There are 6,000 cases of the 2011 Viura Chardonnay, which is made from 60% Viura (the indigenous grape of Spain), 25% Chardonnay and 15% Viognier, totally fermented and aged in tank. The wine displays oodles of tropical fruit such as pineapple as well as hints of apricot and orange rind in a fresh, light to medium-bodied, wonderfully crisp and pure style. With a lot more texture and density than one would expect at this price point, the perfume of the wine is intense and endearing. Drink it over the next 1-2 years.
Bodegas Nekeas is located in the town of Anorbe, north of Navarra in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Owned by eight separate families, it is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to value wines that Jorge Ordonez discovered at the beginning of his career. I was a huge fan of these wines when I was covering Spain, and I remain so after tasting through them for this review of the Jorge Ordonez portfolio.
Importer: Value Wines from Fine Estates from Spain, Dedham, MA, tel. (781) 461-5767; Fax (781) 461-2570; www.jorgeordonez.com