TASTING NOTES:
90 Points - "Yellow-gold. Lemon, quince and pear aromas are brightened by dusty minerality and white flowers. Broad and smoky on the palate, offering sweet orchard fruit and fresh butter qualities along with anise and baking spices. Becomes nervier on the long, sappy finish. This is a superb value."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Sep/Oct 08

Very California-like in style. While this cuvee has been borderline woody in the past, the winery has gotten the wood regime under control, resulting in a light, gold-colored Chardonnay with good underlying natural acidity, plenty of tropical fruits, honeysuckle, ripe apples, and a hint of background vanilla. (more info)

TASTING NOTES:
90 Points - "Yellow-gold. Lemon, quince and pear aromas are brightened by dusty minerality and white flowers. Broad and smoky on the palate, offering sweet orchard fruit and fresh butter qualities along with anise and baking spices. Becomes nervier on the long, sappy finish. This is a superb value."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Sep/Oct 08

Very California-like in style. While this cuvee has been borderline woody in the past, the winery has gotten the wood regime under control, resulting in a light, gold-colored Chardonnay with good underlying natural acidity, plenty of tropical fruits, honeysuckle, ripe apples, and a hint of background vanilla.

COMPOSITION: 100% Chardonnay grapes, barrel-fermented in French oak.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
In the valley of Valdizarbe Valley, eight families own this winery. It is in the foothills of the Pyrenees a little southwest of Pamplona. They own the northernmost vineyard in Navarre, and actually the most northern vineyard in Spain with the exception of the Txakoli D.O.

For hundreds of years the Valley of Valdizarbe has been considered one of the best areas of wine production in Navarra. They have been cultivating vineyards for centuries. Documents from 15th century (the time of Ferdinand and Isabella) have been found describing wine production in the area. Viticulture almost disappeared due to the depressed prices of the grapes, and the extreme weather conditions.

This bodega is one of the first ones to bring back the vineyards to the valley, by the hands of an energetic winemaker, Concha Vecino, and an innovative vineyard manager, Jose Manuel Urricelqui. The winery is a state-of-the-art facility, incorporating the latest technology available in winemaking. This chardonnay is wine is barrel-fermented.

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