2022 Clos Mogador Nelin Blanco
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | |
| Appellation | Priorat (Appellation) |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Grape | , |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14.5%) |
| Drink window | 2025 - 2032 |
In stock
63 items available
Description
The Clos Mogador Nelin Blanco 2022 is an exceptional white wine from the prestigious Priorat region in Spain. This wine is produced by the renowned Clos Mogador winery, led by visionary winemaker René Barbier. The Nelin is the result of a carefully composed blend of mainly Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo grapes, originating from a single vineyard of 5.8 hectares, located at an altitude of between 350 and 500 meters.
At Nelin, they work with the skins, inspired by the old «brisats» method (fermentation with skins) and use indigenous yeasts for longer fermentations. Fermentation can last up to 6 months and then has a minimum of 15 months of aging. They first mature the wine in wood, followed by cement vats, clay pots and even some stainless steel at the end of the process.
Flavour profile of the Clos Mogador Nelin Blanco
In the glass, the Nelin Blanco 2022 presents itself with a light straw yellow color. The bouquet is intense and complex, with seductive aromas of fruits such as peach, apricot, lychee and pink grapefruit. These fruity notes are complemented by mineral accents and subtle hints of flowers and honey, which contribute to the refinement of the wine.
On tasting, the wine reveals a harmonious combination of volume, fullness and finesse. A lively acidity refreshes the structure, while the wine unfolds into an intense and delicate palate. The persistent finish is unusual and prolongs the taste experience in a delicate way.
The Clos Mogador Nelin Blanco is a blend of different grape varieties, with the main varieties being Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo. These grapes come from the Priorat region, known for its rugged terroir and mineral wealth, which contributes to the complexity of the wine.
Garnacha Blanca
Garnacha Blanca is a white variety of the well-known Garnacha grape. This grape is known for its full body, low acidity and aromatic intensity. Wines made from Garnacha Blanca often have notes of ripe stone fruit, citrus, almonds and floral hints. In the Nelin, this grape provides structure and depth.
Macabeo (Viura)
Macabeo is a versatile grape that is widely used in both still wines and Cava. It brings freshness and elegance to the blend, with aromas of green apple, citrus, white flowers and sometimes a subtle spiciness. Macabeo contributes to the balance and refreshing acidity of the wine.
In addition to these two main varieties, Nelin Blanco also contains small amounts of other grapes, such as Pedro Ximénez, Roussanne, and Marsanne. These grapes add extra aromatic complexity, with hints of honey, spice, and nuts. The combination of these grapes and the unique slate soils of Priorat make for a wine with an excellent balance of freshness, minerality, and a full, layered structure.
René Barbier Meyer, Clos Mogador Winery Winemaker
Nelin is how our family interprets a Priorat white wine. In Nelin we play with skins, inspired by the old «brisats»*, working with indigenous yeast, fermentations longer than 6 months, aging period of more than 15 months and using all kinds of materials, starting the first phase with woods, then followed by cement vats, clay pots and even some stainless steel in the end. Lately we are very excited reintroducing unique autochthonous varieties such as the “trepat blanc” or the “cartoixà”. 2020 is a year of contrasts. A year with a very abundant rainfall at the beginning of the cycle, a gift for our country. It was also a year of learning with the appearance of fewer common diseases in our countries. We lost some blossom, but we worked hard until well into June. At the end of that month, there was a radical change in the weather, a dry and hot summer, but unlike other years, the plants did not suffer any stress and we were able to arrive at harvest time with grapes that easily reached good maturity. With all this we have achieved a pleasant, balanced wine. I hope you enjoy it. (* Fermentations with skins)
Specifications
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Catalunya |
| Appellation | Priorat (Appellation) |
| Winery | Clos Mogador |
| Grape | Garnacha, Macabeo |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Drinking as of | 2025 |
| Drinking till | 2032 |
| Alcohol % | 14.5 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Promotion | On Sale |
| Parker rating | 96 |
| James Suckling rating | 94 |
| Tasting Profiles | Aromatisch, Bloemig, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Kruidig, Rijk, Rond, Vol, Wit fruit |
| Drink moments | Barbecue, Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 96
Reviewed by:
Luis Gutiérrez
Release Price:
$70
Drink Date:
2026 - 2033
All the wines go through malolactic in barrel, including the white 2022 Nelin, a blend that has been changing over time. In 2022, it was produced exclusively with local varieties, Garnacha Blanca, Macabeu, Xarel·lo, Cariñena Blanca, Picapoll Blanco, Trepat Blanco, PX and Escanyavelles from four small organic vineyards. The juice from the pressing of the full clusters fermented with indigenous yeasts in 1,200-liter oak foudres, with a slow and long fermentation that takes between three and nine months. It matured in foudre for one year and then was transferred to stainless steel for six to eight more months. Despite the dry conditions and the heat waves, it came after the 2021, and the vines had enough reserves, so the wines are fresher than expected. It's a Mediterranean blend with 14% alcohol and 5.3 grams of acidity, clean and harmonious. The north-facing plots behaved very well, and the varieties can take the conditions without a problem, so the wine doesn't seem affected at all. In fact, it's quite fresh, medium-bodied and very tasty, serious and characterful, a triumph over the extreme conditions of the year. It's a white with aging potential. 9,000 bottles were filled in April 2024.
