Navarro Lopez Laguna de la Nava Gran Reserva 2009
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Don Doroteo immediately brought about a total re-vitalization and modernization of the property, which he renamed Bodegas Navarro Lopez.
A strict quality policy, moving from barrels to bottles, emphasizing single-vineyard and mono-varietal wines carrying the D.O. Valdepenas, as well as investments in state-of-the art winery equipment and technology, have been the keys to the success of Navarro Lopez as a rising star in the production of high-quality wines, in a region that is starting to be recognized as an important wine regions in Spain.
In the early 1990s, Don Doroteo bought two other wineries in the area, Bodegas Canadas and the Bodegas Nieto. The Estate consists today of 150 hectares, mostly planted to Tempranillo, Garnacha and Macabeo grapes, with over 8 million liters produced.
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.
The Moors gave it the name, ‘Manxa,’ which fittingly means ‘parched earth.’ La Mancha, the largest Spanish wine producing region in all of Spain, is one of its hottest and driest. Sturdy and drought-resistant white varieietes like Airen, Viura and Verdejo thrive in this environment.