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93
/ 100
Tasting Notes
The palate is svelte, crisp and long, finishing in a spiced phenolic pucker that whips the palate clean
Classification: White
Variety: Grenache Blanc
Vintage: 2010
Bottle Size: 750ml (Bottle)
Country: Spain
Region: Catalonia,
Alcohol %: 14.0%
Cellaring: 15 Plus Years
Scores
93 / 100"My friendly local Bibendum wine wholesaler man, the grand-poobah-in-lieu, Stu Northey, tends to drop off wines at the end of a day after peddling them around to far more sales orientated targets than I. Lucky me. So, I returned home after a day away from the homestead to find a little care package of Rene Barbier’s Clos Mogador, Nelin and Manyettes looking at me forlornly. Lucky me. The wines had been open a day, so that is the caveat for the notes – not much of an issue with R. Barbier wines which seem to be built for long hauls. Anyway, Nelin is an unusual fruit salady blend of 50% garnacha blanca with the balance in macabeau, viognier, marsanne, roussanne, and the local varieties of pedro ximenez and escanyo velles – from revitalised old vineyards in Priorat, Spain. It can all be a bit mysterious to what degree the other varieties are present, but it’s a planned program, not left entirely up to random numbers. The wine is fermented in egg-shaped concrete tanks before hitting barrels for around 9 months. Pretty, delicate aromas – fresh beeswax, white orchard fruits, honeysuckle – but the feel is of great complexity, stippled with quartz and wet stone mineral-like tinges. The palate is svelte, crisp and long, finishing in a spiced phenolic pucker that whips the palate clean. There is architecture here, fine-boned structure that highlights the layered fruit flavours. Up front is a touch of creamy/waxy slipperiness, the acidity is glassy, but brings some firm edges to the wine. Really interesting, really compelling drinking."
- Mike Bennie
