Don't know how I missed this, but great stuff, love your enthusiasm! I moved to Spain almost 2 years ago for work and have fallen in love with Garnacha here, thanks for sharing :)
True. Priorat makes outstanding wines. But the prices a getting high now for the best. Still there are great wines at good prices still to be had from the region.
I had the Pasos de San Martin. Great value wine. Really hard to beat. If I can contribute I had the "La Dama" 2018 from Domaines Lupier and it was outstanding. And not much more expensive than the other Navarra reds I had. Can totally recommend that.
Thank you for this video. Some great recommendations as usual! Lucky to live in Poland and be able to order a few of the mentioned wines from Spanish online shops at low, low prices. I would really like you to do a video on Bierzo and/or Ribeira Sacra - fantastic wines, both red (Mencia - my favorite Spanish red grape I think) and white (Godello), at unbelivable value (excellent wines even in the EUR 10-15 range; gems below EUR 25).
Navarra and garnacha, great video. Have you tasted Domaines Lupier La Dama? One of my favorites, love everything Viña Zorzal does as well. Greetings from Spain!
Another overlooked Grenache based region in Spain is Monsant. It basically surrounds the famous (and expensive) Priorat, but the prices are much more down to earth.
Agreed, Monstant showed up in a VLOG last year on location and I also included one in my Grenache from around the world blind tasting video earlier last year
Absolutely! Just picked up the Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2016 which got 93 pts Robert Parker, and he called it a STEAL at $16. Love Grenache no matter where it gets grown :)
A few years ago I discovered Spanish wines. Vina Alberdi 2016 (Tempranillo) $25ish was the first. Amazing bouquet and palette.. Parcelica chica Monatrell (Mourvedre) $15 and La Enfermera (Tempranillo)$11 and Intruso Grand Cuvee (garnacha) all amazing. Thanks for the new labels to try.
Totally agree and it's even more incredible when we look at the value. Spaniards are picking up Alberdi for $15 euros. Another great one is Protos Roble which is an incredible $10 euros. I'll still pay the extra in tax to the U.K. Spain is producing some excellent value wine and some of that is coming from big producers as well.
Great Video :D i love saw you drink like alvaro palacios XDDD (if you know you know Don Alvaro like to drink the wine in a large mouthfull). 2021 can be a special year.
I have had some great wines from Navarra. Malayeto and Manusco both from vina zorzal. Only 12$ on offer in Denmark. The recevid 94 and 93 points In WA. Awesome wines and an amazing value.
Another nice Garnacha tasting. I adopted Spanish Garnacha as one of my go-to styles, since even the cheapest among the ones that are sold here deliver. Zorzal is one of the most trustworthy. Another thing that has to be said about Spanish Garnacha: it's always rated between 3,5 and 4 in Vivino. I didn't do the research on those wines specifically, but I always see it rated below what I think about it.
Loved the video, as a native spanish speaker was kind of funny to hear you pronounce the names in spanish and specially trying to use a spanish from spain accent (in south america we call it castellano accent), excelent attempt, think most germans feel the same way when we try to pronounce theirs.
The Spanish wine map is comparatively easy to navigate and understand compared to Italy and France. Rioja and Ribera are the two giants along with Priorat to a lesser extent. The thing is there are a lot of Denominacion regions clustered quite close together that can often produce wine as good as their better known neighbours at cheaper prices, especially if a fine producer is involved. Indeed, many well know producers have wine interests in multiple regions but made with equal passion and commitment. I'll just mention that the region in the South East of Spain around Valencia has a number of regional Denominacions all producing delicious wine at incredible prices. Navarre, for example, is bang next door to Rioja and a large wine producer. If you go to a local shop, bar or restaurant in Spain they will always sell local producers and sometimes exclusively so. A lot of Navarra wine isn't much known outside the region but I would tell people that taking the plunge and buying an unknown Spanish wine is probably the most risk free blind buy you can make in the wine world. Besides there are some very reputable producers in Navarre such as Chivite. They use Garnacha, Syrah and Temporanillo in their red wines and also Chardonnay whites. The Coleccion 125 red is a Temporanillo and I think it's excellent. The Coleccion 125 Blanco (white) is a Chardonnay with a very fine reputation. I mention them because I'm familiar but there's tons of other good stuff too. Really good call Matt. I have to mention Toro wines and their proximity to Ribera as well. Old vines that survived phylloxera producing really deep wine at great value. 30 years ago it was junk but today it's fantastic. I can't think of a country that has transformed itself in terms of wine more than Spain. I remember hearing folk in wine shops joking about it - Italy and France but Spain was low grade cheap and cheerful. Since then there has been a remarkable transformation in quality and Spain leading the way in Old World with fantastic modern labels and marketing as well. WT
That first paragraph is pure GOLD!!! Thanks a lot. BTW you will see some Toro on the channel soon, including a comparison of high end Tempranillo from the bug DOs!
