Cellartracker tells me I’ve had 112 bottles of Clio over the years and none were as good as this. I had no expectation that this wine could go 21 years and keep the fruit and tannic structure while the alcohol faded away. It’s unlike any other Clio I’ve had and certainly the best. I’d say there are still some years left on this and I’m glad to have one bottle left that I will drink on it’s 25th anniversary.
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I wondered if I might have waited too long on this one. Pulled it for Easter Dinner - with some sous-vide/grilled rosemary/garlic/fennel lamb chops, roasted potato/parsnip pie, and grilled zucchini/shallots - figuring it's now or never for this wine. And it's just beautiful. This is my 3rd of 3, and I really don't remember the previous bottles being this distinctive - but this one is really singing right now. Gave it a two hour decant, and it's showing rich blackberry fruit upfront, with silky smooth tannins on the back. Everything's well in balance, a great match for the lamb chops - but it's still a stunner on it's own after dinner. To my surprise, this one had no bricking, no fading, no prunes or raisins - just a perfectly resolved stunner. Wow, wish I had just one more ...
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My oldest bottle of Clio in my cellar and also the vintage that started me on buying this most years. It jump started my interest in Spanish wines as well. Almost black in color even at sixteen years old. This has matured from a monster wine, fruit bomb if you like, to a complex , balanced , big wine with chocolate , minerals, smoke, grilled meats, subtle black pepper, blueberry, and fully mature , oaky, vanilla tannin. Upon opening there was a prune note that with time became more ripe fig at the finish. Even a hint of maple syrup on the expressive nose. Not certain that it would get any better with more time, but not likely over the hill anytime soon.
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7th Annual Christmas dinner and cellar raid (Naperville, IL): Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. First of the Cellar raid wines and decided to go back in time a revisit a Clio with some age on it. Clio's have always been a favorite but been holding off on buying recent vintages as I just have too man and the profile of them are not as interesting. However, the opportunity to hot one up at 15 years was a great choice. Flavors are consistent with the past but the elegance of this was noticeable. These wines can age with the best of them and they are not just a over the top powerhouse without the character and balance.
I've been holding on to this for awhile now, wanting to pop at 15 years. Snowed in today by a 15" storm, and after several hours plowing out the driveway, now is as good a time as any. Notes over first hour in glass. Light bricking at rim with a deep purple heart. Classic aged Clio nose: a little spicy with tamed heat/alcohol; macerated fruit; slight tawny notes; and something very nice- a light bubble-gumminess I cannot quite place. This bottle is still alive, with velvety tannins and refreshing acid playing nicely together. There is a core of sweetness, that gentle tutti-fruitiness, supported by cedar staves, lithe enough on the palate to create yet another warm friendship with these bottlemates. All is in balance. A satisfying finish sails on a cedar ship over a sunset horizon. I'm not sure how much longer this will hold on, but it is drinking so nicely now. Very thankful this bottle showed so well. Reaffirms my belief these wines can be cellared and enjoyed for a relatively long time.
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Overpowering wood and vanilla, has not mellowed with time. Lots of ripe dark fruit. Hints of secondary earthy elements on the nose but not much other than wood and fruit on the palate.
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Red Blends on a Saturday afternoon (Loretta Paganini School of Cooking): Its been a while since I have had this. A real pleasure to see how this wine ages. The nose is dusty with blueberries, coffee, chocolate and black cherries. Sweet fruit on the palate. This smells a bit old, but still tastes quite young on the palate. It is another delicious wine that is developing quite well. I think a lot of people who said this would not last have been proven wrong. At 13 years from vintage, this has a long life left.
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Kept it for almost 8 years in impeccable conditions and it paid off. This isn't subtle but it is more mature and elegant than it was almost a decade ago. Someone thought it was Chateauneuf Du Pape. Layers of dark fruits, medium acid, full bodied but tannins are rounded and it is no longer cloying. It is beautiful to see how a bottle develops over time. I would say this is at peak and if properly stored, it should stay there for a couple of years before it starts declining.
