Wine Advisor
CVNE, Vina Real Gran Reserva 2001
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Jay S Miller
The 2001 Gran Reserva is 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano barrel-fermented and aged for 3 years in French and American oak. 2001 was a great vintage in Rioja and is reflected in this superb effort. Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits an alluring bouquet (earth notes, background oak, Asian spices, a hint of balsamic, roasted herbs, lavender, black cherry, and blackberry) that is given added complexity from the extended bottle aging. Medium-bodied and elegant on the palate, it still has a bit of ripe tannin to resolve, plenty of spicy red and black fruits, impeccable balance, and 5-7 more years of aging potential. This classy Gran Reserva will have a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2031, and probably longer. Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana (C.V.N.E.) is known colloquially to most Spanish wine drinkers as Cune. The company was founded in 1879 by the Real de Asua brothers and still remains in control of their direct descendants. In the 1920s ownership started Vina Real and in 2004 a new winery was built in Laguardia. In 1973 Contino was created to further the concept of the single estate winery and has since been one of the principal leaders in the resurrection of the nearly extinct Graciano grape. The Contino wines are made exclusively from the estate’s 253 acres located in Laserna near the town of Laguardia. The Reserva bottling is the mainstay of the Contino lineup produced from vines ranging in age from 25 to 60 years. The Contino Vina Del Olivo is the product of a dry farmed single vineyard of the same name planted in 1980. The blend is 90% Tempranillo with the balance Graciano and Carinena aged in new oak for 18 months. The Imperial label is affixed at C.V.N.E. only in the top vintages. Importer: Christopher Cannan, Europvin, www.europvin.com
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
I believe 2001 was the summit of excessive extraction and excess oak in Spain's modern wine history and while the vintage probably had the potential for greatness, those excesses marked many wines. I've often found the 2001 Viña Real Gran Reserva hard, dry and somehow difficult. That year Michael Jackson sold 6. 5 million copies of his album “Invincible” and Alicia Keys had a hit with “Fallin'.” Unfortunately, that year and more specifically September 11 will be remembered as the day of the most terrible terrorist attack in the U.S., when 2, 997 people were killed. I bet you all remember where you were that day. A few weeks later, the grapes for this wine were harvested. I've never been a great fan of the 2001, there's quite a lot of oak there, with plenty of vanilla and a dry palate, plus lots of grainy tannins and it is quite extracted. Time in bottle may polish those edges. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2021.
About the Producer
CVNE was named "Top 100 Wineries of the Year" by Wine & Spirits magazine in 2015. The winery has also had up to 40 of its wines listed in renowned American wine critic Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate has scored over 90 points. The 2004 Imperial Gran Reserva was awarded the Wine Spectator's "Top 100 Wines of the Year" in 2013, the first time a Spanish winery has won the WS Top 100, which is very representative. CVNE is one of the largest family-owned winemaking groups in Rioja, founded in 1879 by two brothers, Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asua. The family is now in its fifth generation and has a long history of 135 years. The CVNE brand symbolizes the Spanish flag and is the only winery authorized to use the Spanish flag as a base color for its logo. CVNE has a close relationship with the Spanish royal family, and its Grand Cru has been selected as the wedding wine for members of the Spanish royal family. The King of Spain, Juan Carlos, inaugurated the new wine cellar, thus giving the winery an innate mission to be a leader in the production of quality Spanish wines. Cune is the founding winery of the group, and the team places great emphasis on winemaking and ageing, with four wineries spanning Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa: Cune, Imperial, Vina Real and Contino. Contino.) Cune Rioja Reserva 2017 The wine has a garnet red color with a pinkish edge. It has a very high concentration, with aromas of berries and licorice recognized and combined with aromas aged in oak, such as spices, vanilla and anise. The palate is smooth, as the tannins are well integrated, bringing elegance and an aftertaste. The fruity aromas are all very good on the finish.
