WBW #65: Snow Day Wines - Bodegas El Nido 2003 Clio Jumilla

Clio (2003)
Bodegas El Nido
Monastrell 70% | Cabernet Sauvignon 30%
Jumilla DO, Spain

This month's Wine Blogging Wednesday topic (No. 65) hosted by Michelle Lentz was choosing a wine that you'd enjoy drinking during a full out precipitous attack of the white stuff. Thankfully, since moving to Oregon I've only had to "endure" the snow once, while I know back in Ohio and most of the Midwest in general they got pretty much slammed. Thanks Lake Erie!

That said, I think I had a pretty good idea as to what kind of wine I was in need of - big body, dried fruits, and a warmer level of alcohol. My first choice? Port of course - and I think a lot of people turned there at first. But then something shiny caught my attention. A bottle from El Nido (The Nest) winery in Spain. The pearlescent label was really familiar, and it turns out I sampled another of their wines in my Spanish Wine course last year.


This blend has, yet again, our friend Monastrell/Mouvèdre paired with some Cabernet Sauvignon this time. The region of Jumilla is located in southeastern Spain where Monastrell makes up 85% of the wine produced there. Check out the Wines of Jumilla site for more great producers to check out.

So without further delay, here are my notes. I hope you'll understand why this is my current Snow Day wine pick!

Appearance: Deep garnet red to a faded mahogany rim

Nose: Clean, full aromas of dried fruit, jams, licorice, blackberry, spice, oak, caramel, Port (quelle suprise!) cinnamon, cherry and raspberry

Palate: Dry, medium-full body, medium acidity, medium-high tannin, coffee, cherry, spice, oak, raspberry, plum, long smooth finish

We enjoyed this wine with dinner, but continued to do so long after the food was gone. The flavors are definitely at a peak or near there. I would recommend trying to find some (or at least the current vintage). The bottle in my class (which was the opposite blend) was suggested retail around $120. This one in particular my roommate Lynnette recalls getting for around $30. Checking Google you'll find available bottles everywhere from $40 to $130 though. So definitely watch out for price disparity. Regardless, totally worth it! I love Spain. Gracias!

Cheers!