CVNE Contino Gran Reserva 2017
Type: Red
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Grape Variety: Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano, Garnacha
Rating: 93 Robert Parker Points
Climate: Continental climate with Mediterranean influence and extreme temperatures
Terroir: The vineyard is located on alluvial soils, with sandy loam and limestone soils on the lower layers, and sandy clay soils with a medium and high stony structure (boulder) on the middle and surface layers. These soils lead to great permeability and variable capacity for water retention. The characteristics of the land, combined with the specific microclimate of the estate, lead to a vineyard with a low yield of around 5,000kg/ha. The grapes for producing the Gran Reserva come from vines over 60 years old
Winemaking: The grapes used to make Contino Gran Reserva 2016, from the Finca San Rafael estate, were selected and harvested by hand and after a second selection on tables, they were destemmed and then fermented in concrete tanks at a controlled temperature of 15-20ºC. Fermentation maceration was two weeks, followed by malolactic fermentation. The wine was then racked into used French and American oak barrels and aged for 36 months, followed by a further 24 months in the winery cellars
Color: Beautiful cherry red, lively and bright
Nose: Great depth and complexity of aromas, where black fruits stand out, combining with notes of wildflowers and echoes of ripe fruit
Palate: Tasty and full-bodied, with a good structure and excellent soft tannins that give it a rounded and expressive finish, showing perfect acidity and long and complex persistence on that finish
About the Winery:
CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) is one of the most renowned and historic bodegas in all of Spain. Founded in 1879 by the Real de Asúa brothers, Eusebio and Raimundo, the company has been an integral part of the Rioja region’s ascendance in the world of fine wine. With their combination of traditional roots and innovative vision, CVNE has been one of Rioja’s most reliable sources of high-quality wine. The company is still run by descendants of the Real de Asúa brothers, now represented by the fifth generation with current CEO Victor Urrutia Ybarra.
Since its founding, CVNE’s goal has been to increase the scope of production while maintaining the level of quality on which its reputation was built. Forty years after the original bodega was created, CVNE expanded into the Alavesa region. Today, CVNE is comprised of three separate bodegas: Cune, Viña Real, and Contino. Each of the three estates produces a distinct style of wine from a distinct terroir, and each of their flagship bottlings occupies a well-deserved place in the pantheon of great Spanish wine