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Fantastic wine...decanted for 2 hours prior to drinking. Big fruit, jammy, and overall very smooth. From first taste to drinking w dinner it only got better.
This wine is still drinking great in my opinion. Deep purple in color with blueberry compote combined with some cocoa for a minute long finish. I believe this wine could hold for another 3-4 years. My first vintage of Clio and 4 bottles to go!
Dark red. Fragrant nose of blueberries, spice, tar, and a slight mint note at times. This could be from California Central Coast and has developed nicely from early too fruity bottles. I think the Cab component has added structure and complexity. I would guess 5 more years of development at least, but nice now.
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Dark purple. Big nose of dark fruit. This is still a huge fruit bomb even after 11 years. Layer after layer of blackberry, blueberry,well integrated òak,and then a finish that just keeps on going. This has been consistently an exceptional wine, especially for the price.
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Deep garnet. Nose seemed New World anywhere, not bad just VERY New World. Taste was more interesting, New World-ish but with some undertones that gave it a little character. I like New World, but from Cali, not Madrid.
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70% Monastrell, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Decanted 1 hour prior to serving. Summer's end in a bottle! Appearance: clear, Opague purple, legs and pale rim. Nose: Clean, pronounced plum and dark berries. Enticing. Palate: Dry, moderate acidity, medium+ tannins, high alcohol, full bodied with pronounced carmalized plum, warm ripe blackberries, savory spice, earth. Long finish. Outstanding wine. Ready to drink but can age. 15.6%abv, cork closure. (D 7.5, F 6.5; DW, JO, MSW, Pine)
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Big is an understatement for this wine. Dark, rich with plenty of fruit but maybe too much fruit that other elements are hidden. Aromatically there was a noticeable rubber aroma that seemed disjointed from the rest of the wine.
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Very nice wine for the price, but I, for one, would have enjoyed the wine far more if the oak, which dominated the bouquet, had been dialed back some. Otherwise, the wine was not a fruit bomb, was medium in body and lively, and could have been Mediterranean in style in the same way as a S. Rhone or Bandol are.
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Took this to Roy's (Hawaii Kai) for our NYE dinner. A seamless wine. Massive fruit at the core, showing blackberry,dark cherry coffee wrapped up with some velvety tannins. A hint of spice and pepper filled things out nicely. Excellent with the filet that some of the party (mostly the kids) ordered. Drink now and over the next 5 yrs.
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Though a thoroughly great wine, I am still disappointed, given the hype the wine receives as well as its showing against the more complex and interesting 2004 Pico Madama. The fruit and oak were massive, with waves of vanilla-flavored blueberry syrup lingering in the palate, but the wine was extremely one-dimensional. I like modern styled, ripe wines as long as they balance the fruit with freshness and complexity, while at least reflecting the region from which they come. The Clio, the big and opulent, isn't complex, isn't fresh and is completely unreflective of either Jumilla or the 30 percent Monastrell wine: simply put this wine tasted like a top-notch, boring Napa cabernet sauvignon. All this brings me to wonder whether or not this was a representative bottle, or that perhaps this wine's luster had already faded.
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We had this as part of a cabernet sauvignon tasting on 10/3/09. It had a great bouquet of cherry, blackberry, licorice, vanilla, cedar, pepper and spice aromas. The palate was smooth, balanced and spicy with flavors that followed the nose. I had been wanting to try this and was not disappointed…very nice.
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Deep ruby. Opulent, modern nose of mulling spice, sweet blackberry syrup and caramel. Great zip of acidity on the palate, medium to full bodied, good presence.
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This was a gift and we tasted blindly. It had great tanins and a spicy finish. After I looked at the wine, I realized that The Levant has this common characteristic amongst its wines. Almost like Carmenere from Chile. That being said, this is a very high quality effort with balance and style. A lot of fruit on the nose and dark in color. I bought a second bottle for $45 and feel that over $50 is my price point threshold for this wine.
