2008 CVNE Contino Reserva
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
85% Tempranillo with 10% Graciano and small amounts of Mazuelo and Garnacha. Deep cherry red. Smells seductively sweet and ripe and dark-red fruited with notes of black olive. All that on the palate along with vanilla, leather, fruit cake and baking spice. Even with such ripe, velvety fruit, the wine is remarkably fresh and the texture is again seductive and velvety. Mouth-watering and delicious; benchmark top-notch traditional Rioja. Plenty more complexity to come though it gives pleasure even now. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 2.5% Garnacha, 2.5% Mazuelo. Two years in French and American oak. Very ripe fruit on the palate. Light tannins, straightforward structure. Doesn't show a great deal of complexity or interest. (RH)
85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 2.5% Mazuelo, 2.5% Garnacha. Still very reserved and introverted, but with an interesting treacle-toffee note. Really rich. (JR)
(85% tempranillo, with garnacha, graciano and mazuelo; aged in French and American oak, all of it older): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of candied cherry, licorice, rose oil and a hint of vanilla. A smoky quality comes up with air and carries onto the palate, which offers lively black raspberry and cherry flavors that pick up a refreshingly bitter edge with air. Closes long and gently tannic, with repeating smokiness and very good clarity, leaving notes of mocha and bitter chocolate behind.