2015 Rioja Reserva
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Tasting notes
85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 3% Garnacha, 2% Mazuelo. 90% of the winery’s production. Cooler harvest than average. Mainly French with a little American oak, more used than new. TA 5.5 g/l, pH 3.63, free SO2 35 mg/l, total SO2 113 mg/l. Mid-deep ruby. Ripe, red-cherry fruit, with beautifully layered clove and cedar oak spice notes. Lovely integration of oak and fruit. Well crafted, though there’s a good backbone of fine tannins that will carry it through for a decade from now. (TJ)
Critic scores
Average Score
Tim Jackson MW, jancisrobinson.com
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Reserva is a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% split between Mazuelo and Garnacha that wants to express the character of the Contino estate. It fermented in 12,000-liter stainless steel at 28 degrees to 30 degrees Cesius with 15 to 20 days of maceration and an élevage in 60% French and 40% American oak barrels for two years. It feels fresher than the 2014, and it also shows younger, with better integrated oak, subtle aromas and nice balance. It's medium-bodied, with very fine tannins and good freshness, integrated and balanced. I look forward to tasting the 2016 of this wine, because this 2015 is going in a direction that I like. 286,943 bottles and 4,000 magnums produced. It was bottled in June 2018.
(malo in stainless steel tanks, followed by two years of aging in a 60/40 combination of used French and American oak barrels) Deep lurid ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berry, potpourri and fruitcake scents, along with suggestions of cola and smoky minerals. Concentrated and supple in texture, showing impressive depth and definition to the juicy black raspberry, cherry liqueur and mocha flavors. A suave floral quality emerges with air and carries through the very long, gently tannic finish, which leaves behind sweet red berry and vanilla notes.