2015 El Nido El Nido Spain Red

2015 El Nido El Nido

95 RP

Featured Review

Following the style of the Clio from the same vintage, the 2015 El Nido is a powerful, ripe and concentrated blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Monastrell aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels for 23 months. It's bottled with 16% alcohol, not a shy wine but not one that shows heat, as it keeps the balance in an XL way. It feels concentrated, powerful and young, but the oak is surprisingly more integrated than in the 2014. As it happens with many wines, this is not for everybody, as it has a marked style, but for those who like this profile, this could very well be the finest vintage of El Nido to date. It can be had with powerful food, but it should be better with a few years in bottle. 5,500 bottles were filled in September 2017. Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 95 RP

(aged for two years in new French and American oak barrels) Deep, bright-rimmed purple. A complex, expansive bouquet displays candied black/blue fruit, vanilla, Moroccan spice and cola qualities, with violet and dark chocolate notes building in the glass. Sweet and deeply concentrated, offering hefty, mineral-laced blackberry, cherry compote, fruitcake and vanilla flavors and a suave floral nuance. Firms up slowly on a strikingly long, chewy and dark fruit-dominated finish that's framed by dusty, building tannins.

Vinous Media | 95 VM

This bold, modern-style red is powerful yet remains balanced, offering currant and blackberry flavors that mingle with espresso, black pepper and mineral notes. The polished texture is supported by full but well-integrated tannins and balsamic acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon and Monastrell. Drink now through 2025. 450 cases made, 280 cases imported.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

A ripe and rich Jumilla with some nice fragrant notes on the nose The full tannins really help keep this on track and prevent it from tasting alcoholic or sweet. Then comes the long and elegant, quite dry finish. Drink or hold.

James Suckling | 92 JS

Type of Wine	Spain Red : Spanish wines shouldn't be overlooked under any circumstances, as there are plenty of extraordinary wines coming from this country. There are also lots of grape varietals grown all over Spain. Some of the most gorgeous red varieties are the early-harvested Tempranillo, raspberry-flavored Garnacha, Bobal, Monastrell, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	Spain : Grapevines have been cultivated on the Iberian Peninsula for thousands of years, making Spain one of the oldest wine producing countries on earth. With nearly 1 million hectares under vine, Spain is in possession of more grapevines that any other nation in the world. Today, vineyard cultivation takes place in virtually every administrative district, making it a leading producer on today’s market. Spain’s vineyards generate an annual wine output of 40.7 million hectoliters, ranking it third in the world behind only France and Italy. Spain is a land of breathtaking beauty, diverse topography, complex cultures and a time honored tradition of viticulture. The country’s broad geographical values play a major role in defining the many wine styles produced. From the cool climes of Galicia and the snow-capped Pyrenees to arid Andalucía in the south, and every region in between the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, Spain boasts one of the most diverse terroirs in the world. The country’s myriad of soils and complex climate systems creates an expansive planting ground for a multitude of varietals. Tempranillo has long played an instrumental role in Spanish winemaking. It is important to note that of the 236,000 hectares being cultivated world-wide, 202,000 are planted in Spain. It is commonly utilized in the production of still red wines from Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Toro and has taken the world by storm. In the past few decades, wines produced in Rioja have been some of the most popular, and in 2017, wines with a “Rioja” label were the most purchased on the wine market. Bodegas Vega Sicilia, located in Ribera del Duero in northern Spain has been one of the most sought after producers hailing from Spain, and Tinta de Toro (otherwise known as Tempranillo everywhere else) has certainly placed its mark on the region and the world. Spain is also renowned for its production of sweet, raisened Moscatel, fortified Madeira, sparkling Cava and its rising, but shining star, Albarino, which hails from the Rias Baixas appellation of Galicia. Some of the most recognizable names in the world of wine hail from Spain. In the past few decades there has been a collision of New and Old World winemaking; one which has greatly contributed to the continued success of the Spanish wine industry. Modernization of vineyards, facilities and viticulture has greatly improved the significance of Spain in the wine market. Syrah and Merlot have taken root in Spanish wine regions and combined with the indigenous Garnacha (Grenache) Garnacha Blanca (Grenache Blanc), Godello and many others, the country has not only adapted to new styles of winemaking but also the ever changing palate of consumers.