: Spain, D.O. Bizkaiko Txakolina