2001 CVNE Contino Reserva
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Tasting notes
The 2001 Contino Reserva is a forward, concentrated effort with an elegant personality. It has enough stuffing to evolve for another 2-3 years and should drink well through 2021. Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana (C.V.N.E.) is known colloquially to most Spanish wine drinkers as Cune. The company was founded in 1879 by the Real de Asua brothers and still remains in control of their direct descendants. In the 1920s ownership started Vina Real and in 2004 a new winery was built in Laguardia. In 1973 Contino was created to further the concept of the single estate winery and has since been one of the principal leaders in the resurrection of the nearly extinct Graciano grape. The Contino wines are made exclusively from the estate’s 253 acres located in Laserna near the town of Laguardia. The Reserva bottling is the mainstay of the Contino lineup produced from vines ranging in age from 25 to 60 years. The Contino Vina Del Olivo is the product of a dry farmed single vineyard of the same name planted in 1980. The blend is 90% Tempranillo with the balance Graciano and Carinena aged in new oak for 18 months. The Imperial label is affixed at C.V.N.E. only in the top vintages. Importer: Christopher Cannan, Europvin, www.europvin.com
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Dark red. Youthful, expansive, oak-driven aromas of blackberry, cherry liqueur, cola and roasted coffee. Lush, creamy, medium-weight wine with good depth to its dark fruit flavors; more tangy mineral and licorice notes appear on the back end. The long finish features firm tannins and a lingering note of cherry preserves.
Youthful crimson. Very ripe and yet lively – very rich and lovely Alavesa acidity. Dry finish – very true and bright fruit. Real style and life but with lovely super-ripe fruit. To be released in 2006. Should be very flashy when eventually released. (JR)