Almost, but not completely unlike wine

[David M. Bueker]

Last night, in the same blind tasting that featured the 2002 Vega Sicilia I reported on here, I also had the displeasure to taste two of the most obscene concoctions that have ever been put into 750ml bottles.

I knew it was going to be bad when I picked up the bottles. The wrapping on the bottles could not conceal their weight. It was like lifting two boat anchors to pour inky black sludge into the glasses.

One sniff of the chocolate-blueberry milkshake with confected vanilla, and I was nearly down for the count. The first of the two wines was the worst. It had zero redeeming qualities, other than the alcoholic force almost rendered me unconscious. The second wine was not so vanilla focused, but tasted like a semi-dry, over-fortified Port candy. These were truly horrifying "wines" that only exist as some sort of Winetini to encourage inebriation at a very high cost.

The wines: 2012 El Nido "Clio" and 2011 El Nido "El Nido."

Truly, truly horrifying stuff.

David: I really appreciate your tasting notes!

On a related note (we are only a week away from Halloween)

I received an "emergency email" from a friend to "help out" their friend's new winery pouring a concoction with a mafia-themed marketing concept.

This was a wine I had described to a fellow AFWE as "Blueberry Pom with a kick of vodka." I literally could not finish a glass. I demurred the volunteer duty, I have to admit.

Was curious at first if these were actual concocted wines like chocovine, but no, I see they're from Jumilla. I've always been a bit wary of Jumilla - I've enjoyed a number, but always with the knowledge that they were just a stones throw from OTT, and figured that there must be some that actually were. Thanks for saving us the trouble (seriously)! Your reward will be great in heaven . . . .

[David M. Bueker]

These are my corporeal works of mercy.

Uhhhhhhh.....why don't you tell us how you really feel about these wines, David!!!

They sound like typical modern-style Jumilla reds. They would be wines I'd like to try just to see how
overblown you can make a wine...but doubt I'd could stomach it to actually drink it w/ a meal.
Tom

sounds like they haven't changed much, my note from 9 years ago

2003 El Nido (Jumilla)
If previous wine was a bit too much for my tastes, this one is off the charts. Too dense and overextracted for my palate, feeling incredibly heavy in the mouth. Drinking it reminds me of drinking cassis neat- I can't do either. Others comments range from "dry port" to "cough syrup." D
(Mark comments that it is better when consumed next to the salad with a high acid vinaigrette, he's right, but that puts it in C territory for me, not a buy at $100+!).

[David M. Bueker]

They sound like typical modern-style Jumilla reds.

Typical except turned up to 11.

[Robin Garr]

Eeeuuuwww!

I've tried occasional Jumillas (Jumillae?) as QPR wines at the low budget end and don't recall them being that hateful, although not my favorites as a card-carrying AFWE. I'd be beyond outraged if I spent that kind of money on a wine that tasted like that, though. Not that I would be too likely to do so ...

Wow! Those sound even worse than Tres Picos . It is also the reason why I won't buy Spanish wine without prior tasting or reliable recommendation (and the latter is not at CT where I see many enthusiastic reviews ). Any idea what scores they get from WA and WS?

[Robin Garr]

Wow! Those sound even worse than Tres Picos . It is also the reason why I won't buy Spanish wine without prior tasting or reliable recommendation (and the latter is not at CT where I see many enthusiastic reviews ). Any idea what scores they get from WA and WS?

Well, I couldn't find 2012 ratings, but there's this from Wine.com. Read 'em and weep ...

Bodegas El Nido Clio
2011 WS91
2009 ST93 WE92
2008 RP94 WS92

Bodegas El Nido El Nido
2011 WS94
2009 ST94 WE93
2008 RP96 WS91

[David M. Bueker]

They have historically gotten rave reviews from the WA. I no longer have access, so I cannot check for these vintages.

Some people love these wines. I think you can reduce a cup of Chambord and get the same result for a lot less money.