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This wine is very good. The last one had, two or three years ago, gave me splinters, but the oak has integrated. Although this is 70% Monastrell, the 30% Cab really shows. There's mature left bank Bordeaux saddle leather and earth along with red berry fruit, coffee and chocolate, a tiny bid of vanilla, smooth tanins, great mouth feel, dark color and velvety mouth feel. Initially the nose had too much alcohol, but it blows off. This was definitely worth the wait. Outstanding.
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Scent of deep ripe strawberries, candied grapes and pommegranite. Flavours of dark berries, grapefruit, planks of wood and a little diesel fuel carried on the fine grained tannins. Excellent.
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Had next to an 04 Clio. Decanted for 6 hours prior to tasting. This was much more ready to drink showing nice vanilla and dark fruit profile. (this had also been decanted a couple hours longer than the 04) The 04 however shows a lot more promise.
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This just keeps getting better and better. So well balanced right now. Still a lot of oak and a little bit of heat, but we like wines that way. Wish I had more than 2 bottles left.
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Great, as usual. Doesn't taste anything like any other Spanish wines. Much more California or Aussie because of the fruit and lack of earthiness. One of our favorite wines.
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One of my favorite wines, particularly when compared to its Spanish counterparts. This is a beautiful and unique blend. Red Licorice, oak, currant...you name it. This is a full bodied, complex wine.
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clear, deep ruby color, opaque at the core. some legs present on the glass. clean, complex, youthful, medium (+) intensity nose of black pepper, toffee, black currant, and black cherry. dry, medium(+) acid, medium(+) alcohol, high tannin, full body. medium(+) intensity flavors of black cherry, black berry, raspberry, toffee, and coffee. excellent balance between the fruit, acid, and tannins. 30 second finish. really enjoyed this bottle, looking forward to the 2004s I bought!
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This is drinking beautifully now. It's becoming more integrated and subtle, but it's still powerful in every aspect from the nose, through the palate, to the finish. The nose gives vanilla, black fruits, and floral notes, with a slight bit of cocoa and anise spice. In the mouth is blackberry, plums, spicebox, and just hints of cassis from the cabernet. The finish is long with smooth tannins and lingering sweet spices. This is making me reconsider my recent judgment that the '03 Clio is better than the '02. They're both really phenomenal. Very good value, too.
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A wine with lots of almost everything. Big black fruits, lots of alcohol, lots of oak, a spicy kick, nice tannins and a lingereing finish. Personally, a little too much for me to love right now, should have kept this in the cellar for a while longer but it is clear where the scores come from. Tasted the next day to see how it developed and tasted very similar to the first night. Would be interesting to see how this develops.
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Showed more alcohol tonight than before, but it settled down relatively quickly. A syrupy nose of cassis and mixed berry, with cedary oak and a dill note. Very full bodied and dense in the mouth, but maintaining its balance very well. Juicy! This never disappoints.
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Straight from the bottle, gives creme de cassis, anise, and brown spices (cinnamon), with lots of sweet oak. After some time out of the bottle, the nose becomes more floral. Rich, mouthfilling flavors of blackberry, cassis, and licorice. This is a dark, concentrated wine. Doesn't show much Spanish character, and I've heard people discount it for its thoroughly international style. I like Spanish wines and their native character, but I've got to say that if this wine came from California people would be going nuts over it at this price.
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Absolutely bursting with forward plush fruit sweetness upon opening. Sweet oak influence prominent, but not over bearing. Initially brimming with creamed raspberries/strawberries. Solid chocolate and chalkiness, but not overly so. Tannins are integrated upon opening. After a bit of time, tannins become more prminent, but never overbearing. Over time, spicy Monastrell/Mouvedre backbone shows thru. Overall a very fine wine. Hard to see how anyone could score this less than 91/92 pts. 18K case.
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Deep ruby color. Intense nose of vanilla, toasty oak, ripe black fruits and sweet spice. There were also fleeting elements of flowers and cocoa. On the palate, it is full bodied with ripe plums and blackberries, good acid and fine tannin. This is quite a young wine and really not entirely knitted together yet. Oak is relatively dominant. Nevertheless it is quite complex with good intensity and presence. Better to wait a few years for the next bottle.
