- 95 points -
July 2021 (Vintage 2018)Colour: very deep cherry;Aroma: complex, expressive, spicy, mineral, powerful;Flavour: full-bodied, long, great length;
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Contino Rioja Graciano
2018
Founded in 1879 by the brothers Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asua, the Compañia Vinicola del Norte de España is one of the oldest estates in La Rioja. C.V.N.E. is located in Haro, in the traditional wine trade district, next to the train station. In this period when transport was not very advanced, there was a definite advantage in locating your cellar very close to a train station! By 1900, this company had more than 80,000 bottles intended for prolonged aging, which was rare at that time...
See the C.V.N.E. detail page for more information on this brand
Contino Graciano is made from hand-picked grapes. Alcoholic fermentation in French oak vats at moderate temperature for 24 months. Aged for 1 month in pure concrete vats. Clay-limestone soil.
Complex nose with violet hints, floral aromas combined with wild blackberries and an elegant mineral finish. Long and fleshy wine in mouth. Which stands out for silkiness of its tannins. Contino Graciano is an elegant and balance wine, the result of a magnificent maturation of the variety in our vineyards San Rafael and an excellent aging work.
Colour: very deep cherry;Aroma: complex, expressive, spicy, mineral, powerful;Flavour: full-bodied, long, great length;
See detailed press reviewThere is contained power in the 2018 Graciano, which reveals a restrained 13.47% alcohol with very high acidity, close to seven grams, and a very low pH (3.22), which means lots of freshness and citrus acidity in the wine. It has a lactic touch on the nose that talks about its youth and the need for some more time in bottle. There is a touch of austerity on the palate, combining the abundant tannins and the high acidity that make it a bit harsh. There is a touch of iron and blood, and it's varietal and long. The wine is very powerful anyway and is going to welcome some time in bottle. Nobody said Graciano was easy... 3,300 bottles were filled in June 2021.
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