Contino 2015 Rioja Garnacha
Contino is a single estate wine owned and made by CVNE. The vineyards are located in Rioja's high altitude region of Alavesa, yet they have a beautiful site that allows the full ripening of their Garnacha, which is a variety which is normally found at lower altitudes where it is warmer. Spicy, full and rich with a softness and warmth not normally found in Rioja
Spain | Rioja | Contino | 100% Grenache Noir | ABV 14% | Drink 2021 - 2031
The Wine Region
Rioja
Rioja is, along with Sherry, Spain's most famous wine region. Its red wines are based on the noble grape variety of Tempranillo. The red wines of Rioja are classified according their minimum ageing requirements in cask and bottle before being released to the market, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva, with the term Cosecha being used for wines which are young, or do not tend to follow this classification. The wines have an affinity with oak, particularly with the more aromatic American oak, and like many other regions of the world there is tension between the traditionalists and the modernists, with the latter being exemplified by the wines of Artadi and Pujanza
The Producer
Contino
Contino was founded in 1973 by CVNE as a single vineyard wine based in Rioja's Alavesa region. The idea was to create single vineyard wines that express their sense of place. The wines have evolved over time, and now represent some of Rioja's most exciting, modernist style wines.
The vineyards are located in the southern part of the Alavesa where they have both Mediterranean and Atlantic climactic influences, where they experiment with long macerations and shorter barrel ageing than the more traditionalist wines that come out of the sister winery CVNE. At Noble Grape, we admire both whites and reds from this Bodega, with both styles being capable of long ageing.