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Can certainly see why this gets the high ratings--well-balanced, with lots of dark fruit and earthy aromas. 2002 isn't known as a great vintage for Spanish wines, but you wouldn't know it from this one. Super clean, too--none of the corkiness or other flaws that seem to plague so many of the Spanish wines that are shipped here.
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decanted into a globe shaped decenter. consumed out of reidel vinum bordeaux stems. wine was consumed over 2 nights, overnight it was re-corked and just placed in the cellar.
this is a blend of 70% mourvedre and 30% cab, which made for one delicious blend. the mourvedre gave it a very fragrant and flamboyant priorat style and the cab really put some backbone on it. this wine is going to need a few more years in the cellar to come around. color is very dark bordering on black. nose is beautiful and actually reminded me of the 01 mas doix. all kind of dark fruits, burnt toast, some sort of floral component. on the palate this wine is hard as nails at this point, but does reveal its very promising future. stacked and packed with great structure, fruit and a deliciously sweet wall of tannin. it delivers on the front, middle and back end. great wine but needs time, possibly a couple points better with time. only the cellar will reveal the future.
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Shared a bottle with a friend - she said it was not as good as a previous bottle she'd had, but it still was delicious. Concentrated, deep purple color, with powerful aromas of roasted black fruits. Very ripe on the palate, smoky, chewy plum and blackberry flavors that are lipsmackingly good. Wonderful acidity; tannins are ripe and very soft. Echoes the fruit nicely on the long finish. I don't think I'd advise holding it more than 6 or 8 years, but it will be very tasty up to then.
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Huge moccha on the nose. palate was a touch hot this beast needs to sleep for a few. tons of stuffing in here, great roasted black fruits and sweet vanilla, mineral and earth, but unintegrated and tuff to really taste. let sleep!
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10/14/2023 - danseng wrote: 98 Points
Cellartracker tells me I’ve had 112 bottles of Clio over the years and none were as good as this. I had no expectation that this wine could go 21 years and keep the fruit and tannic structure while the alcohol faded away. It’s unlike any other Clio I’ve had and certainly the best. I’d say there are still some years left on this and I’m glad to have one bottle left that I will drink on it’s 25th anniversary.
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1/14/2022 - europat55 wrote: 91 Points
Juan Gil and El Nido Jumillas 2002-2012 (Tasted Blind) (Virtual Tasting): Nose: 90; Palate: 91 (Tasted blind)
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4/12/2020 - Adventr.us wrote: 93 Points
I wondered if I might have waited too long on this one. Pulled it for Easter Dinner - with some sous-vide/grilled rosemary/garlic/fennel lamb chops, roasted potato/parsnip pie, and grilled zucchini/shallots - figuring it's now or never for this wine. And it's just beautiful. This is my 3rd of 3, and I really don't remember the previous bottles being this distinctive - but this one is really singing right now. Gave it a two hour decant, and it's showing rich blackberry fruit upfront, with silky smooth tannins on the back. Everything's well in balance, a great match for the lamb chops - but it's still a stunner on it's own after dinner. To my surprise, this one had no bricking, no fading, no prunes or raisins - just a perfectly resolved stunner. Wow, wish I had just one more ...
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11/18/2018 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 96 Points
My oldest bottle of Clio in my cellar and also the vintage that started me on buying this most years. It jump started my interest in Spanish wines as well. Almost black in color even at sixteen years old. This has matured from a monster wine, fruit bomb if you like, to a complex , balanced , big wine with chocolate , minerals, smoke, grilled meats, subtle black pepper, blueberry, and fully mature , oaky, vanilla tannin. Upon opening there was a prune note that with time became more ripe fig at the finish. Even a hint of maple syrup on the expressive nose. Not certain that it would get any better with more time, but not likely over the hill anytime soon.
