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Kingdom of Flavors
Tasting
W Hotel New York City
Navarra is located in northern Spain. It shares a 100 mile long border with France and to its south lies Rioja. Navarra became a D.O. in 1933 but in 1980’s it began experimenting with non traditional grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay are now grown along with Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and Viura. The capital, Pamplona, is famous for the festival of San Fermin and the running of the bulls.
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| This 100% Syrah was amazing |
I have had wines from Navarra before, mostly roses and lower end red blends. I hadn’t come across many that stood out. This tasting was an opportunity for the producers to showcase what turned out to be excellent wines. From basic blends of Garnacha and Graciano to more complex wines that combined Tempranillo with Cabernet and Merlot, the quality level was high. Many of the producers brought their 2009 roses that were bursting with vibrant fruit. These were perfect for reviving the palate after tasting some of the bigger reds. Quite a few of the producers poured wines that were 100% Graciano. It was a pleasant surprise to be able to taste so many wines made solely from this variety. Hopefully we will see more and more wines from Navarra here in the U.S.
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| Juan Carlos Rodriguez had a great lineup from Bodegas Ondarre. |
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