Navarro Vineyards - 2013 Navarrouge

2013 Navarrouge
Mendocino Red Table Wine
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More Pinot please

We've changed Navarro's recipe for Navarrouge several times since our first vintage in 1992. In 2008, we made the decision to make the dominant variety Zinfandel, with Syrah as the second most important variety. We set out to find growers with old-vine Zin and Syrah vines and, if the vineyards looked promising, we purchased their fruit for the base-wine in our red table wine program through 2012.

Ted having fun. The reason Navarro harvests at night is because we prefer to begin fermentation when the grapes are cold, 59°F or lower. The growers we deal with are small family operations and sometimes they have to pick during the day, delivering deliciously ripe grapes that are warmer than we prefer. Our solution is to add dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide seen here vaporizing) to the warm must to lower the temperature. After the dry ice has chilled the grapes, the must already has a little red color.

Jim Klein inspecting Zinfandel vines after pruning. The wine produced from grapes grown on mature Zinfandel vines constitutes the base wine for this bottling. The final blend is 40% Zinfandel, 27% Pinot Noir, 16% Grenache, 13% Carignane, 3% Syrah & 1% Mourvèdre.

In the spring of 2013, we decided to make a change. We were pleased with Syrah's black cherry flavors but the tannins were a little too aggressive since we think Navarrouge should be easy-to-drink in its youth. Navarro now has almost 50 acres of Pinot Noir vineyards, and although they are our most expensive grape variety, with their softer tannin structure and red cherry flavors, they make an excellent Syrah replacement. Zinfandel and Pinot Noir constitute 67% of this vintage with four other varieties making up the balance, in order of importance: Grenache, Carignane, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Each lot was fermented in open-top tanks then racked to seasoned French oak barrels to finish malolactic fermentation and age for 10 months. In late July 2014, Navarro's tasting panel decided on the final blend; the Navarrouge was bottled a month later in August. Medium bodied backed with soft tannins and flavors suggesting plum, blackberry and cranberry. Gold Medal winner. Best of Class.

Specifications

Harvested: Sept. 10 to Oct. 9, 2013
Sugars at harvest: 24.2° Brix
Bottled: Aug. 20 to 22, 2014
Cases produced: 2697
Alcohol: 13.7%
Titratable acidity: 6.2 g/L
pH: 3.58

2016 Navarrouge, Mendocino

"This good, easy-drinking wine gives a sweet first impression and builds fruity and savory notes through the flavors and finish. It adds chocolaty accents to herbal ones like bay leaf and fruity ones like black plum." Wine Enthusiast magazine

2014 Navarrouge, Mendocino

Need a recommendation for a good house wine? This medium-bodied red has moderate fruit flavors, good structure from acidity and tannins, and a nice feeling of completeness. It is a catch-all blend of Zinfandel,Pinot Noir and four other grape varieties. Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast, December 1, 2015.

2011 Navarrouge, Mendocino

This entry level red blend from Navarro is a very good deal and was quite a crowd pleaser. It is ruby colored and opens with a black cherry bouquet with hint of black plum and boysenberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, savory and very easy to drink. The flavor profile is a tasty plum with a hint of minerality, acai berry, and mild oak. The finish is dry and fades away nicely. This offering is a perfect wine for Italian dishes. I would pair it with spaghetti and Joe's meatballs. Enjoy - Ken - Ken Ken Hoggins, www.kenswineguide.com/, July 20,2012.

2010 Navarrouge, Mendocino

This slightly opaque ruby colored wine opens with a black cherry bouquet with a hint of strawberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced,a little juicy and easy to drink. The flavor profile is a mild strawberry with a hint of gentle cherry and light oak. The finish is dry and its very mild tannins are friendly. This is a good everyday food wine. I would pair it with pizza or lasagna. Enjoy - Ken Ken Hoggins, www.kenswineguide.com/, June 15, 2012.

2007 Navarrouge, Mendocino

Has light, fresh, cherry, Latakia tobacco, sweet rhubarb, and blackberry aromas before nicely bright, juicy flavors of the same fruit which finsh medium-broad and truncated. Well put together. BEST BUY. Harold Baer, www.haroldbaerwine.com, February 8, 2011.

2006 Navarrouge, Mendocino

An unusual but distinctive blend, with zesty and rustic plum, pepper and tobacco aromas and flavors. Valdiguié, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and others. Drink now. - Tim Fish, Wine Spectator, Web Only 2008.

2005 Navarrouge, Mendocino

Eight red varietals, including syrah, cabernet, pinot noir, and carignane go into this excellent Quality-to-Price-Ratio wine that should be a leading contender for your house red. Cherry blossom aromas, black cherry flavors with a fair amount of oak in the midpalate, but it's interesting and flavorful. I suspect it will be even better in 4-8 months. This is one to buy by the case and just have on hand for when friends drop by at the holidays. - Good Wines Under $20, October 12, 2007.

2002 Navarrouge, Mendocino

Bright glints of mineral skitter off this wine’s soft middle, contrasting the sweetness of the fruit .. this is built for barbecue. - Wine & Spirits, June 2004.

(T)he 2002 Navarrouge wine is personified by the voluptuous virile-looking youth on the far left of (Botticelli’s Primavera), draped casually in a strawberry red toga, his hand gesturing towards the heavens. Both man and wine are juicy and swash-buckling-the man due to his muscles, the wine due to its blend: 30% bright, spicy Zinfandel; 30% ripe-strawberry flavored Valdiguié; 15% smoky Syrah; 11% cedary Cabernet Sauvignon; 8% smooth plummy Merlot; and 4% grapey regal-colored Dolcetto. Made in the style of an Italian blend and aged in French oak for a full ten months, it has a warm glow to it and is very food-friendly. It is a great match for grilled foods, pizza and other Italian dishes, and many red meat dishes. - Barbi Gifford Shimer, The Vine Line, May 2004.

2000 Navarrouge, Mendocino

Best Buy. This wine is rustic and made country-style but there’s something lovable about it, like a big old dog. It’s friendly and fun. The tastes are juicy and rich, the texture round and mellow, and although it’s no match for your top-notch collector’s items, it will do just fine most of the time. - Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast, May 2002.

Navarrouge, Edition 5

This is Navarro's fun red. It is a blend of Valdiguié, Zinfandel, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Grenache. - The Delta Navigator, "Mendocino Wines: Hidden Treasures", September 1999.