Grapes of Spain

Xi'ipal Syrah Parcela La Celada

"The expression of a vineyard." —

Winemaker, Raquel Grandival

Winery

CAUDALIA, BODEGAS

Appellation

Navarra D.O.

Grape(s)

100% Syrah from the single, 18-year-old La Celada vineyard

Altitude/Soil

500 meters / extremely stony

Farming Methods

Exclusively organic methods, Vegan

Harvest

Hand harvested into small boxes

Production

3-day cold pre-fermentation maceration, followed by fermentation with native microbes in cement tanks

Aging

Malo in used 400L French oak and aged for 20 months in 400L French oak; Additional 12 months aging in bottle before release

Suggested Retail Price

$38

Wine Name

Scores

Downloads

Reviews

Xi'ipal Syrah Parcela La Celada 2014

92 (VfC) 91 (VM) 91 (IWR)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
92	View from the Cellar	The Xi’ipal Syrah from Bodegas Caudalia is from the single vineyard of “La Celada”, which is a very stony terroir situated at five hundred meters above sea level. The vineyard is farmed organically (though not yet certified) and the wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks, with the malolactic fermentation taking place in French puncheons. The 2014 version is again a bit reductive when first poured and needs some time in decanter to open up (this is syrah after all), but eventually blossoms to offer up a fine nose of black raspberries, cassis, pepper, a bit of shoe polish, smoked meats, vanillin oak and a very good base of soil. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and very well-balanced, with a fine core of fruit, good mineral drive, ripe, well-integrated tannins and good length and grip on the nascently complex finish. This is very good syrah in the making, but it deserves a few years in the cellar to soften up a bit and more fully blossom. Really quite a serious effort! 2021-2045+. Issue #75 – May/June 2018
91	Vinous Media	Lurid violet color. Blackberry, boysenberry, violet and a hint of licorice on the perfumed nose. Provides very good palate coverage and offers appealingly sweet dark berry and spicecake flavors and a peppery nuance that builds steadily as the wine opens up. Supple tannins lend shape to a spicy, clinging finish that leaves behind sweet dark berry liqueur and allspice notes. (Fermented in concrete tanks and aged in used, 400-liter French oak barrels for a year.) Drink 2020-2028 Spain’s Northern Regions Keep it Cool – March 2019
91	International Wine Report	This Syrah saw 12 months of French oak and is sourced from stony site at roughly 500 meters above sea level. Once aroused in the glass, the nose yields some lovely earthy and smoky tones with dark fruits playing second fiddle. The palate is silky smooth and shows a nice combination of stony minerals and smoky tones with black fruits. Downright delicious now, this will continue to evolve over the next decade. June 2018

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Xi'ipal Syrah Parcela La Celada 2015

93 (WRO) 92 (VM) 91 (VfC)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
93	Wine Review Online	I’ve traveled to Navarra sporadically for more than 20 years, and confess to being somewhat surprised that the region hasn’t managed to make a bigger dent in the American market. Starting after my first visit in 1997, I guessed that the widespread usage of French vine varieties would help Navarra gain traction in the USA, but events have proved me wrong. Be that as it may, my qualitative evaluations are definitely better than my commercial predictions (which is why it is a good thing I’m a reviewer rather than an importer!), and there’s no doubt that is a superb wine being offered at a price well below its value in relation to fine Syrah from anywhere – including the northern Rhône. Very deeply pigmented and quite dark in color, it shows expressive aromatic notes of violets and black raspberries, followed by delicious, rich fruit with just the right touch of spicy oak and lots of supple, fine-grained tannins. Gutsy but still classy, this is terrific Syrah. Michael Franz - October 8, 2019
92	Vinous Media	Vivid purple. Powerful black/blue fruit, licorice, smoked meat and floral pastille aromas are complemented by sneaky vanilla and olive nuances. Sappy and nicely concentrated, offering bitter cherry, blueberry and fruitcake flavors that are sweetened by suggestions of vanilla and cola. Shows strong, spicy lift on a very long, gently tannic finish that echoes the olive and blue fruit notes. (Fermented in concrete tanks and aged for a year in used, 400-liter French oak barrels.) Drink 2021-2029 Spain’s Northern Regions Keep it Cool – March 2019
91	View from the Cellar	As I mentioned last year, the Xi’ipal Syrah from Bodegas Caudalia is from the vineyard of “La Celada”, which is a very stony terroir situated at five hundred meters above sea level. The vineyard is farmed organically (though not yet certified) and the wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks, with the malolactic fermentation taking place in French puncheons. The 2015 is ripe and classy on the nose, offering up scents of black raspberries, black cherries, pepper, lovely meatiness, stony soil tones, woodsmoke and a nice touch of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and classy, with a good core, fine soil signature, ripe tannins and a long, complex and gently warm finish. This too is 14.5 percent alcohol, but carries it quite well. 2020-2040. October 2019

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Xi'ipal Syrah Parcela La Celada 2017

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