There is so much great wine coming out of Spain, it’s sometimes hard to keep up. Recently I tasted through a large swath of the portfolio from Bodegas Navarro Lopez, and boy, am I glad for that opportunity! They have a history that dates back to 1904 which makes them teenagers in terms of age of Spanish Wineries. There is a broad array of delicious wines on US shelves with their name on it, here are three in particular that are both luscious and also represent stunning values.
The Bodegas Navarro Lopez 2011 Rojo Garnacha was produced from fruit sourced in the La Tierra de Castilla region of Spain. This offering is 100 percent Garnacha (Grenache). The vines sourced were more than 40 years old at the time of harvest. Temperature-controlled fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks. About 4,000 cases of this wine were imported to the United States, and it has a suggested retail price of $10.99. Red and purple violet aromas are underscored by bits of leather on the nose of this Garnacha. The palate is smooth and even-keeled with red and black fruit flavors in abundance. Blackberry and red raspberry are of note. Spices such as black pepper and a tiny hint of cocoa emerge on the finish, along with a touch of graphite. This is a remarkably appealing wine that begs you back to the glass for sip after sip. If you need a house red to keep on hand, this is safe bet. It’s scrumptious and has the kind of appeal that will satisfy a wide array of palates.
The Bodegas Navarro Lopez 2010 Old Vines Crianza was produced from fruit sourced in the Valdepenas (D.O.) region. This wine is composed entirely of Tempranillo. The vines were more than 30 years old at the time of harvest. Temperature-controlled fermentation took place over 10 days. Barrel aging followed over the next 6 months, in a combination of American (80 percent), French (15 percent) and Hungarian (5 percent) oak, and 18 months of bottle aging followed prior to release. About 20,000 cases were imported to the U.S. and it has a suggested retail price of $11.99. Wild strawberry and red Bing cherry aromas dominate the nose of this Crianza. The palate is fruity and fresh, bringing to mind a bowl of fresh berry fruits. Vanilla bean, white pepper and a hint of allspice are present as well. The finish has a wisp of cola and continued sweet red fruit flavors, as well as a hint of sweet cocoa. This is solid Crianza that is well priced for everyday drinking.
Finally, we have the Bodegas Navarro Lopez Old Vines Gran Reserva. The fruit for this wine was from vines more than 30 years old. They sit over 700 meters above sea level in the Valdepenas (D.O.) region. Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel took place over a week. Barrel aging followed over 24 months in American (80 percent), French (15 percent) and American (5 percent) oak. Three years of bottle aging followed prior to release. Red plum, violets and tobacco leaf aromas lead the big, boisterous nose of this Gran Reserva. The palate is intense and loaded with dry red and black fruit flavors. Strawberry, raspberry and cherry are but a few. Rhubarb flavors and an avalanche of spices lead the finish which is long, deep and persistent. This wine throws off wave after wave of incredible flavors, all with elegance and grace. Its depth, complexity and length belie the modest price point.
All three of these wines are well made and terrific values. However, the Rojo Garnacha is a total steal. This wine is loaded with oodles of varietal character and appealing flavors, and it’ll pair well with a wide range of foods. If you bring it to a party, make sure you bring at least two because the first bottle will be drained before you know it. The Old Vines offerings are also terrific values. Tempranillo-based wines from Spain have been providing drinking pleasure in the U.S. for many years. These two are essentially textbook examples of their designations. Gran Reserva wines, with the level of quality, length and depth of the Bodegas Navarro Lopez are usually priced closer to $35. This one is under $20 and perfectly suited for Sunday dinner or a special occasion. In any case, you can’t go wrong with this trio of wines. If I sound excited about these wines, it’s because I am — go buy them now, thank me when the bottles are empty! In addition to these wines, Bodegas Navarro Lopez offers a range of others at various price points. The quality of their portfolio is deep and well worth investigating outside of this trio as well.
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