Bodegas El Nido

THE HISTORY

Bodegas El Nido was envisioned by the 4th generation of the Gil Family as a tribute to the old Monastrell vines, cloned from the ones originally planted by their great-grandfather, Juan Gil Giménez. These vines, some near 90 years old today, are planted on their original, un-grafted rootstocks at 1,300 to 2,300 feet and produce yields less than 1 kilo per plant. The winery was founded in 2001 and is located just down the road from the Gil Family's first winery, Bodegas Juan Gil, in the Valle de la Aragona in Jumilla, Spain. The continental climate of the region is dry, with just 10 - 12 inches of rainfall each year. Rocky and sandy limestone soils provide excellent drainage and allow the vineyards to be dry farmed. Extreme diurnal temperature changes, especially in the growing season, ensure even paced ripening of concentrated berries with complex aromas and flavors. The vineyards are farmed without the use of any pesticides or herbicides. The family invited Chris Ringland to be the principal winemaker on this project. Chris not only is a renowned winemaker, but also works with Monastrell planted in his native Australia. He wanted to produce long-lived wines balancing the bold sweet fruit of the Monastrell grape with Cabernet Sauvignon.

THE PHILOSOPHY

El Nido was conceived with a higher percentage of Cabernet, whereas Clio was designed with a higher percentage of Monastrell. Both wines start with careful hand-harvest of whole bunches, which are transported to the winery in small baskets. Before the grapes are pressed, a secondary selection takes place, keeping each parcel and varietal separate. Fermented in small stainless-steel open-top tanks, the wine is then transferred to new French and American oak barrels for a 2-year aging period. Selection of the very best barrels, cured for 5 years and with a medium toast, is essential to quality and complexity of the final wine. Each barrel is tasted repeatedly through the aging period and any that do not meet the highest quality standards are eliminated. The final limited production blend is made with the very best wine of the vintage. This wine has garnered international acclaim and a loyal following because of the care taken from vine to bottle. It is a representation of the realization of the Gil Family vision set out over 100 years ago to showcase the beauty and quality Jumilla has to offer.