Bodegas El Nido - Jumilla 2002

"The 2002 El Nido is a blend of 25-year old Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and 60-year old Mourvedre (30%) that received the same winemaking treatment as its less expensive sibling. This stunning Spanish red further demonstrates what can be accomplished in Jumilla with modern winemaking and relatively old vines. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color to the rim as well as an extraordinary nose of lead pencil shavings, blackberries, creme de cassis, smoke, chocolate, and hints of tobacco as well as cedar. Rich and full-bodied, with less intrusive oak than in the Clio, this profound wine must be tasted to be believed. Anticipated maturity: now-2016+.

This is a joint project between the Gil family, who has done so much to put Jumilla on the map with the wines from Finca Luzon, wine broker Jorge Ordonez, one of the pioneers for unearthing high quality wines from Jumilla, and famed Barossa, Australia winemaker, Chris Ringland. The debut releases, the 2002 is a spectacular effort that establishes new benchmarks, not only in terms of its bold pricing, but also the extraordinary quality of what is in the bottle. The fruit is harvested by hand in small baskets, picked very ripe, given a severe triage, and fermented in open top, three to four ton vats. The wine is aged in 100% new French and American oak for malolactic fermentation and for 26 months prior to being bottled.

This wine is just one more reason why the wine world is more exciting than ever!" - Wine Advocate, czerwiec 2005