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12/9/2017 - bablues wrote: 94 Points
7th Annual Christmas dinner and cellar raid (Naperville, IL): Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. First of the Cellar raid wines and decided to go back in time a revisit a Clio with some age on it. Clio's have always been a favorite but been holding off on buying recent vintages as I just have too man and the profile of them are not as interesting. However, the opportunity to hot one up at 15 years was a great choice. Flavors are consistent with the past but the elegance of this was noticeable. These wines can age with the best of them and they are not just a over the top powerhouse without the character and balance.
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3/14/2017 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 92 Points
I've been holding on to this for awhile now, wanting to pop at 15 years. Snowed in today by a 15" storm, and after several hours plowing out the driveway, now is as good a time as any. Notes over first hour in glass.
Light bricking at rim with a deep purple heart. Classic aged Clio nose: a little spicy with tamed heat/alcohol; macerated fruit; slight tawny notes; and something very nice- a light bubble-gumminess I cannot quite place. This bottle is still alive, with velvety tannins and refreshing acid playing nicely together. There is a core of sweetness, that gentle tutti-fruitiness, supported by cedar staves, lithe enough on the palate to create yet another warm friendship with these bottlemates. All is in balance. A satisfying finish sails on a cedar ship over a sunset horizon. I'm not sure how much longer this will hold on, but it is drinking so nicely now. Very thankful this bottle showed so well. Reaffirms my belief these wines can be cellared and enjoyed for a relatively long time.
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7/16/2015 - tinybubbles Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Overpowering wood and vanilla, has not mellowed with time. Lots of ripe dark fruit. Hints of secondary earthy elements on the nose but not much other than wood and fruit on the palate.
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3/14/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
Red Blends on a Saturday afternoon (Loretta Paganini School of Cooking): Its been a while since I have had this. A real pleasure to see how this wine ages. The nose is dusty with blueberries, coffee, chocolate and black cherries. Sweet fruit on the palate. This smells a bit old, but still tastes quite young on the palate. It is another delicious wine that is developing quite well. I think a lot of people who said this would not last have been proven wrong. At 13 years from vintage, this has a long life left.
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12/31/2014 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Kept it for almost 8 years in impeccable conditions and it paid off. This isn't subtle but it is more mature and elegant than it was almost a decade ago. Someone thought it was Chateauneuf Du Pape. Layers of dark fruits, medium acid, full bodied but tannins are rounded and it is no longer cloying. It is beautiful to see how a bottle develops over time. I would say this is at peak and if properly stored, it should stay there for a couple of years before it starts declining.
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12/15/2014 - MS92 wrote:
A great wine far past it's prime. It was at the bottom of the back end.
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8/19/2014 - Jliles26 wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic wine...decanted for 2 hours prior to drinking. Big fruit, jammy, and overall very smooth. From first taste to drinking w dinner it only got better.
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4/20/2014 - RJ Gordon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very solid wine, - Big fruit, well balanced and rounded in the finish. Delicious. Opened three hours before drinking…got better as we went along.
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3/30/2014 - Mscruggs Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is still drinking great in my opinion. Deep purple in color with blueberry compote combined with some cocoa for a minute long finish. I believe this wine could hold for another 3-4 years. My first vintage of Clio and 4 bottles to go!
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12/18/2013 - RR47 wrote: 91 Points
Dark red. Fragrant nose of blueberries, spice, tar, and a slight mint note at times. This could be from California Central Coast and has developed nicely from early too fruity bottles. I think the Cab component has added structure and complexity. I would guess 5 more years of development at least, but nice now.
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10/14/2013 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dark purple. Big nose of dark fruit. This is still a huge fruit bomb even after 11 years. Layer after layer of blackberry, blueberry,well integrated òak,and then a finish that just keeps on going. This has been consistently an exceptional wine, especially for the price.
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11/9/2012 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Black with a deep ruby rim. Didn't take a detailed note on this one, but opulent with some tertiary qualities coming out.
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3/7/2012 - KNasr wrote: 93 Points
Maintained a beautiful, full palate, long finish, should go several more years!