Hey Matthew! I am going to Navarra in a week and I d like to know where would you recommend to visit winery wise. I am just like you I really like Garnacha! Thanks Matt
Isn't Navarra a bit overlooked? I remember when I started my winehobby I bought Navarra crianza's but I don't see them that much in wineshops these days. How much I am a grenache/garnacha fan I haven't purchased Navarra for ages. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. I've been more focussed on Ribera del Duero, Toro, Bierzo, Catalayud, Costers del Segre and Priorat. And for grenache I tend to go southern Rhône. Thanks for this wake up call, I will look into Navarra now. Cheers!
I love Spanish wines, but I don't think I've tried any from Navarra. Just tried a 100% Bobal that I really enjoyed (the other end of the country though.)
Yes, I'm so glad you left this comment. Bobal is a great southern grape variety. Once Spain got out of the habit of Temporanillo for bulk wine in inappropriate regions they started to go back to indigenous vines like Bobal. That vine can produce stunning top class wine.
@@drmatthewhorkey ,the Reserva and the Gran Reserva yes, keep a couple of years. The "Joven" and "Barrica" are 👍🏼. The best red is normaly Deyo Merlot.
I have never had a good quality spanish wine buy I have experiance with lidl wine from Spain, and they are rly not bad drink with friends type of wine, so they bring some quality even at 4-5€ rage. I am from Serbia and I advocate for Serbian wine but to be honest if I am buying wine for around 5€(in stores) I am looking for Spanish or Portugese wines most of the time
It's a really cool thing that: we have great stuff but cheap. However this is a big problem as most people from other countries think that spanish wine is not very good.... I'm very tired about this situation!
@@drmatthewhorkey The Basque Country (EUSKAL HERRIA) is composed of 7 provinces, 2 of which are Navarra. Upper Navarra is south of the Pyrenees (Capital city Pamplona or Iruña) and Lower Navarra is in the north (Capital city St Jean Pied de Port or Donibane Garazi land of the Irouleguy)
I have to reply. Pais Vasco is still part of the entity known as Spain. I have family who live in Bilbao and I was married to my Spanish wife in that wonderful city. I'm not a Spanish nationalist and understand how the Basques feel about this only too well. I am Welsh (Gales) so I really understand. The Welsh have learned to accept that they are part of Britain but they are certainly not part of England. Welsh wine is known as Welsh wine and not British wine. When I'm in Spain, outside a few regions, including the Basque Country, most people don't even know where Wales is and assume I'm English. Spain is such a confusing and misunderstood construct to most people. It's just a word really to capture all of the people of the the landmass. Basques are not Castilians or Catalans, etc, etc. The idea of 'Spain' has been crudely plastered over the landmass by so many vested interests for centuries and then given a psychotic, mythical, veneer by the Franco regime. I really recommend Henry Kamen's superb book 'Imagining Spain' (released in Spanish too I think) for an excellent dissection of what 'Spaniards', especially Spanish nationalists, believe to be 'Spanish'. It's often far from reality.
Don't know how I missed this, but great stuff, love your enthusiasm!
I moved to Spain almost 2 years ago for work and have fallen in love with Garnacha here, thanks for sharing :)
Ahh you are in Garnacha heaven!
In love with spanish wines, espacially the ones fron Priorat. much love for garnacha and tempranillo
One of my fav region
True. Priorat makes outstanding wines. But the prices a getting high now for the best. Still there are great wines at good prices still to be had from the region.
You’ll see a Garnacha vs Tempranillo blind tasting video soon!
I had the Pasos de San Martin. Great value wine. Really hard to beat.
If I can contribute I had the "La Dama" 2018 from Domaines Lupier and it was outstanding. And not much more expensive than the other Navarra reds I had. Can totally recommend that.
Raul Perez bought that estate… great wine!
Thank you for this video. Some great recommendations as usual!
Lucky to live in Poland and be able to order a few of the mentioned wines from Spanish online shops at low, low prices.
I would really like you to do a video on Bierzo and/or Ribeira Sacra - fantastic wines, both red (Mencia - my favorite Spanish red grape I think) and white (Godello), at unbelivable value (excellent wines even in the EUR 10-15 range; gems below EUR 25).
Glad you got your hands on some!
Navarra and garnacha, great video. Have you tasted Domaines Lupier La Dama? One of my favorites, love everything Viña Zorzal does as well. Greetings from Spain!