Wow! Those sound even worse than Tres Picos . It is also the reason why I won't buy Spanish wine without prior tasting or reliable recommendation (and the latter is not at CT where I see many enthusiastic reviews ). Any idea what scores they get from WA and WS?

Except for a couple of old school Riojas, I would agree with you. I just don't generally care for Spanish reds.

The whites can be interesting and refreshing, and I love Sherry, but the reds.....If I want those flavor profiles, I'll just be patriotic and drink California wines. Especially when the trophy Spanish reds are $100.

The whites can be interesting and refreshing, and I love Sherry, but the reds.....If I want those flavor profiles, I'll just be patriotic and drink California wines. Especially when the trophy Spanish reds are $100.

I understand what you're getting at regarding the similarity in flavor profiles, but they still have an Old World sensibility, with better acid balance and character than CA wines of the same price. I find Spanish reds much more satisfying, even the riper and more modern-style ones.

I understand what you're getting at regarding the similarity in flavor profiles, but they still have an Old World sensibility, with better acid balance and character than CA wines of the same price. I find Spanish reds much more satisfying, even the riper and more modern-style ones.

Perhaps so! But one point we may disagree on as I just don't find Tempranillo that appealing, on the whole. Grenache....there are a lot of AFWE winemakers whose Grenache I prefer greatly to Jumilla goop bombs and I would argue better meet your criteria.

So, given a modern Cali Cab versus a modern Spanish Tempranillo...the Bear Flag Republic wins for me.

Of course, I prefer the leaner style of California Cab anyway, generally (Clos du Val, Corison, Laurel Glen), so....

But...it all depends on the specifics and the person. No right answers!

[David M. Bueker]

There is very little old world sensibility in Jumilla.

There is very little old world sensibility in Jumilla.

I've had one, produced by (of all places) Juan Gil, from higher altitude vines (forget what the label is called). Otherwise, yep, I recognized the first time I had Jumilla that they were well into the slippery slope of Parker-dom.

I gather than I'm a bit less hardcore AFWE than you David, but those El Nido wines sound horrific.

[David M. Bueker]

And I am not hardcore.

And I am not hardcore.

Mea culpa. That was based on your reaction to a few wines we have both had that it seems like you felt were too ripe for your tastes, whereas I was quite happy with them, and I consider myself to have an AFWE type palate, so I figured you must be more so. Perhaps a misperception of where I fall within the spectrum rather than you.

[David M. Bueker]

No, you are correct about where we are in relation to each other on the AFWE spectrum. It's just that there are people much more AFWE than me.

Wow! Those sound even worse than Tres Picos . It is also the reason why I won't buy Spanish wine without prior tasting or reliable recommendation (and the latter is not at CT where I see many enthusiastic reviews ). Any idea what scores they get from WA and WS?

Except for a couple of old school Riojas, I would agree with you. I just don't generally care for Spanish reds.

The whites can be interesting and refreshing, and I love Sherry, but the reds.....If I want those flavor profiles, I'll just be patriotic and drink California wines. Especially when the trophy Spanish reds are $100.

The thing that bugs me about Spanish wine is that they have many fascinating native varieties well adapted to the local terroirs and a fine tradition, but so often homogenise and spoil the wines nowadays by an "internationally modern" approach of over-ripeness, over-extraction and over-oaking. Judging by the popularity of such wines on CT and the high scores from WA and WS, this may pay commercially for now but.......... .

I love traditional Rioja and also discreetly "modern" examples like Contino, sherry is one of the best QPRs around in the world and Vega Sicilia is a masterpiece. I also love the "new" appellations from the North-West like Bierzo, Valdeorras and Rias Baixas but picking bottles which suit my palate is like to treading a safe passage through a minefield of fruit and oak bombs.

[Robin Garr]

No, you are correct about where we are in relation to each other on the AFWE spectrum. It's just that there are people much more AFWE than me.

Alice? Or even me? As a QPR-based AFWE'er, though, it's just different ...

[David M. Bueker]

Salil as well.

And Otto!

I miss Otto's posts.

What does AFWE mean?