Wine: Contino 2001 Gran Reserva
Winery: Viñedos del Contino (Laserna-Laguardia, Álava)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo
ABV: 13.5% vol.
Winery: Viñedos del Contino (Laserna-Laguardia, Álava)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo
ABV: 13.5% vol.
Winemaking:
Manual harvest in late September, primarily from the Las Anchas plot under optimal ripening conditions. Tempranillo vines over 60 years old surrounding the Finca de San Rafael. Second selection on a sorting table upon arrival at the winery. Alcoholic fermentation and subsequent maceration in traditional concrete tanks (without epoxy resin coating). Transferred to new oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and stabilization. It then matured for 24 months in 225-liter French and American oak barrels. Bottled exclusively in 150 cl (magnum) format. Minimum of 36 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars before release.
Manual harvest in late September, primarily from the Las Anchas plot under optimal ripening conditions. Tempranillo vines over 60 years old surrounding the Finca de San Rafael. Second selection on a sorting table upon arrival at the winery. Alcoholic fermentation and subsequent maceration in traditional concrete tanks (without epoxy resin coating). Transferred to new oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and stabilization. It then matured for 24 months in 225-liter French and American oak barrels. Bottled exclusively in 150 cl (magnum) format. Minimum of 36 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars before release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Garnet-cherry color with medium-high depth; limpid, luminous, and
brilliant. Radiant with reddish and orange reflections. Slightly coppery
rim showing little evolution, narrow and sharply defined against the
meniscus. Significant sense of thickness with persistent tearing.
Nose:
Good intensity; serious and concentrated. It offers a generous dose of
ripe red fruit in the foreground, evolving toward fine reductive notes
of high-quality leather, orange peel, aromatic herbs, and a premium
mineral background (flint, peat). Elegant and restrained, it gradually
becomes more varietal, gaining expression with a surprising mix of
earthy tones, blonde tobacco, and subtle maceration notes (bramble,
skins). It sits at a stylistic crossroads in Rioja: neither fully modern
nor traditional.
Palate:
A high-tonnage red with immense structure and purity. Marked, firm
tannins—still to be fully polished—within an ensemble that borders on
austere. Impactful acidity, combined with the absence of oak influence
and tremendous freshness, suggests a wine of long-term potential. While
far from a traditional Gran Reserva profile, its quality level is
unquestionable.
Commentary:
It demands both more bottle aging and patience. Reviewing previous notes reveals it has remained unchanged over the last 6 years, maintaining an integrity that warrants full confidence in its future. It is heading toward being "great, very great." Currently, Contino's Gran Reserva has become the winery’s top choice and one of the best aging bets in Rioja. The magnum format suits it perfectly. Excellent work by Chus Madrazo.
It demands both more bottle aging and patience. Reviewing previous notes reveals it has remained unchanged over the last 6 years, maintaining an integrity that warrants full confidence in its future. It is heading toward being "great, very great." Currently, Contino's Gran Reserva has become the winery’s top choice and one of the best aging bets in Rioja. The magnum format suits it perfectly. Excellent work by Chus Madrazo.
Personal Score: 91
Tasting Group Average (els12golafres): 92
Tasting Group Average (els12golafres): 92
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