TNR: 2004 Bodegas El Nido Clio

Here's my note:

• 2004 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio - Spain, Murcia, Jumilla (4/17/2007)
  This note is from the second night on this bottle. What a rich, lush wine. Slightly burnt nose with dark fruit, mocha, and some forest floor. Very rich mouthfeel, showing more of that burnt character, ripe (not over-ripe) fruit, maybe some chocolate, and an almost rhone-like garrigue. Great finish with fine tannins, good balancing acidity, and no hard edges. This reminds me a little of the 97 Insignia in its structure and character with a slightly earthier profile. Probably worth a couple of extra points with a few years of age. (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Thanks. How was it on the first night?

Boardo -- Not ready. The two bottles I've had while they did improve with decant were still awkward. I think there's a good wine there, but for me the oak was just overpowering the fruit and at present moment there wasn't enough acidity to make it work with food.

The second bottle I opened a month ago was better, but still one note and that note, mostly oak. It was served without food and many folks new to wine loved it.

Held some back to taste the next day and the fruit was gone -- syrupy and still the oak monster.

I'm hoping this integrates and comes around.

Thanks for the notes and input. I am holding one of these at home and waiting for the right occasion to enjoy it. I plan on having it alone, not with food. I've had more people than I can count on my hands and toes absolutely RAVE about this stuff, so I'm really looking forward to it!!

I enjoy earthy notes, dark fruit, and oak flavors, so I think this wine may REALLY be up my alley! Can't wait!

The 2003 is outstanding. I'm bringing a bottle of it to an offline tonight. The 2004 is supposed to be slightly better.

A fantastic QPR, but it has been difficult to find in this area, and if you don't hurry, it's gone!

I never got to try the '03, but have heard absolutely wonderful things about both! Actually, this thread was the first time I've heard anything that wasn't glowingly positive about the Clio.

quote:

Originally posted by latour67:
A fantastic QPR, but it has been difficult to find in this area, and if you don't hurry, it's gone!

Same here as well. This juice has been REAL tough to get your hands on! My local shop scored three cases, and they sold out in single bottle pre-orders insantly! I only managed to grab one myself.

If I enjoy it as much as everyone is saying (and I believe I will, as I even love the Juan Gil Jumilla, which I'm sure pales in comparison) I may make a strong search to track a few more down.

What did you guys pay? Got mine for $34, seemed a pretty good deal. *shrugs*

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
Thanks. How was it on the first night?

IIRC it was very tight on the first night. I'm pretty sensitive to oak, and I didn't find this over-oaked. If I were going to open another now (and I won't open another for at least a few years) I would probably decant a good 4-6 hours.

I agree with Grossie. I didn't find it over-oaked (and I'm also sensitive to it). We did decant ours for a couple of hours. We're holding on to our other bottles for a while but did enjoy drinking the first several weeks back.

OTTnMIA, I think I paid $36-37/bottle. Juan Gil Jumilla is one of my favorite daily drinkers.

quote:

Originally posted by Een: Juan Gil Jumilla is one of my favorite daily drinkers.

Mine as well, great stuff!!

You know, I may have paid $36 actually myself, not $34. *scratches head* I'll have to check.

quote:

Originally posted by OTTnMIA:
What did you guys pay? Got mine for $34, seemed a pretty good deal. *shrugs*

I found it for $54. It was either that or miss it, so I paid the $54 for 6 bottles, no tax, plus shipping.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
The 2003 is outstanding. I'm bringing a bottle of it to an offline tonight. The 2004 is supposed to be slightly better.

How about the 2002 Clio; any good (can be had for 30.00 or so)...we are a little behind the times up here...
thanks

I haven't tried it, but don't be put off by the low ratings for Rioja and Ribera del Duero from 2002. It was a far better year in Jumilla, Priorat, and Montsant. I hope you buy it and post notes.

Check these notes.

Will give it a go...and pick some up in a few days...


Tried two other Spanish wines from 02 recently-
Santa Cruz de Artuza- Navarra &
Artadi Vinas de Gain- Rioja
Both pretty good - imho...

The 2002 Vall Llach Embruix is a good one worth trying.

IW

My beautiful wife gave me the Clio 2004 for my first father's day and I couldn't resist popping the cork.

