Located in Basque in the northeastern part of Spain, the Navarra wine region covers almost the entire south end of the country. Situated on the lowest slopes of the Pyrenees Mountains, the vineyards descend all the way to the base of the River Ebro. The Navarra region includes Valdizarbe, Tierra Estella, Ribera Alta, Baja Montaña, and Ribera Baja, which are all sub-regions. 95% of the grapes planted in Navarra are grown for red wine production.
Dating back to the second century BC, wine production began in Navarra with the ancient Romans building the wineries. Excavations have recently uncovered winerfy equipment in Lumier, Muruzabal de Andion, Falces, and Arellano. It was during the middle ages that the region has strong ties with France and a very prosperous viticulture. Wine was exported abroad from Navarra as early as the 12th century. After phylloxera destroyed the vineyards in 1892, they were replanted at the beginning of the 20th century by grafting onto new rootstock.
Navarra has a continental climate with long, dry, and hot summers, and cold winters, and is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. The average rainfall averages about 25” annually. Navarra is mostly made up of limestone and chalk soils in the north, with stony grey soils in the south.
El Parador Navarra Rosado is made from 100% Garnacha.
El Parador Rosado is made from 100% Garnacha. This wine shows a vivid and bright strawberry color, intense aromas, clean and very fruity with Strawberry and Raspberry aromas. In the mouth, the wine is tasty, balanced and fresh.
Salads, Pasta dishes, Mild Cheese, White fish, Seafood, Sushi, Chicken meat, Pork and smoked meat.
Finca La Pared Cuvee Especial is made from Graciano & Syrah.
The Cuvee Especial is a Graciano and Syrah blend aged in oak barrels that produces a full-bodied, fresh wine of great complexity and long lasting finish.
Review:
"A deep, brooding nose with lots of fine oak spices and hazelnuts that adorn the blackberries and violets. Succulent and bright on the palate, with caressing, silky tannins dialing into the black and blue fruit. Quite long and subtle. Delicious now, but can hold, too."
- James Suckling (June 2022), 94 pts
Finca La Pared Graciano is made from 100 percent Graciano.
Finca La Pared Graciano is a powerful graciano that is perfectly integrated with the oak. It shows remarkable notes of fresh spices and dark fruit. Reserved, serene, deep black. Restrained feel.
Review:
"The creamy, cedary oak has seeped into the minty blackberry and blue fruit, with deep notes of cocoa powder and tar. Restrainedly plush and flavorful, with a concentrated and full-bodied palate. Dense and silky with a little warmth in the finish. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling (June 2022), 93 pts
Finca La Pared Syrah is made from 100 percent Syrah.
Finca La Pared Syrah shows an expressive nose of dark fruit aromas and a mineral character.
Intense, direct, playful. Balance of forces.
Review:
"Vanilla and hazelnut notes from the oak, worked into the peppery purple fruit and hints of violets. A juicy and flavorful red with a tight, full-bodied palate and quite a lengthy, creamy finish. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling (June 2022), 91 pts
Chateau Batailley Grand Cru is made from 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot & 1% Cabernet Franc.
Château Batailley is a winery in the Pauillac appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. The wine produced at the estate was classified as one of eighteen Cinquièmes Crus (Fifth Growths) in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.
Garnet-purple colour. Rich and expressive nose, fruity with notes of spices, smoke and vanilla. On the palate, this wine is supple, round, well balanced, with good acidity, a nice fruitiness and nice notes of leather and cedar. Long elegant finish.
Review:
The 2010 Batailley repeated its magnificent showing when poured at the chateau. It has a detailed bouquet of blackberry and cedar, quite backward and seemingly having advanced lite since | tasted in in April 2016. The palate remains full of tension and brimming with energy, delivering classic cedar and tobacco notes toward the persistent finish. Batailley can produce wines that live many decades, and this is clearly one of them. Tasted at the property. Drink 2020-2050
- Neal Martin Vinous 95 Points
Saumaize Michelin Macon Vergisson Sur Roche is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Harmonious, fresh and clean aromas of fresh apple, lemon, orange blossom, white flower. Pure, crisp, silky and fine texture. Ripe fruit flavors and good acidity.