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.
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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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