98 points James Suckling: "This is very Asian with black tea, mushroom and bark aromas, and ripe fruit undertones. Full body, round and polished. Edgy structure with blackberry, mushroom skin and cedar. Fantastic finish. Just a baby. Stock up for the cellar. Better in 2020 but already excellent. (1/18/18)"
94 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "[$196/1.5L list] Bottled only in magnum (and larger sizes), the 2010 Gran Reserva is produced with grapes from their oldest vineyards as a classic blend of Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 12% Garnacha and a pinch of Viura; the grapes were fermented in cement vats with malolactic in barrel and the wine underwent an élevage in used French (60%) and American oak barrels for three years, followed by another three years in bottle. It has a very spicy nose with tantalizing aromas reminiscent of curry and some red and black fruit, very clean and precise. It develops some faint lactic notes spiced up with cinnamon. The palate is focused and polished, with great balance (14.4% alcohol and a 3.3 pH), great acidity and volume. This is the best of the wines I tasted from Contino in this sitting. 3,261 magnums. Drink: 2016-2025. (Aug 2016)"
94 points Josh Raynolds (Vinous): "(fermented in concrete tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation in new French oak barrels; aged for two years in new and used barrels, 60 percent of them French and 40 percent American; and then held in bottle for at least three years prior to being released) Brilliant ruby. An expansive, highly perfumed nose displays an array of ripe red fruits and pungent flowers, along with oak spice, vanilla and pipe tobacco overtones. Juicy and concentrated on the palate, offering intense, smoke-laced black raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors and a suave rose pastille nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Finishes smooth, sweet and quite long, with slow-building tannins that fold smoothly into the sweet fruit. This is a distinctly graceful and seductive expression for this vintage. Drink: 2020-2030. (May 2017)"
94 points Wine & Spirits: "Contino is CVNE’s estate in Rioja Alavesa, 153 acres on terraces along a meander in the Ebro River, in Laserna, near Laguardia. Jesús Madrazo, in charge of this property from 1999 until earlier this year, grew one of the great wines of the 2010 vintage, generous in its Alavesa richness, precise in its complexity. It tastes healthy, with a classical Rioja presence that fills its bright, fennel-scented black cherry flavors with stature and grace. Those flavors have direction and drive, while the tannins yield a hint of the acorn flavor of Iberico ham, with which it would go so well. (Dec 2017)"
93 points Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: "(70% tempranillo, 15% graciano, 12% garnacha, 3% viura). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: fine reductive notes, balsamic herbs, fruit liqueur notes, toasty. Palate: elegant, good acidity, spicy, fine bitter notes, reductive nuances, long. (2017)"
94 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "[$196/1.5L list] Bottled only in magnum (and larger sizes), the 2010 Gran Reserva is produced with grapes from their oldest vineyards as a classic blend of Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 12% Garnacha and a pinch of Viura; the grapes were fermented in cement vats with malolactic in barrel and the wine underwent an élevage in used French (60%) and American oak barrels for three years, followed by another three years in bottle. It has a very spicy nose with tantalizing aromas reminiscent of curry and some red and black fruit, very clean and precise. It develops some faint lactic notes spiced up with cinnamon. The palate is focused and polished, with great balance (14.4% alcohol and a 3.3 pH), great acidity and volume. This is the best of the wines I tasted from Contino in this sitting. 3,261 magnums. Drink: 2016-2025. (Aug 2016)"
94 points Josh Raynolds (Vinous): "(fermented in concrete tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation in new French oak barrels; aged for two years in new and used barrels, 60 percent of them French and 40 percent American; and then held in bottle for at least three years prior to being released) Brilliant ruby. An expansive, highly perfumed nose displays an array of ripe red fruits and pungent flowers, along with oak spice, vanilla and pipe tobacco overtones. Juicy and concentrated on the palate, offering intense, smoke-laced black raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors and a suave rose pastille nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Finishes smooth, sweet and quite long, with slow-building tannins that fold smoothly into the sweet fruit. This is a distinctly graceful and seductive expression for this vintage. Drink: 2020-2030. (May 2017)"
94 points Wine & Spirits: "Contino is CVNE’s estate in Rioja Alavesa, 153 acres on terraces along a meander in the Ebro River, in Laserna, near Laguardia. Jesús Madrazo, in charge of this property from 1999 until earlier this year, grew one of the great wines of the 2010 vintage, generous in its Alavesa richness, precise in its complexity. It tastes healthy, with a classical Rioja presence that fills its bright, fennel-scented black cherry flavors with stature and grace. Those flavors have direction and drive, while the tannins yield a hint of the acorn flavor of Iberico ham, with which it would go so well. (Dec 2017)"
93 points Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: "(70% tempranillo, 15% graciano, 12% garnacha, 3% viura). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: fine reductive notes, balsamic herbs, fruit liqueur notes, toasty. Palate: elegant, good acidity, spicy, fine bitter notes, reductive nuances, long. (2017)"
| Product SKU | 702371 |
| Producer | Contino (Cune) |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Varietal | Tempranillo/Tinto Fino |
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Size | 1.5L |
| Color | Red |
| Blend | 70% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 12% Garnacha, 3% Viura |
| ABV | 14.0% |
| Ships To |