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2/4/2012 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 91 Points
Deep garnet. Nose seemed New World anywhere, not bad just VERY New World. Taste was more interesting, New World-ish but with some undertones that gave it a little character. I like New World, but from Cali, not Madrid.
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4/2/2011 - nubbin wrote: 95 Points
70% Monastrell, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Decanted 1 hour prior to serving.
Summer's end in a bottle!
Appearance: clear, Opague purple, legs and pale rim.
Nose: Clean, pronounced plum and dark berries. Enticing.
Palate: Dry, moderate acidity, medium+ tannins, high alcohol, full bodied with pronounced carmalized plum, warm ripe blackberries, savory spice, earth. Long finish.
Outstanding wine. Ready to drink but can age.
15.6%abv, cork closure. (D 7.5, F 6.5; DW, JO, MSW, Pine)
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2/28/2011 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 90 Points
A nice wine. I agree that it does resemble a Napa Cab a bit.
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2/13/2011 - choch wrote:
Big is an understatement for this wine. Dark, rich with plenty of fruit but maybe too much fruit that other elements are hidden. Aromatically there was a noticeable rubber aroma that seemed disjointed from the rest of the wine.
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1/22/2010 - MJHDC wrote:
Very nice wine for the price, but I, for one, would have enjoyed the wine far more if the oak, which dominated the bouquet, had been dialed back some. Otherwise, the wine was not a fruit bomb, was medium in body and lively, and could have been Mediterranean in style in the same way as a S. Rhone or Bandol are.
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12/31/2009 - Haggis wrote: 92 Points
Took this to Roy's (Hawaii Kai) for our NYE dinner. A seamless wine. Massive fruit at the core, showing blackberry,dark cherry coffee wrapped up with some velvety tannins. A hint of spice and pepper filled things out nicely. Excellent with the filet that some of the party (mostly the kids) ordered. Drink now and over the next 5 yrs.
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12/14/2009 - petrusncoke wrote: 90 Points
Though a thoroughly great wine, I am still disappointed, given the hype the wine receives as well as its showing against the more complex and interesting 2004 Pico Madama. The fruit and oak were massive, with waves of vanilla-flavored blueberry syrup lingering in the palate, but the wine was extremely one-dimensional. I like modern styled, ripe wines as long as they balance the fruit with freshness and complexity, while at least reflecting the region from which they come. The Clio, the big and opulent, isn't complex, isn't fresh and is completely unreflective of either Jumilla or the 30 percent Monastrell wine: simply put this wine tasted like a top-notch, boring Napa cabernet sauvignon. All this brings me to wonder whether or not this was a representative bottle, or that perhaps this wine's luster had already faded.
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10/3/2009 - garambler wrote: 92 Points
We had this as part of a cabernet sauvignon tasting on 10/3/09. It had a great bouquet of cherry, blackberry, licorice, vanilla, cedar, pepper and spice aromas. The palate was smooth, balanced and spicy with flavors that followed the nose. I had been wanting to try this and was not disappointed…very nice.
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7/1/2009 - dougsmith wrote: 93 Points
Deep ruby. Opulent, modern nose of mulling spice, sweet blackberry syrup and caramel. Great zip of acidity on the palate, medium to full bodied, good presence.
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4/17/2009 - sayward wrote: 91 Points
This was a gift and we tasted blindly. It had great tanins and a spicy finish. After I looked at the wine, I realized that The Levant has this common characteristic amongst its wines. Almost like Carmenere from Chile. That being said, this is a very high quality effort with balance and style. A lot of fruit on the nose and dark in color. I bought a second bottle for $45 and feel that over $50 is my price point threshold for this wine.
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3/13/2009 - Jay Hack wrote: 92 Points
This wine is very good. The last one had, two or three years ago, gave me splinters, but the oak has integrated. Although this is 70% Monastrell, the 30% Cab really shows. There's mature left bank Bordeaux saddle leather and earth along with red berry fruit, coffee and chocolate, a tiny bid of vanilla, smooth tanins, great mouth feel, dark color and velvety mouth feel. Initially the nose had too much alcohol, but it blows off. This was definitely worth the wait. Outstanding.