I have tasted it but couldn’t get a sample. Stellar wine
Navarra and Garnacha but let's not forget that old Temporanillo gem. It's the Spanish Sangiovese and it needs to be bigged up I think. 🍷
Haha I just left a comment about the La Dama. Best wine in a long time so far.
Another overlooked Grenache based region in Spain is Monsant. It basically surrounds the famous (and expensive) Priorat, but the prices are much more down to earth.
Agreed, Monstant showed up in a VLOG last year on location and I also included one in my Grenache from around the world blind tasting video earlier last year
Thats so true! You find really good things there
Once again you do a excellent job of explaining what you are tasting! Thank you!
Wow thanks, I'm trying to get better!
Great episode. I love Spanish wines, but have not tried any wines from the Navarra region, so thanks for sharing!
Enjoy exploring!
Cant Believe you’ve been in Pamplona!! I live here!! Love your Channel!
Yes and I love your city
Absolutely! Just picked up the Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2016 which got 93 pts Robert Parker, and he called it a STEAL at $16. Love Grenache no matter where it gets grown :)
Fantastic wine indeed!
A few years ago I discovered Spanish wines. Vina Alberdi 2016 (Tempranillo) $25ish was the first. Amazing bouquet and palette.. Parcelica chica Monatrell (Mourvedre) $15 and La Enfermera (Tempranillo)$11 and Intruso Grand Cuvee (garnacha) all amazing. Thanks for the new labels to try.
Alberdi is amazing QPR!
Totally agree and it's even more incredible when we look at the value. Spaniards are picking up Alberdi for $15 euros. Another great one is Protos Roble which is an incredible $10 euros. I'll still pay the extra in tax to the U.K. Spain is producing some excellent value wine and some of that is coming from big producers as well.
Great Video :D i love saw you drink like alvaro palacios XDDD (if you know you know Don Alvaro like to drink the wine in a large mouthfull).
2021 can be a special year.
🙏🍷
I have had some great wines from Navarra. Malayeto and Manusco both from vina zorzal. Only 12$ on offer in Denmark. The recevid 94 and 93 points In WA. Awesome wines and an amazing value.
Fantastic value for money
Another nice Garnacha tasting.
I adopted Spanish Garnacha as one of my go-to styles, since even the cheapest among the ones that are sold here deliver. Zorzal is one of the most trustworthy.
Another thing that has to be said about Spanish Garnacha: it's always rated between 3,5 and 4 in Vivino. I didn't do the research on those wines specifically, but I always see it rated below what I think about it.
Spanish Garnacha is often dependable and so affordable domestically!
@@drmatthewhorkey What do you think of Chilean Garnacha? I'm curious about it
Loved the video, as a native spanish speaker was kind of funny to hear you pronounce the names in spanish and specially trying to use a spanish from spain accent (in south america we call it castellano accent), excelent attempt, think most germans feel the same way when we try to pronounce theirs.
Hahahah yes Castilliano throws me off a lot as I grew up learning Latin American Spanish
Great episode. Thanks to you I just ordered Monjardin for the ridiculous price of € 8.04 a bottle. Just insane.
I know right!!!!???
Agreed. Spanish wine is the best bang for buck anywhere.
The Spanish wine map is comparatively easy to navigate and understand compared to Italy and France. Rioja and Ribera are the two giants along with Priorat to a lesser extent. The thing is there are a lot of Denominacion regions clustered quite close together that can often produce wine as good as their better known neighbours at cheaper prices, especially if a fine producer is involved. Indeed, many well know producers have wine interests in multiple regions but made with equal passion and commitment. I'll just mention that the region in the South East of Spain around Valencia has a number of regional Denominacions all producing delicious wine at incredible prices.
Navarre, for example, is bang next door to Rioja and a large wine producer. If you go to a local shop, bar or restaurant in Spain they will always sell local producers and sometimes exclusively so. A lot of Navarra wine isn't much known outside the region but I would tell people that taking the plunge and buying an unknown Spanish wine is probably the most risk free blind buy you can make in the wine world. Besides there are some very reputable producers in Navarre such as Chivite. They use Garnacha, Syrah and Temporanillo in their red wines and also Chardonnay whites. The Coleccion 125 red is a Temporanillo and I think it's excellent. The Coleccion 125 Blanco (white) is a Chardonnay with a very fine reputation. I mention them because I'm familiar but there's tons of other good stuff too.
Really good call Matt. I have to mention Toro wines and their proximity to Ribera as well. Old vines that survived phylloxera producing really deep wine at great value. 30 years ago it was junk but today it's fantastic. I can't think of a country that has transformed itself in terms of wine more than Spain. I remember hearing folk in wine shops joking about it - Italy and France but Spain was low grade cheap and cheerful. Since then there has been a remarkable transformation in quality and Spain leading the way in Old World with fantastic modern labels and marketing as well.
