Synopsis, Our Opinion: A garden variety Tempranillo that was subdued, but also provided some pleasant tastes and good value.
Producer/Winery: Bodegas Navalon; Valdepeñas, Spain.
Grape Variety: Tempranillo.
Geographic Appellation, Region, Country: Valdepeñas; Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.
Vintage: 2013
Price: $8.24 (with a 25% mixed case discount)
Purchased From: Harris Teeter Grocery store; Kernersville, North Carolina.
Paired With: Marinated grilled chicken, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob from the garden.
Tasting:
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Note: Every now and again, when we find a good sale, we purchase wine we know nothing about from the grocery store. This is one of those sale-price “pig in a poke” grocery store wines. Generally we try to get non-domestic brands simply because we have been disappointed so frequently with sweet, poor quality wines…especially the reds. However, occasionally we get lucky and discover a real winner…a wine with excellent quality that’s sold at a very low price…e.g. La Vieille Ferme Recolte Blanc 2019.
Opened one hour before drinking. Clear ruby color with a light brownish/ruby color rim. A combination of mostly red and some black fruit aromas, the smell of cedar boards, lots of cinnamon and a trace of old leather in the background. Smooth entry, thin, very flat and dusty mouthfeel, medium body and a 200-grit texture. Quite intense cherry and blackberry with a lot of unexpected vanilla flavor, but there was a strong competing bitter taste that was very distracting. Adequate acidity and a firm, medium length mouth watering tannic finish that was filled with sour cherry fruit. Interesting Tempranillo, but quite rustic and rough around the edges. This is one of those wines that really fits the “Not Bad” category. In other words it’s drinkable and unobjectionable while at the same time doesn’t have any noteworthy or outstanding characteristics. We called it a garden variety Tempranillo that was subdued, but also provided some pleasant tastes and good value.
Photo from Bodegas Navalon
Comments: Learn more about Bodegas Navalon and their wines.
Alcohol Content: 13%
Closure: Thin aluminum covered 45mm reconstructed cork.
UPC Code: 8 58828 00131 6
Imported by: Well Oiled Wine Company, Washington, D.C.