Mustiguillo Atance Bobal 2021

What I really love about Nicholas Wines is bringing someone a bottle that they’ve never heard of from a place they’ve never heard of and knocking their socks off from the very first sip. When I can do it at anywhere near the ridiculous price I can today, that’s the real crème de la crème.

Mustiguillo makes some of those wines that you’ve never heard of but need in your cellar. Tell your friends at your own risk. Founded by Toni Sarrion in the late 1990s, this estate has quickly risen to prominence as one of Spain’s most exciting and forward-thinking producers. Located in the rugged, high-altitude terrain of El Terrerazo in Valencia, Mustiguillo has spearheaded the revival of the indigenous Bobal grape, transforming it from a workhorse variety into a source of world-class wines.

Bobal is actually the 2nd most grown red varietal in Spain after Tempranillo, but it is far less heralded on the international stage. Sarrion’s decision to focus on Bobal was considered risky at the time, but his vision has paid off spectacularly. The estate’s flagship wine, Finca Terrerazo, became the first single-estate wine in the Mediterranean to earn the coveted Vino de Pago status in 2010, Spain’s highest classification for wine. This recognition not only elevated Mustiguillo’s status but also put Bobal on the map as a grape capable of producing wines of exceptional character and complexity.