The late-harvest white 2014 Urezti Vendimia Tardía is a blend of 85% Hondarrabi Zuri and 15% Izkiriot Handia or Gros Manseng grapes that were picked the third or fourth week of November and fermented to 12.27% alcohol, retaining around 100 grams of sugar. Only in years like 2006 and 2014, there is some botrytis that provides a different character. It spent a short time in barrel. It still feels pretty fruit-driven and straightforward to me, with simple aromas of syrup and pineapple and a very sweet palate. 4,900 half-bottles were filled in September 2016.

The 2011 Uretzi is a sweet wine produced with Petit Courbu grapes with a touch of Gros Manseng, 93 grams of residual sugar and a brief aging in barrel. This was the first sweet Txakoli in the appellation, produced in 2001. It has a nose of honey and dried apricots that remind me of botrytized grapes and a sweet palate with moderate acidity and feels a bit flat. Drink now-2016. I must confess that I was a little underwhelmed by the wines from Itsas Mendi as they are one of the quality leaders in Txakoli and one of the pioneers in demonstrating that these wines can age and that can be something more than a banal, quaffable wine. Imported by Winebow Inc, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

The 2008 Urezti Vendemia Tardia has a lush grapefruit and pineapple scented bouquet that is over-the-top. The palate is lightly honeyed on the entry with pineapple, grapefruit and apricot notes towards the simple but well defined finish. Fine. Drink now-2016. Located in the Basque DO of Biskaiko Txakolina close to the city of Bilbao, Bodegas Itsas Mendi owns just under 70 acres of vineyard overlooking the Bay of Biscay. Oenologist Ana Martin looks to express traditional grapes of the region. Importer: Winebow; www.winebow.com