CVNE : Contino Gran Reserva 2018

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Contino Gran Reserva 2018 from CVNE

Tasting

Color
The color reveals a garnet ruby hue with reddish highlights, reflecting fine pigment concentration.

Nose
The nose displays remarkable aromatic complexity. Aromas of ripe black cherries form the backbone of the bouquet, alongside notes of rich chocolate and sandalwood. With aeration, nuances of complex spices, subtle incense, forest mushrooms and mineral touches emerge. Notes of vanilla and toffee, characteristic of aging in French oak barrels, intertwine with tobacco leaf, lending classic elegance.

Palate
On the palate, this wine shows outstanding balance, combining power and elegance. The attack is fleshy and generous, revealing the fruit’s concentration. The tannic structure features fine, muscular tannins that are perfectly integrated. Acidity, measured at 5.7 grams per liter, brings a lively freshness that elegantly contrasts with the richness of the fruit. Alcohol remains well integrated. The finish stands out for its remarkable persistence, with balsamic, spicy and mineral notes that gradually evolve, revealing increasing depth.

Food and wine pairings
The Contino Gran Reserva 2018 pairs perfectly with red meats prepared in various ways: herb-roasted lamb, filet mignon, or roast beef. Game—especially wild boar or venison in long-braised stews—enhances the wine’s earthy and mineral notes. Braised cuts of beef a la riojana also make an ideal match. For cheese lovers, aged cheeses—particularly blue cheeses or aged Manchego—offer a harmonious pairing.

Serving and cellaring
The Contino Gran Reserva 2018 can be enjoyed now or cellared to continue its evolution.

A Rioja Alavesa Gran Reserva combining tradition and excellence

The estate
CVNE, an acronym for Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España, was founded in 1879 in Haro by brothers Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asúa. This historic bodega is still controlled today by direct descendants of the founding family, with Víctor Urrutia Ybarra and his sister María Urrutia Ybarra representing the fifth generation leading the group. From the outset, CVNE stood out for its commitment to technological innovation, notably illustrated by the construction in 1909 of a winery designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. The group now owns eight bodegas across Spain’s leading wine regions. Viñedos del Contino, created in 1973, was the first Bordeaux-style château concept established in Rioja, revolutionizing the region’s approach to wine estates.

The vineyard
The Contino estate spans 62 hectares in the sub-region of Rioja Alavesa, in the municipality of Laserna near Laguardia. The vineyards benefit from the natural protection of the Cerro de la Mesa hill, creating a distinctive mesoclimate. The soils display a complex mosaic of clay-limestone, clay-iron and alluvial soils. The Ebro River, which winds near the vineyards, plays a crucial climatic role by regulating temperatures. The grapes for Contino Gran Reserva come primarily from the Las Anchas area around the Finca San Rafael property, with a significant contribution from Tempranillo vines over 60 years old.

The vintage
The 2018 vintage proved demanding, marked by above-average rainfall and moderate temperatures. These climatic conditions required considerable work in the vineyard, but made it possible to produce healthy grapes with heightened aromatic freshness and higher acidity, creating a fresher wine that reflects the characteristics of this particular year.

Winemaking and aging
The Contino Gran Reserva 2018 is harvested by hand. After meticulous sorting in a refrigerated room, the destemmed grapes ferment in untreated concrete vats at a controlled temperature between 26 and 28°C. Total maceration time, including alcoholic fermentation and post-fermentation maceration, ranges from 15 to 20 days. Malolactic fermentation also begins in the concrete vats. The wine is then aged for 24 months in French oak barrels at 70% (new and used) and American oak at 30%. After this period, the Contino Gran Reserva 2018 undergoes additional aging of at least three years in bottle in the estate’s underground cellars before release.

Grape variety
Tempranillo