Txakolina Chase

I

Ian Fitzsimmons

Ian Fitzsimmons
I've sought this bit of esoterica in the past after reading some of the geeky, hipster notes pasted here, in an off-handed, leisurely kind of way, as you might contemplate an invitation to a croquet party in whites and hats.

Now the matter is earnest: my wife read Asmimov's column last week and is starting to challenge my Oenous manhood because I can't give her what she wants. When friends come over, she's all "Oh yeah, 09 Roilette VT, no problem, Orange wine, piece of cake, but ask him to find a simple bottle of Basque wine, and all he delivers are excuses." My local street cred is taking a hit, and my culpeper geek polls are taking a nose dive.

Who carries these wines?
 
I don't know about a comprehensive selection, but as is often the case, Chambers can help you. (At least with Ameztoi).
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Who carries these wines?
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Ian,
In DC, Bassin's has Ameztoi, Schneider's has Txomin, and Cork had Ameztoi, Gurrutxaga, and Xarmant (and also Gorrondona, the red) last week, but they've been flying off the shelves. Chambers also had a healthy selection based on a check of the website a few days ago.
dmp
 
Ian, if you go to Bassins, and are in the mood for something new, try a bottle of the Cavallotto Langhe Bianco (on the white Italian isle), made from 100% Pinot Nero grapes!!! I loved it.
 
originally posted by Cristian Dezso:
Ian, if you go to Bassins, and are in the mood for something new, try a bottle of the Cavallotto Langhe Bianco (on the white Italian isle), made from 100% Pinot Nero grapes!!! I loved it.
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I think Bibiana also has the Cavallotto Langhe Bianco by the glass.
 
originally posted by Cristian Dezso:
Ian, if you go to Bassins, and are in the mood for something new, try a bottle of the Cavallotto Langhe Bianco (on the white Italian isle), made from 100% Pinot Nero grapes!!! I loved it.
Click to expand...
That is great stuff. I drank a couple of bottles at the Alto pigfest.
 
It's interesting how some middling txakolis (IMHO) receive great praise in the US, while the best current producer (IMHO again), Talai Berri (DO Getariako Txakolina, in Zarautz), seems to be unknown or at least unnoticed...
 
I've had one bottle of Talai Berri, the 2006 Oreka, and it was very nice -- bigger-boned than the other Txakolis, if I recall correctly.

Victor, where does Ulacia rank among your Txakoli producers? I've enjoyed a few bottles of theirs.
 
Well, they make unpretentious spritzy, very refreshing quaffers, which is nice, of course. At a similar level to Ameztoi, Elizalde, Gorrondona, Aretxabaleta, Xarmant, Etxaniz... Somewhat behind Talai Berri and Itsas Mendi. I've heard good things about Iturrialde (DO Bizkaiko Txakolina), but I've never come across a bottle of it. Outside of the Basque Country, txakoli is not hugely successful or very widely distributed in Spain.
 
originally posted by VS:
It's interesting how some middling txakolis (IMHO) receive great praise in the US, while the best current producer (IMHO again), Talai Berri (DO Getariako Txakolina, in Zarautz), seems to be unknown or at least unnoticed...
Click to expand...
Not widely available in the US might be one reason, but CSW does carry it.
 
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