Decanted 2 hours. I got brown sugar and violets on the nose. Velvety mid-palate that ascended toward the finish which was wonderful, but I would guess it is still tight and has more to reveal. Dark fruit and oak undertones--but everything is so balanced, I'm struggling to discern specific flavors...95 points

We also had one tonight. This wine is fruit forward and seems perfectly ready to drink. It was great when the cork was extracted and stayed that way. I don't think it needs decanting at all. I took no notes, but this was clearly a mid 90 pointer.

I enjoyed this wine with skoshy and others.

The 2004 Clio is getting better and better imo, and a wonderful wine for less than $40 in Dallas.

This is such a lush and juicy wine that offered something different each time I went back to it over time. An instant attack of raspberry, current and blackberries followed by coffee,chocolate,smoke and a little orange peel later on.

For such a big wine it was balanced I thought.

Well done just like the 2003.

I enjoyed the '04 during the recent Spanish Theme offline in Montreal a week ago or so, as well as another bottle that same weekend with other friends.

Drinking beautifully (with a couple hours to breathe in a decanter. However, I'm noticing more pronounced vanilla on the nose and palate with the '04 as compared to the '03's. A bit more extracted as well, in comparison. I'm certainly not knocking it, but comparing it. This also seemed confirmed when having an '03 at Otis's CDP last evening. I personally believe this 'vanilla extract' will likely meld into the overall body of the wine over the next several months, which should further enhance everything.

Still, a great wine, as always.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
I enjoyed this wine with skoshy and others.

The 2004 Clio is getting better and better imo, and a wonderful wine for less than $40 in Dallas.

This is such a lush and juicy wine that offered something different each time I went back to it over time. An instant attack of raspberry, current and blackberries followed by coffee,chocolate,smoke and a little orange peel later on.

For such a big wine it was balanced I thought.

Well done just like the 2003.

W+A, I'm very surprised you like this wine. I had this recently at a Spanish themed blind tasting. Too extracted and sweet for my taste. I can see what people might like about it, but I wouldn't have thought it your style. FWIW, I rated it a 92.

Otis put a bottle of the '03 out at the CDP and I must say I liked it better than the '04. In fact, it was different enough from the '03 that I thought it was the ringer.

quote:

Originally posted by steve8:

W+A, I'm very surprised you like this wine. I had this recently at a Spanish themed blind tasting. Too extracted and sweet for my taste. I can see what people might like about it, but I wouldn't have thought it your style. FWIW, I rated it a 92.

[/QUOTE]

Steve8,

Did you taste the '03 on release? Give them short term time in your cellar.

I find the weight/mouthfeel along with the acidity and hints of shy citrus flavors like orange peel separate this from the cloying, hot and cough syrup style. I also did not need to pick any splinters out of my cheek after a glass.

I also see grossie point about a "rhone-like garrigue" style.

Guess I missed this thread the first time around, but here's my tn from May, right after I got these:

5/25/2007 rated 92 points: Deep red color, rich nose right from the pop. Hard to pull distinct notes from the nose, but I got some smokey bacon, with licorice also. On the palate, rich round mouthfeel that at cellar temperature was great but as it warmed to room temperature crossed into slight flabby territory, where the high alcohol (15.5%) was noticeable. Still, I really like this wine for the second year in a row. Didn't have any issues with oak. Best thing for me about this is the long mouthwatering finish that haunted me for several minutes after each sip.

quote:

Originally posted by Squirreljam:


Best thing for me about this is the long mouthwatering finish that haunted me for several minutes after each sip.

This is one of the things that separates this wine from those overblown fruit "only" bombs.

Very well put Squirrel!

Decanted for 7.5hrs. Dark but not impenetrable ruby/black color. Huge initial attack of sweet dark fruit that made my 10yr old daughter from 5 feet away from me say "papa.....whats that wine?". I pick up blackberry, blk cherry, cedar as well as a bit of alcohol on the nose...initial thoughts...."fruit bomb?". The palate is again like an explosion of fruit that quickly says "NEW WORLD!". Tons of sweet juicy dark fruit, vanilla and cedar/oak. The highly extracted fruit however is pure....no fakeness here, full bodied with smooth tannins and nicely balanced. The finish is very long but does show a tad bit of the heat of that 15.5% alcohol. You have to be a "New World" fan to LOVE this wine as I find it very "Molly Dooker Ausi" in style. To my wife and I this is a 90pt'r but I can see it being more like a 95pt'r to others. TS

Interesting baja. I have had over a case of the 2003/2004 and never ever thought this to be a New World wine. I have had it twice in blind tastings, and the finish gives the wine away. I understand the New World attack, but like Squirrel said... "the mouthwatering finish" is not anything like a wine from Oz imo!