Clos Mogador is the winery from the Barbier family in Gratallops in Priorat, where they have 40 hectares of vineyards and produce 60,000 to 65,000 bottles of wine per year. In the last few years, they have had to be creative to be able to continue producing wines with energy and balance, given the challenging weather of recent years. They have started to use direct pressings, employ carbonic maceration of the grapes from south-facing plots or varieties more sensitive to drought, play with the blends to achieve more freshness and use less oxidative materials for the élevage.
This time, I tasted with Christian Barber, who has also started his own personal project (Christian Barber i Gisela, reviewed separately). He's in charge of the vineyards and explained the changes they've been implementing to adapt to the new climate conditions, such as using cover crops, harvesting earlier, working with more indigenous varieties, fermenting with some full clusters and some carbonic maceration, etc. He works in regenerative agriculture and has suffered a lot in the last couple of years because of the lack of rain. The vineyards are certified organic, and they also have a biodynamic certification from the Regenerative Viticulture Alliance, but for now, the bottles don't carry the seal. Yields have been abysmal for Clos Mogador in recent years: in 2023, they produced 50% of the normal volume, and in 2024, they produced half of what they produced in 2023! But the wines are as good as ever or even better!
Published: May 01, 2025
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James Suckling
Score
94
Avg Price (ex-tax)
$ 57
Clos Mogador Priorat Nelin 2022
Thursday, Sep 19, 2024
Color
White
Country
Spain
Region
Cataluña
Vintage
2022
Flinty nose of baked citrus, white sesame and touches of nori, yellow apples and pine nuts. Some dried Mediterranean spices and herbs, too. Quite supple yet fresh, with medium acidity and a flavorful center. Medium- to full-bodied with a lengthy finish. Quite unique and complex. Delicious now, but can hold.
Zekun Shuai
Senior Editor
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
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Wijnhuis
René Barbier is, together with Carles Pastrana of Clos de l 'Obac, Alvaro Palacios (from Rioja, but known by L'Ermita in Priorat) and José Lluis Perez (Clos Martinet, and father of Sarah Perez), one of the "founding fathers "of this recently discovered or rediscovered Priorat wine region. Clos Mogador is named after the single vineyard that René Barbier started cultivating in the 1970s, in the now world-famous village of Gratallops. Clos Mogador wines have become mythical wines, just like Sassicaia from Italy and Château Margaux from France. Clos Mogador has the cult status of great world wine. A special feature in wine making at René Barbier: he presses the grapes with an olive oil press, so that only half of the grape juice is obtained (in contrast to a normal press). As a result, the wine is even 50% more concentrated and looks almost likewise in the glass. Priorat wines are already naturally quite concentrated, and yields are usually already microscopic. Robert Parker was one of the first international journalists to give Clos Mogador wines extra critical acclaim.
The Clos Mogador vineyard is located at an altitude of about 800 meters in the form of an amphitheater with stone terraces. Biodiversity is the magic word here: in addition to grape plants, you will find fruit trees, olive trees and local native shrubs here. The grape plants, some of which are eighty to one hundred years old, grow on a slate base. Slate is a poor and hard soil that has the main property of generating a high acidity in the grapes. The location of the vineyard on slopes in a northeasterly direction to the sea ensures that the nights are very chilly. Because the temperature in the summer in that place is usually thirty degrees Celsius during the day, this means that there are large temperature differences. This ensures that dyes and tannins accumulate in large quantities in the grape skins and that is a sign of quality. The grapes are grown biodynamically, so with attention and respect for the plant and natural conditions, and all work on the land is carried out by hand.
In La figuera (Montsant) his vineyards of René Barbier lie against a mountain slope at an altitude of 400 meters approximately. Beautiful Garnacha come from in this area. This is where the famous Espectacle wine comes from. Nice and ripe with enough acids due to its height. He only picks the grapes when everyone has already harvested, which makes them nice and ripe and full. And its vines are 120 years old with low yields. In Falset his bodega is located on a modern local industrial area Celler laurona.
