Showing 1 to 2 of 2 (1 Pages)
Buy Wine from Bodegas El Nido
Bodegas El Nido is one of those rare appearances in the world of wine that, from the very first moment, baffles and fascinates in equal parts. Founded in 2002 in southeastern Spain, in the municipality of Jumilla, this winery burst onto the national wine scene with a groundbreaking proposal: extremely concentrated, deep, powerful wines, but with a measured, almost mathematical elegance. Not for nothing, behind this project are two names that say it all: Gil Family Estates and Chris Ringland, a cult Australian winemaker, known for his huge Shiraz in the Barossa Valley.
Jumilla - Rough land, vibrant soul
Often overshadowed by more celebrated regions such as Rioja or Ribera del Duero, Jumilla is actually one of the most interesting areas of the Spanish Mediterranean. Halfway between the high plateau of Murcia and the dry heat of the Levante, Jumilla offers a mosaic of extreme conditions: altitudes ranging from 600 to 900 metres, chalky soils poor in organic matter, almost permanent sunshine all year round and minimal rainfall. The result: a Monastrell, an indigenous, wild and deeply Mediterranean variety, which has learned to survive in a harsh environment, producing small, thick-skinned grapes with brutal concentration. There is no light wine in Jumilla, and even less so in El Nido.
Obsession for detail - Viticultural precision and technical minimalism
What sets Bodegas El Nido apart is not just the terroir, but its absolutely obsessive approach to quality, precision and detail. Just 44 hectares of vineyards, some of which are old Monastrell vines more than 50 years old, goblet-grown and extremely dry. To this is added a rigorous selection of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, planted on stony soils, oriented to maximise sun exposure without losing night-time freshness. Each parcel is vinified separately, fermented in small stainless steel tanks and then aged in French and American oak barrels, with constant monitoring of the wine's condition.
Clio and El Nido - Two wines, a declaration of principles
At El Nido only two labels are produced: Clio and El Nido, and that says a lot. There is no room for experiments or second ranges. Clio is a blend of Monastrell (70%) with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a wine that, even in cooler vintages, displays an almost overwhelming aromatic power: blackberries, prunes, liquorice, bitter cocoa, hints of incense, leather and a mineral background that recalls the warm dust of southeastern Spain. The texture is glyceric, the tannins are present but tamed, and the finish is very long, with balsamic hints that balance the whole.
But it is with El Nido, the wine that gives its name to the winery, where true paroxysm is reached. Here the proportion is reversed: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Monastrell, making it one of the most intense and structured reds in Spain. A wine that is not for every day or for everyone: dense, dark, with an alcoholic content of around or even over 16º, but with a surprising harmony. The ageing of more than 20 months in new barrels rounds it off without taming it completely. It is a wine that beats with the pulse of the hot earth, but also with the discipline of a goldsmith. A recurring anecdote in private tastings is the inability of many experts to locate it geographically in blind tastings: some place it in Napa Valley, others in Barossa Valley, others even in Bolgheri. But no: it is Jumilla, it is El Nido.
From forgotten region to cult reference
This type of wine raises a necessary question: can a region traditionally associated with volume and low value-added wines produce cult labels? The answer is in the bottle. Bodegas El Nido changed the narrative of Jumilla, demonstrating that, with a rigorous interpretation of terroir, the right technical know-how and a philosophy that prioritises the essentials, even neglected areas can produce world-class wines.
It is worth mentioning that, despite the modern profile of its wines, at El Nido there are no concessions to easy marketing. There are no aggressive campaigns or massive presence in networks. Its strategy is different: produce little, speak softly and let the wine speak for itself. And it does, with an eloquence that has led Clio and El Nido to occupy spaces on the menus of Michelin-starred restaurants, in private collections and at international auctions.
- ;
-
-
Buy Wine from Bodegas El Nido
Bodegas El Nido is one of those rare appearances in the world of wine that, from the very first moment, baffles and fascinates in equal parts. Founded in 2002 in southeastern Spain, in the municipality of Jumilla, this winery burst onto the national wine scene with a groundbreaking proposal: extremely concentrated, deep, powerful wines, but with a measured, almost mathematical elegance. Not for nothing, behind this project are two names that say it all: Gil Family Estates and Chris Ringland, a cult Australian winemaker, known for his huge Shiraz in the Barossa Valley.
Jumilla - Rough land, vibrant soul
Often overshadowed by more celebrated regions such as Rioja or Ribera del Duero, Jumilla is actually one of the most interesting areas of the Spanish Mediterranean. Halfway between the high plateau of Murcia and the dry heat of the Levante, Jumilla offers a mosaic of extreme conditions: altitudes ranging from 600 to 900 metres, chalky soils poor in organic matter, almost permanent sunshine all year round and minimal rainfall. The result: a Monastrell, an indigenous, wild and deeply Mediterranean variety, which has learned to survive in a harsh environment, producing small, thick-skinned grapes with brutal concentration. There is no light wine in Jumilla, and even less so in El Nido.
Obsession for detail - Viticultural precision and technical minimalism
What sets Bodegas El Nido apart is not just the terroir, but its absolutely obsessive approach to quality, precision and detail. Just 44 hectares of vineyards, some of which are old Monastrell vines more than 50 years old, goblet-grown and extremely dry. To this is added a rigorous selection of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, planted on stony soils, oriented to maximise sun exposure without losing night-time freshness. Each parcel is vinified separately, fermented in small stainless steel tanks and then aged in French and American oak barrels, with constant monitoring of the wine's condition.
Clio and El Nido - Two wines, a declaration of principles
At El Nido only two labels are produced: Clio and El Nido, and that says a lot. There is no room for experiments or second ranges. Clio is a blend of Monastrell (70%) with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a wine that, even in cooler vintages, displays an almost overwhelming aromatic power: blackberries, prunes, liquorice, bitter cocoa, hints of incense, leather and a mineral background that recalls the warm dust of southeastern Spain. The texture is glyceric, the tannins are present but tamed, and the finish is very long, with balsamic hints that balance the whole.
But it is with El Nido, the wine that gives its name to the winery, where true paroxysm is reached. Here the proportion is reversed: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Monastrell, making it one of the most intense and structured reds in Spain. A wine that is not for every day or for everyone: dense, dark, with an alcoholic content of around or even over 16º, but with a surprising harmony. The ageing of more than 20 months in new barrels rounds it off without taming it completely. It is a wine that beats with the pulse of the hot earth, but also with the discipline of a goldsmith. A recurring anecdote in private tastings is the inability of many experts to locate it geographically in blind tastings: some place it in Napa Valley, others in Barossa Valley, others even in Bolgheri. But no: it is Jumilla, it is El Nido.
From forgotten region to cult reference
This type of wine raises a necessary question: can a region traditionally associated with volume and low value-added wines produce cult labels? The answer is in the bottle. Bodegas El Nido changed the narrative of Jumilla, demonstrating that, with a rigorous interpretation of terroir, the right technical know-how and a philosophy that prioritises the essentials, even neglected areas can produce world-class wines.
It is worth mentioning that, despite the modern profile of its wines, at El Nido there are no concessions to easy marketing. There are no aggressive campaigns or massive presence in networks. Its strategy is different: produce little, speak softly and let the wine speak for itself. And it does, with an eloquence that has led Clio and El Nido to occupy spaces on the menus of Michelin-starred restaurants, in private collections and at international auctions.