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12/30/2008 - Roughl wrote: 92 Points
Rich and creamy. Excellent right now. A lot of wood, but I like it.
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11/20/2007 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Scent of deep ripe strawberries, candied grapes and pommegranite. Flavours of dark berries, grapefruit, planks of wood and a little diesel fuel carried on the fine grained tannins. Excellent.
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11/15/2007 - psirah wrote: 94 Points
Swwet fruit with very soft well integrated tannins. Wine was decanted for 2 hours.
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8/28/2007 - drcbarroso wrote: 90 Points
Had next to an 04 Clio. Decanted for 6 hours prior to tasting. This was much more ready to drink showing nice vanilla and dark fruit profile. (this had also been decanted a couple hours longer than the 04) The 04 however shows a lot more promise.
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8/25/2007 - danseng wrote:
This just keeps getting better and better. So well balanced right now. Still a lot of oak and a little bit of heat, but we like wines that way. Wish I had more than 2 bottles left.
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8/20/2007 - 6831 wrote: 89 Points
Round and fleshy with earthy flavors of red and black fruit as well as a fair amount of oak. Seems to be at it's peak
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7/30/2007 - winekahuna wrote: 93 Points
big fat pamela anderson wine. massive fruit, lots of oak, vanilla, and sweetness. bright berry fruit.
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5/14/2007 - Roughl wrote: 92 Points
I must buy more of this stuff. Excellent.
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5/6/2007 - danseng wrote:
Great, as usual. Doesn't taste anything like any other Spanish wines. Much more California or Aussie because of the fruit and lack of earthiness. One of our favorite wines.
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5/2/2007 - Giladog wrote: 93 Points
One of my favorite wines, particularly when compared to its Spanish counterparts. This is a beautiful and unique blend. Red Licorice, oak, currant...you name it. This is a full bodied, complex wine.
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3/31/2007 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
clear, deep ruby color, opaque at the core. some legs present on the glass. clean, complex, youthful, medium (+) intensity nose of black pepper, toffee, black currant, and black cherry. dry, medium(+) acid, medium(+) alcohol, high tannin, full body. medium(+) intensity flavors of black cherry, black berry, raspberry, toffee, and coffee. excellent balance between the fruit, acid, and tannins. 30 second finish. really enjoyed this bottle, looking forward to the 2004s I bought!
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3/2/2007 - dougsmith wrote: 93 Points
Deep ruby color. Intense nose of vanilla bean, cocoa and pencil lead. On the palate it is silky with smooth tannin and good presence. Yummy.
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1/14/2007 - pgm wrote: 94 Points
This is drinking beautifully now. It's becoming more integrated and subtle, but it's still powerful in every aspect from the nose, through the palate, to the finish. The nose gives vanilla, black fruits, and floral notes, with a slight bit of cocoa and anise spice. In the mouth is blackberry, plums, spicebox, and just hints of cassis from the cabernet. The finish is long with smooth tannins and lingering sweet spices. This is making me reconsider my recent judgment that the '03 Clio is better than the '02. They're both really phenomenal. Very good value, too.
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10/5/2006 - goofy Yno wrote: 91 Points
good. dark, strog mid palate. slightly bitter finish. did well at tasing of 20 spainish wines including 3 pingus.
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10/4/2006 - mattiasjansson wrote: 94 Points
Backstreet - Spain (Backstreet Wine Salon, Phoenix): Great nose. Full-bodied. Big fruit. A little hot.
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10/3/2006 - chrisbeck wrote:
A wine with lots of almost everything. Big black fruits, lots of alcohol, lots of oak, a spicy kick, nice tannins and a lingereing finish. Personally, a little too much for me to love right now, should have kept this in the cellar for a while longer but it is clear where the scores come from. Tasted the next day to see how it developed and tasted very similar to the first night. Would be interesting to see how this develops.