Grand Cruwines is the co-importer of the wines of Rene Barbier, such as the Clos Mogador, the Espectacle, Manyetes and the Nelin Blanco.
The Clos Mogador Nelin Blanco 2022 is an exceptional white wine from the prestigious Priorat region in Spain. This wine is produced by the renowned Clos Mogador winery, led by visionary winemaker René Barbier. The Nelin is the result of a carefully composed blend of mainly Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo grapes, originating from a single vineyard of 5.8 hectares, located at an altitude of between 350 and 500 meters.
At Nelin, they work with the skins, inspired by the old «brisats» method (fermentation with skins) and use indigenous yeasts for longer fermentations. Fermentation can last up to 6 months and then has a minimum of 15 months of aging. They first mature the wine in wood, followed by cement vats, clay pots and even some stainless steel at the end of the process.
Flavour profile of the Clos Mogador Nelin Blanco
In the glass, the Nelin Blanco 2022 presents itself with a light straw yellow color. The bouquet is intense and complex, with seductive aromas of fruits such as peach, apricot, lychee and pink grapefruit. These fruity notes are complemented by mineral accents and subtle hints of flowers and honey, which contribute to the refinement of the wine.
On tasting, the wine reveals a harmonious combination of volume, fullness and finesse. A lively acidity refreshes the structure, while the wine unfolds into an intense and delicate palate. The persistent finish is unusual and prolongs the taste experience in a delicate way.
The Clos Mogador Nelin Blanco is a blend of different grape varieties, with the main varieties being Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo. These grapes come from the Priorat region, known for its rugged terroir and mineral wealth, which contributes to the complexity of the wine.
Garnacha Blanca
Garnacha Blanca is a white variety of the well-known Garnacha grape. This grape is known for its full body, low acidity and aromatic intensity. Wines made from Garnacha Blanca often have notes of ripe stone fruit, citrus, almonds and floral hints. In the Nelin, this grape provides structure and depth.
Macabeo (Viura)
Macabeo is a versatile grape that is widely used in both still wines and Cava. It brings freshness and elegance to the blend, with aromas of green apple, citrus, white flowers and sometimes a subtle spiciness. Macabeo contributes to the balance and refreshing acidity of the wine.
In addition to these two main varieties, Nelin Blanco also contains small amounts of other grapes, such as Pedro Ximénez, Roussanne, and Marsanne. These grapes add extra aromatic complexity, with hints of honey, spice, and nuts. The combination of these grapes and the unique slate soils of Priorat make for a wine with an excellent balance of freshness, minerality, and a full, layered structure.
René Barbier Meyer, Clos Mogador Winery Winemaker
Nelin is how our family interprets a Priorat white wine. In Nelin we play with skins, inspired by the old «brisats»*, working with indigenous yeast, fermentations longer than 6 months, aging period of more than 15 months and using all kinds of materials, starting the first phase with woods, then followed by cement vats, clay pots and even some stainless steel in the end. Lately we are very excited reintroducing unique autochthonous varieties such as the “trepat blanc” or the “cartoixà”. 2020 is a year of contrasts. A year with a very abundant rainfall at the beginning of the cycle, a gift for our country. It was also a year of learning with the appearance of fewer common diseases in our countries. We lost some blossom, but we worked hard until well into June. At the end of that month, there was a radical change in the weather, a dry and hot summer, but unlike other years, the plants did not suffer any stress and we were able to arrive at harvest time with grapes that easily reached good maturity. With all this we have achieved a pleasant, balanced wine. I hope you enjoy it. (* Fermentations with skins)
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Catalunya |
| Appellation | Priorat (Appellation) |
| Winery | Clos Mogador |
| Grape | Garnacha, Macabeo |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Drinking as of | 2025 |
| Drinking till | 2032 |
| Alcohol % | 14.5 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Promotion | On Sale |
| Parker rating | 96 |
| James Suckling rating | 94 |
| Tasting Profiles | Aromatisch, Bloemig, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Kruidig, Rijk, Rond, Vol, Wit fruit |
| Drink moments | Barbecue, Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 96
Reviewed by:
Luis Gutiérrez
Release Price:
$70
Drink Date:
2026 - 2033
All the wines go through malolactic in barrel, including the white 2022 Nelin, a blend that has been changing over time. In 2022, it was produced exclusively with local varieties, Garnacha Blanca, Macabeu, Xarel·lo, Cariñena Blanca, Picapoll Blanco, Trepat Blanco, PX and Escanyavelles from four small organic vineyards. The juice from the pressing of the full clusters fermented with indigenous yeasts in 1,200-liter oak foudres, with a slow and long fermentation that takes between three and nine months. It matured in foudre for one year and then was transferred to stainless steel for six to eight more months. Despite the dry conditions and the heat waves, it came after the 2021, and the vines had enough reserves, so the wines are fresher than expected. It's a Mediterranean blend with 14% alcohol and 5.3 grams of acidity, clean and harmonious. The north-facing plots behaved very well, and the varieties can take the conditions without a problem, so the wine doesn't seem affected at all. In fact, it's quite fresh, medium-bodied and very tasty, serious and characterful, a triumph over the extreme conditions of the year. It's a white with aging potential. 9,000 bottles were filled in April 2024.
