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James Suckling 93 points. I like the smoked-meat, bark and berry aromas that follow through to a medium body with ultra-fine tannins and a long, creamy finish. Tangy and delicious. Hints of burnt orange at the end. Fresh meat, too. Tempranillo. Vegan. Drink now. JS. Cune Reserva is a blend of the varieties Tempranillo (85%) and Graciano, Garnacha and Mazuelo (15% between the 3) The grape from Cune Reserva are from vineyards that are situated in the La Rioja Alta. The harvest is carried out manually with the utmost care. In the winery, Cune Reserva goes through fermentation that lasts for 10 days. After which, the wine is then subjected to...

Wine Advocate 90 points. The juicy and primary red 2019 Cune Crianza shows ripeness, at only 13.5% alcohol (they aim for 13%), but also has freshness. The oak is very subtle and integrated into the fruit that is at the front of the nose and palate. It has a touch of rusticity, an earthy touch on the palate. It's a blend of Tempranillo with 15% Garnacha and Mazuelo from Rioja Alta that fermented in 20,000-liter stainless steel vats and matured in used (mostly) American oak barrels for one year. They produce three million bottles of this and bottle it throughout the year. This is the wine that sets the bar in the red portfolio. Very good....

85% tempranillo 10% graciano 5% mazuelo James Suckling 95 points. "A sweet spot in the Cune range. This gorgeous Gran Reserva offers ripe fruit that is given two full years in oak, in addition to extra time in bottle to make the wine softer and more ready. The result is a classic style that is typical of Cune and its legendary quality, with the ability to drink now or age further in cellar. Gorgeous!" JS. Cune Gran Reserva is a red wine produced by CVNE in the DOCa. and made with Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo varieties. The origins of the Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España date back to 1879, when...

Tim Atkin 93 points. Contino Garnacha is a red wine from the D.O. La Rioja produced by the Contino winery. The grape harvest is carried out manually as soon as the bunches are at the optimum stage of ripeness. The grapes go through a double selection process: on the vine, and upon entering the winery. The harvested berries are left to ferment in French oak vats. Later, they are macerated for seven days, during which time, they carry out several 'plungings'. Malolactic fermentation takes place in second use barrels. Contino Garnacha rests in the barrel for two years before being bottled. #COMP

James Suckling 96 points. Tim Atkin MW 94 points. Contino Graciano is a single-variety Graciano red wine produced by the Bodega Viñedos del Contino in the D.O.Ca. Rioja. Bodegas Viñedos del Contino started out in Laguardia in 1973, although the estate dates back to the 16th century. It is considered to have been the first to use the Bordeaux “Château” style in La Rioja, an idea driven by the CVNE centennial winery. Viñedos del Contino has 62 hectares of sandy-calcareous and clayey-calcareous soils with boulders and influenced by an Atlantic-Mediterranean climate. A “contino” is the name for...

Tim Atkin 94 points. Intense aromas of black fruit, red plums, blackberries and something liqueur-like. It gradually gains in complexity with spicy notes, nuances of cocoa and chocolate, liquorice and fine toasted notes appearing. In 1973, Cvne and the family who own the winery created the first Rioja "chateau". Viñedos del Contino forms a set of vineyards surrounding an old country house, in a curve of the river Ebro. Their wines are made exclusively from the vines planted in their 62 hectares of land, located in Laserna, near Laguardia, in the Rioja Alavesa. Contino Gran Reserva is made from grapes selected from the...

James Suckling 95 points. Contino Reserva is a red wine from D.O. La Rioja produced by the winery Contino, which is owned by Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España. It is a coupage of the varieties Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (10%), Mazuelo (3%) and Red Grenache (2%). The grapes used to make Contino Reserva come from vineyards of the farm Finca San Rafael, located in the municipality of Laguardia, in La Rioja Alavesa. The soils are comprised of sandy loam and clay, with an abundant presence of stones. The climate of the area stands out for being dry and hot in summer and cold in winter. The harvest of the grapes...