WT
That first paragraph is pure GOLD!!! Thanks a lot. BTW you will see some Toro on the channel soon, including a comparison of high end Tempranillo from the bug DOs!
Hey Matthew! I am going to Navarra in a week and I d like to know where would you recommend to visit winery wise. I am just like you I really like Garnacha!
Thanks Matt
Wineries in this video are good place to start
Isn't Navarra a bit overlooked? I remember when I started my winehobby I bought Navarra crianza's but I don't see them that much in wineshops these days. How much I am a grenache/garnacha fan I haven't purchased Navarra for ages. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. I've been more focussed on Ribera del Duero, Toro, Bierzo, Catalayud, Costers del Segre and Priorat. And for grenache I tend to go southern Rhône. Thanks for this wake up call, I will look into Navarra now. Cheers!
Ahhh enjoy and have fun in rediscovery
Only have tried two Spanish wines from Roija and enjoyed them
Rioja is a classic indeed
Rioja is coming up?
Released a Rioja video a few months ago
In reds The typical blend is Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Garnacha is more used for rose wines.
Things arw changing there w Garnacha
@@drmatthewhorkey , I know, most of the wineries have an 100% Garnacha.
In Red Wine
Some of the best rose wines: Garnacha. Some of the best sparkling Cava; Garnacha Rose. Love to see more widespread adoption.
It’s a fantastic grape!
I love Spanish wines, but I don't think I've tried any from Navarra. Just tried a 100% Bobal that I really enjoyed (the other end of the country though.)
Another underrated grape! I've had some from Argentina, not sure about Spain yet
Ohhh nice grape!
Yes, I'm so glad you left this comment. Bobal is a great southern grape variety. Once Spain got out of the habit of Temporanillo for bulk wine in inappropriate regions they started to go back to indigenous vines like Bobal. That vine can produce stunning top class wine.
50% of my cellar are Spanish wines. From Navarra I like Albret Reserva La Vina de mi Madre.
Niceee
Bordeaux down to Barcelona, and than to Navarra? That’s a kind of “zig-zag”😅
😬
Castillo de Monjardín is known cause they make very good Chardonnay.
I find it a tad too oaky
@@drmatthewhorkey ,the Reserva and the Gran Reserva yes, keep a couple of years. The "Joven" and "Barrica" are 👍🏼. The best red is normaly Deyo Merlot.
I have never had a good quality spanish wine buy I have experiance with lidl wine from Spain, and they are rly not bad drink with friends type of wine, so they bring some quality even at 4-5€ rage. I am from Serbia and I advocate for Serbian wine but to be honest if I am buying wine for around 5€(in stores) I am looking for Spanish or Portugese wines most of the time
Both countries offer great value at that price!
It's a really cool thing that: we have great stuff but cheap. However this is a big problem as most people from other countries think that spanish wine is not very good.... I'm very tired about this situation!
Good for us wine geeks as prices stay low hahah
@@drmatthewhorkey right! And big companies every time try to reduce the price meaning that they can pay grapes at 0,2euros/kg...
Navarra is not exactly Spain but part of the Basque Country.
Even the south?
@@drmatthewhorkey The Basque Country (EUSKAL HERRIA) is composed of 7 provinces, 2 of which are Navarra. Upper Navarra is south of the Pyrenees (Capital city Pamplona or Iruña) and Lower Navarra is in the north (Capital city St Jean Pied de Port or Donibane Garazi land of the Irouleguy)
I have to reply. Pais Vasco is still part of the entity known as Spain. I have family who live in Bilbao and I was married to my Spanish wife in that wonderful city. I'm not a Spanish nationalist and understand how the Basques feel about this only too well. I am Welsh (Gales) so I really understand. The Welsh have learned to accept that they are part of Britain but they are certainly not part of England. Welsh wine is known as Welsh wine and not British wine. When I'm in Spain, outside a few regions, including the Basque Country, most people don't even know where Wales is and assume I'm English.
Spain is such a confusing and misunderstood construct to most people. It's just a word really to capture all of the people of the the landmass. Basques are not Castilians or Catalans, etc, etc. The idea of 'Spain' has been crudely plastered over the landmass by so many vested interests for centuries and then given a psychotic, mythical, veneer by the Franco regime. I really recommend Henry Kamen's superb book 'Imagining Spain' (released in Spanish too I think) for an excellent dissection of what 'Spaniards', especially Spanish nationalists, believe to be 'Spanish'. It's often far from reality.