There are wines which attract attention because of their presentation, due to having or lacking an original label, showing considerable taste in their design or less so, in keeping with the wine they present or simply not right…, others because of the actual wine itself, and a third group that generally offers a perfect combination. Nietro falls into the latter.
The label is stylish, quite simple but tastefully done; it is elegant and manages to convey the idea that its producers take care over every detail. Perfectly true. As regards the wine, it has character, with an excellent price-quality ratio, a pleasurable wine that offers all the fruitiness of the Garnacha grape (old vine Garnachas) and conveys “terroir”. Great work.
In the glass, Nietro appears a vivid, dark purple cherry colour, bright, clean, with dense tears but of medium to high density. The first impact on the nose makes us totally aware that we are dealing with a wine that has character: it is fresh, clean, Mediterranean, with spicy and black pepper notes. Most appealing. With some aeration in the glass, its aromatic intensity increases, it opens up gently, offering sweetish notes of ginger, juniper – there’s a Christmas feel about it! – mineral notes of graphite and some subtle nuances from oak ageing. All very well integrated and, essentially and most importantly, a fruit-forward (blackcurrant) and fresh red wine.
Its entry is rich, voluminous, in keeping with its nose although showing a bit more warmth. It is powerful, with touches of undergrowth, smooth tannins present that maintain its structure and augur well for a good evolution, and also, a red wine that is predominantly fruit-driven. It is smooth and creamy. Most enjoyable.
Nietro gives us a good mouthfeel, it is long and slightly bitter on the aftertaste, not indicating any unpleasant connotations just that it persists for longer. The alcohol is well-integrated and leaves us with a fine feeling of freshness on the finish. Very moreish.
(Nietro is made from old vine Garnachas, averaging 40 years old, grown at 950 metres above sea level on slate soils, in the municipalities of Castejón de Alarba, Alarba and Acered. Its name, Nietro, comes from an ancient wine measuring unit equivalent to 16 large pitchers or 160 litres.)