2023 Bobal 'El Renegado', Bodegas Nodus

Old Vine Rebellion

Deep, full-fruited and packed with character, El Renegado shows just how compelling Bobal can be when old vines are allowed to speak clearly. Ripe fruits of the forest, strawberry and raspberry lead the way, followed by liquorice, dark spice and a subtle smoky note that gives the wine extra depth and shape. The palate is generous and full-bodied, with juicy red and dark berry fruit at its core, but there is freshness here too, which keeps the wine lively rather than heavy. Plush, expressive and quietly distinctive, this is a red with plenty of Mediterranean warmth, but also real poise.

For when: the grill is hot, the table is full, and the bottle needs to bring both fruit and swagger.
Pairs with: grilled lamb, smoky sausages, roast peppers, or rich rice dishes with spice.
If this wine were a place: a high Spanish vineyard at sunset, with warm air, dry earth and wild herbs all around.

Bodegas Nodus is based in one of the premium areas of Utiel-Requena, inland from Valencia, where altitude and a distinctly Mediterranean climate with continental influence help shape wines of ripeness and freshness. El Renegado is the estate’s celebration of its old vines, with all the fruit coming from the single El Renegado vineyard, where the vines are at least 50 years old. That mature vine age, combined with organic farming and careful harvesting in the cool of the night or early morning, gives the wine its concentration, aromatic clarity and distinctive sense of place.