El Chaparral, Navarra

[Innkeeper]

1999 Bodegas Nekeas, El Chaparral, De Vega Sindoa (Old Vines Grenache), Navarra ($9.99 locally). An excellent reason why one should never stop visiting wine shops, despite all the good stuff available from afar.

This fresh grenache, first gives you that huge, fruity nose that is the grape's tradmark, then you get the cherries and berries upfront. Despite the 13% alcohol, it gives a feeling of lightness across the palate with smoooooooth tannin, and just a tiny tad of oak. Lovely finish. Since Spring is still struggling to get sprung here, took advantage of a nice day yesterday to set up the grill, and grilled some Jordan's Natural Casing Beef Franks for dinner with lima beans. The Navarra matched perfectly. It definitely will make a great summertime wine, and I'm heading back for more.