INSIDER'S PICK: 2025 LASALDE ELKARTEA TXAKOLI 'BALEA' $21.99

As evidenced by the frequent use of K's and X's in their name, this is a white wine from the Basque region of Spain. If you have not Basqued before (yes that's a verb), the wines and ciders are very unique to the region, built from a lengthy relationship with the sea and the rugged isolated coastline. Their pocket of the Atlantic is one of the cleanest and least disturbed in all of Europe, making it a destination for seafood lovers, and their beverages are built to marry with them perfectly. Bright energetic acidity and a bit of twang on the palate cuts through the salinity and oily preparations for all the shellfish, eel and multitudes of fresh fish they can conjure up. For this producer they pay homage to the historical relationship with the wineries and whaling vessels of the region, where the wineries provided barrels of wines and on a successful return the ships refilled the barrels for the wineries with whale oil. Pure classic Hondarribi Zuri grape here, pale and clean with a lower abv and the slightest tickle of SO2 that disappears after a moment in the glass. Some would think this would be compared with a Vinho Verde, but the has SO much more muscle and energy, especially on the palate where the puckering lime and salty notes on the finish leave a tingly finish well on until the next bite of food. This wants and deserves fresh seafood more than almost any other wines you may come across.

---