Grapes of Spain

Xi'ipal Tempranillo La Abejera

"seamless in texture, offering red and dark berry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen slowly as the wine opens up." —

Joshua Raynolds Vinous Media

Winery

CAUDALIA, BODEGAS

Appellation

Navarra D.O.

Grape(s)

100% Tempranillo from the single, 45-year-old La Abejera vineyard

Altitude/Soil

750 meters / slope of eroded clays, lime and sandstones

Farming Methods

Practicing organic, Vegan

Harvest

Hand harvested

Production

Fermented with native microbes in cement tank

Aging

Aged for 22 months in used French oak barrels (different capacities); additional 12 months aging in bottle before release

Suggested Retail Price

$38

Wine Name

Scores

Downloads

Reviews

Xi'ipal Tempranillo La Abejera 2015

92 (VM) 90 (I-WR) 90 (IWR) 90 (JS)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
92	Vinous Media	Deep, bright-rimmed ruby. Mineral-accented black raspberry and cherry-vanilla aromas are complemented by mocha, pot-pourri and star anise notes. Gently sweet and seamless in texture, offering red and dark berry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen slowly as the wine opens up. Sappy and energetic in style, showing strong thrust and harmonious tannins on the long, floral-dominated finish. (Fermented in concrete tanks and aged for a year in used, 400-liter French oak barrels.) Drink 2020-2026 Spain’s Northern Regions Keep it Cool – March 2019
90	International Wine Review	This 100% single vineyard Tempranillo displays an opaque robe with dark cherry chocolate and toasted oak aromas. It is lush and full on the palate with dark fruit and a slightly smoky note. Aged 12 months in 400L French oak barrels, it offers sweet dark fruit, round tannins and a dry finish. "Spanish Wines of Value and Quality" - June 20, 2019
90	International Wine Report	This smoky and savory Tempranillo takes on a nice combination of red and dark fruits on the palate. With tension building in the glass, the silky mouthfeel really drives this excellent bottling. Give this a lengthy decant if enjoying in its youth. June 2018
90	JamesSuckling.com	Some smoke and caramel, as well as ripe blackberry and plum. A big, dry red with slightly rustic tannins, but plenty of personality. Drink now or hold. August 2018

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Xi'ipal Tempranillo La Abejera 2017

90 (WE)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
90	Wine Enthusiast	Aromas of purple fig, dark chocolate and pipe tobacco prep the palate for flavors of pomegranate, cherry, chocolate-cov¬ered espresso bean, dried Mediterranean herbs and orange zest. Durable tannins hang on into a lasting finish. Mike DeSimone - Issue May 2023

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Xi'ipal Tempranillo La Abejera 2019

93 (VfC)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
93	View from the Cellar	The 2019 Tempranillo “Xi’ipal” from Bodegas Caudalía hails from their highest elevation vineyard, as these vines sit at an altitude of seven hundred and fifty meters and are planted on a mix of crumbling clay, limestone and sandy soils. The wine is fermented in cement with native yeasts and raised for a year and a half in used French oak casks, prior to bottling and another eighteen months of bottle aging in the cellars prior to release. The 2019 tips the scales at fourteen percent octane and offers up a deep and youthful nose of dark berries, black cherries, cigar wrapper, a nice touch of meatiness, a fine base of soil, a dollop of tempranillo spice tones and a gentle framing of French wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, tangy, complex and nicely structured, with fine depth at the core, good soil signature and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, nascently complex and well balanced finish. This too will need plenty of cellaring time to soften up its chassis of tannin, but it will be a fine bottle in due course. 2035-2075. John Gilman, Issue 117, May– June 2025

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