Clos Mogador is the winery from the Barbier family in Gratallops in Priorat, where they have 40 hectares of vineyards and produce 60,000 to 65,000 bottles of wine per year. In the last few years, they have had to be creative to be able to continue producing wines with energy and balance, given the challenging weather of recent years. They have started to use direct pressings, employ carbonic maceration of the grapes from south-facing plots or varieties more sensitive to drought, play with the blends to achieve more freshness and use less oxidative materials for the élevage.
This time, I tasted with Christian Barber, who has also started his own personal project (Christian Barber i Gisela, reviewed separately). He's in charge of the vineyards and explained the changes they've been implementing to adapt to the new climate conditions, such as using cover crops, harvesting earlier, working with more indigenous varieties, fermenting with some full clusters and some carbonic maceration, etc. He works in regenerative agriculture and has suffered a lot in the last couple of years because of the lack of rain. The vineyards are certified organic, and they also have a biodynamic certification from the Regenerative Viticulture Alliance, but for now, the bottles don't carry the seal. Yields have been abysmal for Clos Mogador in recent years: in 2023, they produced 50% of the normal volume, and in 2024, they produced half of what they produced in 2023! But the wines are as good as ever or even better!
Published: May 01, 2025
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
Score
94
Avg Price (ex-tax)
$ 57
Clos Mogador Priorat Nelin 2022
Thursday, Sep 19, 2024
Color
White
Country
Spain
Region
Cataluña
Vintage
2022
Flinty nose of baked citrus, white sesame and touches of nori, yellow apples and pine nuts. Some dried Mediterranean spices and herbs, too. Quite supple yet fresh, with medium acidity and a flavorful center. Medium- to full-bodied with a lengthy finish. Quite unique and complex. Delicious now, but can hold.
Zekun Shuai
Senior Editor
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
René Barbier is, together with Carles Pastrana of Clos de l 'Obac, Alvaro Palacios (from Rioja, but known by L'Ermita in Priorat) and José Lluis Perez (Clos Martinet, and father of Sarah Perez), one of the "founding fathers "of this recently discovered or rediscovered Priorat wine region. Clos Mogador is named after the single vineyard that René Barbier started cultivating in the 1970s, in the now world-famous village of Gratallops. Clos Mogador wines have become mythical wines, just like Sassicaia from Italy and Château Margaux from France. Clos Mogador has the cult status of great world wine. A special feature in wine making at René Barbier: he presses the grapes with an olive oil press, so that only half of the grape juice is obtained (in contrast to a normal press). As a result, the wine is even 50% more concentrated and looks almost likewise in the glass. Priorat wines are already naturally quite concentrated, and yields are usually already microscopic. Robert Parker was one of the first international journalists to give Clos Mogador wines extra critical acclaim.
The Clos Mogador vineyard is located at an altitude of about 800 meters in the form of an amphitheater with stone terraces. Biodiversity is the magic word here: in addition to grape plants, you will find fruit trees, olive trees and local native shrubs here. The grape plants, some of which are eighty to one hundred years old, grow on a slate base. Slate is a poor and hard soil that has the main property of generating a high acidity in the grapes. The location of the vineyard on slopes in a northeasterly direction to the sea ensures that the nights are very chilly. Because the temperature in the summer in that place is usually thirty degrees Celsius during the day, this means that there are large temperature differences. This ensures that dyes and tannins accumulate in large quantities in the grape skins and that is a sign of quality. The grapes are grown biodynamically, so with attention and respect for the plant and natural conditions, and all work on the land is carried out by hand.
In La figuera (Montsant) his vineyards of René Barbier lie against a mountain slope at an altitude of 400 meters approximately. Beautiful Garnacha come from in this area. This is where the famous Espectacle wine comes from. Nice and ripe with enough acids due to its height. He only picks the grapes when everyone has already harvested, which makes them nice and ripe and full. And its vines are 120 years old with low yields. In Falset his bodega is located on a modern local industrial area Celler laurona.
Grand Cruwines is the co-importer of the wines of Rene Barbier, such as the Clos Mogador, the Espectacle, Manyetes and the Nelin Blanco.