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"Spritzy" Spanish White

I recently opened a bottle of the 2001 Bodegas Txomin Etxaniz Getariako Txakolina from Spain. This wine is being talked up in several of my local wine shops right now, as "lively and refreshing with pronounced minerality and lemon citrus." Upon opening, I discovered it to be quite spritzy, with small bubbles rising in the glass. This didn't dissipate with aeration.

Is this the way it's supposed to be, or is it a bottle variation? Is this considered a "feature" or a "flaw" in the wine? Jason, you reported having this recently at French Laundry, was your glass spritzy?

I'm curious because I didn't expect this from a white wine in a Riesling style bottle, and this aspect wasn't noted by the merchant who recommended it or in any of the "shelf talkers" I've seen.

Thanks very much,

-Amalia _________________ Amalia Freedman Remove X's to reply

Reply to
amalia
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amalia wrote: : I recently opened a bottle of the 2001 Bodegas Txomin Etxaniz Getariako : Txakolina from Spain. This wine is being talked up in several of my local : wine shops right now ....

Talked? Or mumbled?

Reply to
<mjsverei

So, flaw, yes?

I've had good experiences with this shop before, but when I went back to inquire whether this wine is supposed to be spritzy, the salesperson said it's an enjoyable feature that is common in light white wines. When I said I hadn't encountered this before, he got quite condescending with me and implied that I should explore wines outside California like pinot grigio, etc. I'm doing a slow burn on this one and considering writing an email to the manager, who I know better, but thought I'd check in here before going off half-cocked.

What would you do, short of avoiding this particular clerk in the future?

Amalia

Reply to
amalia

I have had this wine and yes it is somewhat spritzy (or at least was in the bottle I had)...This didn't bother me to much as I also like Moscato d'Astis as well.

Another wine from the same Galician region which also available in San Francisco is from Talai Berri--also talked up and on many wine-by-the-glass programs around town. You could try this one out and decide for yourself this spritziness represents a regional style in Galician whites--it is hard to come to a conclusion with only one data point me thinks...It was a while ago, but I seem to rememeber the Talai having a bit of fizz as well as well the occasional Albarino I have tried...

You could also let the bottle sit for a bit and see if it blows off...

ML

Reply to
th_duck

Is it possible that the wine makers add some carbon dioxide into the wine as they do in Portugal with Vinho Verde ?

Reply to
Pentti Arvela

Sounds like the guy is an ass. That being said, I have had a Basque wine that showed light petillance. I wouldn't call light spritz "common", but one occasionally runs across it (without it neccessarily being a real flaw) in German Rieslings and in Muscadet.

There's no excuse for condescending salespeople, in any case. Tell the manager.

Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

Reply to
Dale Williams

Thank you, Dale. And thank you for the "technical term," petillance. I knew several words for sparkling wine, and now I know one for still wine with "bubbles."

Happy New Year, Amalia

Reply to
amalia

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