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6/6/2006 - pgm wrote: 92 Points
Showed more alcohol tonight than before, but it settled down relatively quickly. A syrupy nose of cassis and mixed berry, with cedary oak and a dill note. Very full bodied and dense in the mouth, but maintaining its balance very well. Juicy! This never disappoints.
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5/8/2006 - parrothead wrote: 89 Points
would drink again
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3/31/2006 - winekahuna wrote: 91 Points
Still big and opulent. Sweet and ripe fruit, woody modern tannins. cherry notes
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3/28/2006 - Bunge wrote: 93 Points
93 Pts-RP
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2/26/2006 - buckeye76 wrote: 93 Points
BLACKBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, AND CHOCOLATE IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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2/26/2006 - pgm wrote: 93 Points
Straight from the bottle, gives creme de cassis, anise, and brown spices (cinnamon), with lots of sweet oak. After some time out of the bottle, the nose becomes more floral. Rich, mouthfilling flavors of blackberry, cassis, and licorice. This is a dark, concentrated wine. Doesn't show much Spanish character, and I've heard people discount it for its thoroughly international style. I like Spanish wines and their native character, but I've got to say that if this wine came from California people would be going nuts over it at this price.
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2/4/2006 - en_kierkegaa wrote: 92 Points
Absolutely bursting with forward plush fruit sweetness upon opening. Sweet oak influence prominent, but not over bearing. Initially brimming with creamed raspberries/strawberries. Solid chocolate and chalkiness, but not overly so. Tannins are integrated upon opening. After a bit of time, tannins become more prminent, but never overbearing. Over time, spicy Monastrell/Mouvedre backbone shows thru. Overall a very fine wine. Hard to see how anyone could score this less than 91/92 pts. 18K case.
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1/27/2006 - dougsmith wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby color. Intense nose of vanilla, toasty oak, ripe black fruits and sweet spice. There were also fleeting elements of flowers and cocoa. On the palate, it is full bodied with ripe plums and blackberries, good acid and fine tannin. This is quite a young wine and really not entirely knitted together yet. Oak is relatively dominant. Nevertheless it is quite complex with good intensity and presence. Better to wait a few years for the next bottle.
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12/13/2005 - winekitchen wrote:
Can certainly see why this gets the high ratings--well-balanced, with lots of dark fruit and earthy aromas. 2002 isn't known as a great vintage for Spanish wines, but you wouldn't know it from this one. Super clean, too--none of the corkiness or other flaws that seem to plague so many of the Spanish wines that are shipped here.
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11/15/2005 - anthonyiez wrote: 92 Points
decanted into a globe shaped decenter. consumed out of reidel vinum bordeaux stems. wine was consumed over 2 nights, overnight it was re-corked and just placed in the cellar.
this is a blend of 70% mourvedre and 30% cab, which made for one delicious blend. the mourvedre gave it a very fragrant and flamboyant priorat style and the cab really put some backbone on it. this wine is going to need a few more years in the cellar to come around. color is very dark bordering on black. nose is beautiful and actually reminded me of the 01 mas doix. all kind of dark fruits, burnt toast, some sort of floral component. on the palate this wine is hard as nails at this point, but does reveal its very promising future. stacked and packed with great structure, fruit and a deliciously sweet wall of tannin. it delivers on the front, middle and back end. great wine but needs time, possibly a couple points better with time. only the cellar will reveal the future.
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9/26/2005 - beaunehead wrote: 93 Points
Shared a bottle with a friend - she said it was not as good as a previous bottle she'd had, but it still was delicious. Concentrated, deep purple color, with powerful aromas of roasted black fruits. Very ripe on the palate, smoky, chewy plum and blackberry flavors that are lipsmackingly good. Wonderful acidity; tannins are ripe and very soft. Echoes the fruit nicely on the long finish. I don't think I'd advise holding it more than 6 or 8 years, but it will be very tasty up to then.
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8/7/2005 - Koods wrote:
Huge moccha on the nose. palate was a touch hot this beast needs to sleep for a few. tons of stuffing in here, great roasted black fruits and sweet vanilla, mineral and earth, but unintegrated and tuff to really taste. let sleep!
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