Cute Label, Better Wine
Written: Aug 07 '07 (Updated Aug 07 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive, tasty as heck
Cons: Anticipated depth not fully met
The Bottom Line: This isn't just good for the money, it's a good wine. Soothing and full, it hits the spot with comfort and taste.
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| fishifishi's Full Review: Red Guitar Navarro (Tempranillo / Garnacha) 2005 2... |
Working for 8 months as a wine consultant, I realized quickly that the more wine I tried, the better I could help my customers. Once I shook my head from the hangover I developed for a week straight after this revelation, I looked back over the wines I had tried, and this one stood out for many reasons. Hundreds of wine samples later, I still buy this wine.
Silly Label=Silly Wine?
I tend to stay away from overly comical or commercial looking labels. I have found that often the label can attempt to pull you in because the wine in the bottle can't do it on its own. This label is fun, with a stick figure style person holding a shiny red guitar. There is a sun in the soft orange sky behind him, and what seems to be a small picture of people enjoying his music. The name and information regarding the wine is printed under the picture amid a solid orange background. The back label tells us the history of Spanish lifestyle, being food, wine, and music. The labels are easy to decipher as we learn the origin of the wine Navarra, the varietal composition 55% Tempranillo, 45% Garnacha (also known as "grenache") and the fact that it is "Old Vine". This typically denotes that the vines are 40-plus years old, but over the years the legal definition of this term has blurred it to being used less carefully.
Not too chintzy, not too plain, full of information-I like it already.
Let's Get Down to What's Inside
Tempranillo is the primary grape used for the popular regional wine Rioja, and makes a structured and aromatic wine, medium bodied with fruit, spice and earth; Garnacha is a close second in harvested popularity, with a slightly less dry, full flavored fruity wine that can stand well on its own. Being a solid blend of the two, I expect some solid structure, full fruit, maybe a bit dry.
This wine can really deliver. At $12 a bottle, it's not scary to buy and try. The wine is a deep ruby-purple, with notable legs swirling around the glass.
The nose is full with a hint of oak and vanilla around dark, full fruit. Even a little spicy. When you taste it, the flavors are full, although without clogging your buds. There is definitely some spice, light pepper. The fruit is dark and solid, not sweet, like blackberries and currants. There are only a couple of layers of flavor, but they deliver the goods well. It is well rounded, ending with a medium finish that is slightly dry but not puckering.
My Suggestions
I know I seem to say this a lot, but I look for and love this quality-this wine can easily be drank on its own, not feeling so hefty that it needs food. However, the medium to full body of this wine, and the subtle and range of flavors that it offers can pair well with many foods. Despite being good on its own, I wouldn't drink it with lighter foods-this needs pork, lamb or red meat. It can hold to a little spice, but nothing too salty. It would even hold its own with Italian, being an interesting and competent alternative to Chianti.
I love to find bargin wines. A bottle that is under $15 that is something I would repeatedly purchase because of what happiness it offers my palate is a find. Spanish wines easily delivers this demand, and this wine falls to the top of that category.
Bottled by Bodegas Ada
14% alcohol by volume
Recommended:
Yes
Winery Name: Bodega Ada
Varietal: Red Blend
Designation: Navarra
Country: Spain
Price: 12.00
Wine Rating Scale: Better than most
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