Contino Reserva 2020
Full-bodied red wine · Viñedos del Contino
Vintage: 2020
Type
Full-bodied red wine
Producer
Viñedos del Contino
Country
Spain
Vintage
2020
Region & Appellation
Rioja, Rioja Alavesa, DOCa Rioja
Grape Varieties
Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha, and Mazuelo
Color & Appearance
Deep ruby red with a bright garnet rim, showing medium-high intensity, excellent clarity, and slow-moving, glycerin-rich legs.
Aroma Profile
Intense aromas of ripe red and black berries, accented by sweet baking spices, tobacco leaf, fine leather, and subtle hints of balsamic and vanilla from oak aging.
Tasting Notes
A powerful yet elegant attack that transitions seamlessly into a structured and harmonious mid-palate, offering rich dark fruit flavors layered with mineral tones and sophisticated wood notes, finishing long and persistent.
Flavor Profile
Ripe blackberry, black cherry, and red plum, complemented by savory notes of liquorice, clove, cedar, tobacco, and a distinct chalky minerality.
Body & Texture
Full-bodied with a velvety, mouth-coating texture, finely grained tannins, and a rich, concentrated core balanced by vibrant freshness.
Acidity & Tannins
Medium-high acidity providing a refreshing spine that cuts through the rich fruit and tannins, complemented by ripe, well-integrated, and fine-grained tannins.
Sweetness Level
Dry
Alcohol Content
14 percent ABV
Aging & Oak
Aged for approximately 18 to 24 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels, followed by further maturation in bottle before release.
Food Pairings
Ideal with roasted red meats, lamb chops, game dishes, jamón ibérico, and aged hard cheeses like Manchego.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at 16-18 degrees Celsius in a large Bordeaux-style red wine glass. Decanting for 1 to 2 hours is recommended to allow the complex aromas to fully unfold.
Price Range
40 to 60 USD
Quality Assessment
Estimated score of 93-95 points, representing a super-premium estate-bottled Rioja of exceptional quality, consistently praised by major international wine critics.
Production Methods
Hand-harvested from single-vineyard plots, strictly sorted, fermented in stainless steel vats with temperature control, followed by malolactic fermentation and careful barrel aging.
Terroir
Located in Laserna, Laguardia within Rioja Alavesa, featuring limestone-clay soils situated on a bend of the Ebro River, enjoying a unique microclimate protected from harsh Atlantic winds.
History & Heritage
Established in 1973 as the first single-estate vineyard (château style) in Rioja, a joint venture between the ancient CVNE winery and the Ugarte family, setting a new benchmark for estate-grown Rioja wines.
Interesting Facts
The name Contino refers to the old guard of one hundred soldiers who guarded the Spanish monarchs in centuries past, supposedly patrolling the very lands where the vineyards now grow.
Cellaring Potential
Excellent cellaring potential, ready to drink now with decanting, but will continue to evolve and gain tertiary complexity over the next 10 to 15 years.
Similar Wines
CVNE Imperial Reserva, Muga Reserva, R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva, and Marqués de Riscal Reserva.