Lasalde Elkartea ‘Balea’ Txakoli Rosado 2024

The vibe: If you were in the club this time last year (thank you so very much), you’ll recall receiving this very bottle and hopefully you loved it! This new release improves on an already near-perfect bottle from last year’s vintage, making it well worthy of a double-take. Bursting with even more red fruit this year, and a subtle blink-and-you’ll-miss-it salinity, this Rosado Txakoli (pronounced 'choco-lee') is exactly what we want to drink this time of year. Call it an aperitif or call it a porch pounder, this is a session-able rosado from Basque Country, land of our favorite dry sidras and Txakoli wine, lightly sparkling, effervescent wines often compared to Vinho Verde but with a very distinct Spanish twist. The proximity to the ocean often leaves grapes crusted with salt, and you pick up on that here underneath a mouth-watering tartness. It’s just so good. Salud!

The winemaker: One of the original 10 growers to build the Getariako Txakolina DOP in 1990, Lasalde Elkartea is mere miles from the Bay of Biscaye and is dedicated to producing honest, traditional wines using indigenous Basque varieties. Lurdes Zubizarreta and her son Iker Eizmendi run the estate as well as an ever-growing flock of sheep.

The geeky details: 40% Hondarrabi Beltza (red) and 60% Hondarrabi Zuri (white). Stainless steel fermentation, unaged. Bottled while still young to capture residual CO2 for a slight effervescence upon opening. 

Serve: With a chill.

Food pairing: SeafooOOOOoooDD. Pintxos/tapas of the sea, ceviche, oysters!!!!! Anything salty or savory or charcuterie-adjacent. Fruit-based deserts could also be a fun pairing!

Album pairing: Lexx - Rhythm of Love