Navarro made its first Valdiguié in 1996 from John Young’s 40-year-old vines. Valdiguié is planted in the southwest of France in Lot, Tarn and Gaillac, where it is known locally as Brocol. In California it was called Napa Gamay, but since the vines are not Gamay and since Mendocino isn’t Napa, this name is misleading and in fact is now prohibited. The wines produced from Valdiguié are generally expected to be intensely colored but low in alcohol and extract. This reputation was based upon wines made from overtaxed or young vines. John Young’s vines are over forty years old, and he is careful not to overcrop. John also grows Zinfandel, which is high in alcohol and loaded with extract. In 1996 we blended Navarro’s first Valdiguié with Zin and the combination was delicious.

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Don’t worry about the tartrate crystals and gunk on the cork of the Valdiguié. It’s not glass, just wipe if off. It’s cream of tartar and red grape pigments, naturally occurring in grapes. They are most common in wines from cool regions, especially when the winemaker chooses not to artificially plunge the wine to almost freezing temperatures or subject it to excess filtration.

John Young.
Ryan Young , John’s son, is the next generation to help replace stakes the old fashioned way at the family’s forty-year-old vineyards.

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Then in ’97 and ’98 vintages, we blended Valdiguié with additional red varieties to produce our Navarrouge Red Table Wine. In ’99 we decided to return to the ‘96 Gold Medal winning marriage of 76% Valdiguié and 24% Zinfandel. The Valdiguié is bright, hinting of strawberry, gooseberry and watermelon. The Zinfandel, with almost 16% alcohol, adds weight. Its intense, jammy blackberry and briary flavors blend with the strawberry-like flavors to produce a full palate. Both components were aged in French oak barrels adding plenty of toast and vanilla. Don’t dawdle. Delicious red wine from old vines doesn’t last long at this price. Silver Medal winner. 2 case limit.