Bodegas Nekeas ‘El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa’, Navarra 2013 750ML ($17.95) Buy Now: $14
Bodegas Nekeas ‘El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa’, Navarra 2013
Tucked in the rugged northeast corner of Spain lies Navarre. It was and remains a land of pilgrims headed to Santiago, bulls running through Pamplona, and Hemingway. Navarre also produces some of Spain’s most distinctive cooler-climate wines, including some very fine Grenache, a grape that originated in the area. Bodegas Nekeas makes some of the best wines in Navarre, and their 2013 El Chaparral only reinforces their credibility. If these vines could talk… Planted a century ago, this is legitimate old-vine wine. Cool and refreshing on the tongue, with perky acidity, the 2013 envelops the palate with a medium body, and then the old vines kick in: the finish exudes concentrated flavors of blackberry, spice, plum, and raspberry. The wine’s natural balance and finesse ensure that your glass empties fast like a bull was chasing behind. And for such a price, you can afford to drink like they do in The Sun Also Rises. Viva Navarra! – Daniel
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(went through malo and five months of aging in new and used French oak barriques): Brilliant ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of cherry compote, smoky Indian spices, vanilla and licorice, with a building floral note. Coats the palate with juicy black raspberry and spicecake flavors enlivened by juicy acidity. Quite rich, especially in the context of the vintage, finishing with seamless berry flavors, smooth tannins and excellent persistence. The vines here were reportedly planted between 1890 and 1930.”
Robert Parker 89 points “The most expensive wine in the Bodegas Nekeas portfolio is the 2013 Vega Sindoa El Chaparral Old Vine Garnacha. Made from vines planted between 1890 and 1930, with fermentation in French oak, aging on its lees in barrels for five months, it boasts a deep ruby color as well as chalky kirsch liqueur notes intermixed with hints of herbs, licorice and pepper. This dark ruby-hued, medium-bodied, heady, spicy 2013 is a classic Grenache. There are 2,000 cases of this stunning value that, like all of these offerings from Bodegas Nekeas, over delivers. Drink now-2017.
This is a terrific value winery in Navarra. (It is also the place where some of the world’s greatest white asparagus is grown.) The wines tend to overdeliver for their meager prices.” RP