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Interesting baja. I have had over a case of the 2003/2004 and never ever thought this to be a New World wine. I have had it twice in blind tastings, and the finish gives the wine away. I understand the New World attack, but like Squirrel said... "the mouthwatering finish" is not anything like a wine from Oz imo!

This just really isn't my style. I found this hard to pair with food as it overwhelmed the prime rib and truffle risotto I paired it with. I put this in the "fruit cocktail" category right now. This reminded me of taking frozen fruit punch juice concentrate (of good quality) and adding vodka to it. Will be interesting to see what happens to this in time. At this point I pretty much see this as a stand-alone wine as I don't know much food wise that wouldn't be overpowered by this.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Interesting baja. I have had over a case of the 2003/2004 and never ever thought this to be a New World wine. I have had it twice in blind tastings, and the finish gives the wine away. I understand the New World attack, but like Squirrel said... "the mouthwatering finish" is not anything like a wine from Oz imo!

Opened a 2004 Clio side by side with an RSW Shiraz a few days ago. AMAZING, the similarites between the two, UNTIL you compared the finish..! Thus, agreed on your point. Well stated.

If you want some of the '04 El Nido PARKER 99 POINTS, post your e-mail and I will contact you. It's an incredible wine.

I had high hopes for this wine at our South Florida offline on Wednesday night, but I could not get past the alcohol. Both on the palate and the finish.

This did remind me of Australian wine. I felt the finish was a little hot, but the entry was fine. The finish was not plummy and raisiny like you get from some OTT Australians. The consulting winemaker for Clio is Chris Ringland who replaced Sparky Marquis at Marquis Philips and works on many other wines, like Heartland, Pillar Box, Henry's Drive, etc.

2004 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio - Spain, Murcia, Jumilla (12/26/2007)
South Florida WS Forum Offline (Hollywood, FL): Opened 4 hours prior to tasting. Reminds me of a good Australian wine. Big fruit flavors of blackberry and plums, nice acidity and surprisingly smooth tannins at this stage. 40 sec finish with a tinge of heat. (93 pts.)

I thought this wine was quite hot on the finish and lacking balance - the nose was explosive (in a good way) -

Had it tonight again. Spectacular wine!!

No decanting just opened and poured. I liked it better than last time (Dec-07).

A solid mid 90 pointer IMHO.

This wine continues to impress and improve. I feel it is coming into line with the '03 more as it tones down with age. It is certainly drinking better than the '05 I had a few months ago (mumbling to self: be patient, be rewarded, be patient, be rewarded...). Great nose from the bottle as soon as cork is popped: dark berries, some cedar, and after some time in glass the touch of soft leather and even a twinge of barnyard funk (not flawed). Fruit forward? Absolutely! Jammy mouth-filling plum, dark cherry, blackberry from the start, with some oak on the mid-palate (far from overpowering). The finish certainly is mouthwatering and sails away for over a minute. Continues to be one of my favorite wines from Spain. Holding off from popping an '03 or '02, but may not be able to resist much longer. Hope to have a verital tasting 2002-??? within the next few years. 94 (and I am stingy with points).

I found the 05 (or was it 06) for $40...good buy?

Good buy.

Board-O, have you tried many modern day Southern Rhones. I find young Chateauneuf-de-Pape taste a lot like many young Spanish wines. I wonder if these wines would age as well as S. Rhones? They are half the price. I know the older Tempranillos are delicious, but I haven't had an older Granache. Are you putting any of these in your cellar to see what they are like in 10-20 years, or do you prefer them young?

I'm saving some of the Priorat Garnachas and Cariñenas to see how they age. The oldest I've had have been wonderful and showed no signs of tiring. They were a 1996 from the property that is now Mas d'en Gil and a 1997 Alvaro Palacios l'Ermita, generously provided wine+art.

I have almost no Spanish wine in my cellar except a handful of tempranillos. Given their price, seems like I may be kicking myself 10 years from now if I don't start holding on to a few bottles.

Opened this last evening in a Portuguese restaurant last evening, paring it with Lamb Shank.

Lush aromas of blueberry and vanilla, with a secondary of cedar. One hour in glass brought the cedar/vanilla mix forward and the blueberry subsided. Silky mouth feel. Very satisfying, mid length, old world finish. Showing very well now.