Tasting October 2023
CBWS Tasting held on October 19th 2023 at Bodegas Nodus, Caudete de las Fuentes in the Utiel Requena DO, attended by the maximum of 28 members.
This was a monthly Tasting Dinner with a difference! We headed west of Valencia Bodegas Nodus – a name familiar to most of us on many local restaurant wine lists. Our event was a ’Dinner, Bed and Breakfast’ House Party.
Adjacent to the winery is a heritage building, Finca El Renegada, so named because the original owner and winemaker was ‘an outsider’. This is now Hotel Rural Entreviños, a typical Spanish country hotel that can sleep 28 people. The beautiful setting is amongst the vineyards, with lovely walks.
Read the full story of the Bodega and hotel at https://bodegasnodus.com/winery/
Our programme began with a tour of the Nodus winery, followed by a guided tasting of 3 wines, hosted by David Pagan, the winemaker. His exceptional presentation was received with great interest and respect by all.
At the pre dinner Cava reception we tasted Nodus’ signature Cava, and then enjoyed a typical regional dinner accompanied by 3 wines.
After a few nightcaps, and much lively conversation, the house party ended, until we all gathered together again at breakfast time.
The Bodega had offered us a generous 20% discount, and many cases were purchased before departure.
Despite so many superb highlights, this report can’t ignore the one ‘surprise’ of the event!! This was the serving of a Nodus Sauvignon Blanc that was distinctly ‘Rosado’. At dinner, there was only one out of eight bottles the correct pale straw colour. There was no representative from the Bodega in attendance during the dinner (hopefully a lesson learnt by Nodus!) and the catering team had no answers for us. For this reason we did not score that particular wine. A very distressed David Pagan rushed to meet us after breakfast with genuine shock and apologies. The only possible explanation was an unprecedented bottling error involving an inadequate cleaning of the line after a switch from red to white wine.
The Society was generously compensated with two cases of wine (now in the President’s bodega) and profuse apologies.
We all accepted this was ‘one of those things’ and certainly did not define the wonderful visit to Nodus.
For anyone wanting greater detail, this Nodus website link will take you to excellent and very detailed information on all their wines.
All Nodus wines are designated ORGANIC.
Wines 1-3 were presented by winemaker David Pagan during the afternoon tour & tasting. They were not scored during the tasting. The prices are the retail prices but a 20% discount was offered for wines purchased during the event.
1. Nodus Chardonnay, 2022 €14
Straw yellow colour with golden reflections. Clean and bright.
A predominance of elegant and complex aromas, with fragrances of tropical fruits.
Well rounded, structured and balanced.
2. Nodus Bobal, 2021 €12
Intense cherry red with a violet tinge.
Dark red fruits, hints of strawberry and raspberry, balanced with smooth toasted notes and spicy liquorice hues.
Tasty, fruity wine, well rounded tannins with light touches of smokey toasted vanilla.
3. Nodus Tinto de Autor 2020, €14
Vintage 2020
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Bobal. Intense cherry red with a violet tinge. An intense aroma with sweet fruit, young oak, chocolate and toasted almond tones.
Full flavoured, smooth and spicy, balanced with mineral tones and mature tannins.
4. Cava Nodus Plata €9 (served at the pre dinner reception)
50/50 Macabeo and Chardonnay. Pale straw in colour with light golden edges. Fine chains of bubbles.
Aromas of apple, pear, floral tones and very light note of biscuit. Clean, crisp and fresh with a lengthy finish.
The following wines were served over dinner
5. Nodus Sauvignon Blanc 2022 €12
Straw yellow colour with golden reflections. Clean and bright.
A wonderful elegant array of complex aromas, with fragrances of tropical fruits.
Well rounded, structured and balanced.
6. NodusReserva de La Familia 2017 €14
A blend of 65% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Syrah. Claret colour with slate tone. Aromatic, smooth and persistent smokey, spicy tones. Velvety and well rounded with a pleasing finish.
For Neil and me, organising this visit was a pleasure, and we thank you all for your wonderful notes to us.
During the visit, many votes of thanks were given to the team at Nodus who made us all so welcome. In particular to David Pagan, winemaker, and to Arancha Garcia and her team, in particular Miriam and Marissa. They worked hard to make the event a success.