James Suckling 95 points..."a very strong and muscular red with very toned tannins that frame the blue fruit and wet earth. Subtle and cool. Structured and chewy. Shows power. Needs three to four years to soften." Contino Viña del Olivo is a red wine made by Bodega Contino. To make their wines stand out, and to pay tribute to a old olive tree found in the surroundings of the vineyards, they created Viña del Olivo, a modern but refined wine. This wine is made with Tempranillo (88%) and Graciano (12%) grapes, vigorously selected. The grapes selected are at their optimum ripening point and are picked by hand from the...

James Suckling 97 points. Cune Imperial Grand Reserva is considered by some as one of the great wines of Spain. Its 2014 vintage was selected by the prestigious magazine the WineSpectator as the best wine in the world. It is a blend made from Tempranillo as the main variety with a small percentage of Mazuelo and Graciano. The grapes come from old vines planted 45 years ago in the town of Villalba. The harvest is done manually, a first selection of grapes is carried out, and they are transferred to the winery in small boxes that help keep the grapes in perfect condition. Once in the winery, the grapes are cooled and passed to a sorting table...

James Suckling 92 points. This has a pretty nose of lemons, sliced apples, peaches, fresh apricots, sea shells and stones. Hint of anise and jasmine. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a creamy, lightly waxy texture. Fresh and elegant. Viura. Vegan. Drink or hold. Winemaker Notes Bright pale yellow in color with green hints at the rim. The nose shows aromas reminiscent of spring flowers and white fruits such as pear, apple and white currant. The palate is silky and pleasing due to perfect balance between structure and acidity. The finish is long, fresh and youthful, providing a white that is a perfect match with fish, seafood and...

This is very powerful and rich with amazing depth of fruit and ripe tannins. Full body. Round and chewy tannins. Super depth and beauty in this pure tempranillo. Needs time in the cellar. Better after 2021. 97 points, James Suckling (Dec 2019). "CVNE has been on a roll lately, and this ace from a great vintage only helps to keep that roll going. Stout aromas of bramble, berry fruits, tobacco and fine oak are highly convincing, as is a muscled-up palate that's showing superb structure. Black-plum and cassis flavors are more up front delicious than complex, although further aging may flip the script. Best from 2023 onward. Michael...

CVNE produces some of the most well-known and respected wines in Rioja. The Vina Real Crianza is a fantastic example of their craft, made with 100% Tempranillo grapes from the Rioja Alavesa subregion. It spends 12 months in American and French oak barrels before being released, and it shows off lovely aromas of ripe berries, vanilla, and spice. The palate is medium-bodied and well-balanced, with elegant tannins and a long finish.

James Suckling 93 points. "This is really delicious, Orange-peel, blackberry and light bark aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate with very fine tannins and a long, energetic finish. Racy is a good word to describe it. Vegan. Drink now and enjoy. But will improve with age." JS.

95 Points James Suckling Attractive nose of dark cherries, dill, thyme, coconut and chocolate. Some salted caramel, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins and vibrant acidity. So balanced and fresh with a long, refined finish. 95% tempranillo and 5% graciano. Better from 2024. Maroon color with nuances of cherry. Very elegant and intense on nose with spicy notes, aromas of cocoa, vanilla and fine wood in which you'll find a nice touch of ripe fruit in the aftertaste. A very wide wine in the mouth with great structure and potential. It has noble and structured tannins. it is a complex, great wine, long in the...

Wine Advocate 93 points. The classical 2015 Viña Real Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo with 10% Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano from a warm and early harvest that fermented in stainless steel vats and aged in new oak barriques for 22 months with rackings every four months. I find it very expressive, aromatic and open, ripe and hedonistic but without excess. It has the soft and approachable profile of the Alavesa wines but with the grip of the fine-grained, chalky tannins. It's gentle but has clout. Delicious! LG Jun 2018. James Suckling 94 points. #DEC

Wine Advocate 93 points. The textbook Rioja Alavesa red 2016 Viña Real Reserva was produced with 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano, Garnacha and Mazuelo, mostly from their own grapes. It fermented in stainless steel vats and matured in new and second use barriques for 22 months. This is a more delicate version of the Reserva with added freshness and a touch of red fruit. It has contained ripeness, elegance and balance with very tasty flavors and abundant fine-grained tannins. 142,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2019.LG Oct 2020.