September Wine Focus: Tempranillo Tantrum!

Ok so lets catch up on a couple of Rioja Tempranillo

2009 Bodegas y Vinedos del Contino Rioja Contino Reserva.

10% Graciano, 85% Tempranillo. Good natural cork, cellared 5 yrs, think was $44 Cdn. Decanted one hr and drank over 3 days..held up nicely.
Straight off wanna say this is not a traditional style, "bit modern" from across the table. Sour fruits on the nose..cherry and strawberry. Some earth lingers too.
Initial entry thought is dry style, good acidity, cherries, nice mouth feel. Has held up really well but not really my style for Rioja. Medium length and nice fruit balance.
Food was fried chicken with roasted eggplant in a tomato sauce.

2017 Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Crianza

Oh I remember the days when I could find Monte Real Reserva and GR in half bottles when visiting London!
My 2017 cost $22 Cdn, good nat cork, 13.5% alc, 100 % Tempranillo, did not decant.

Medium bodied tad oaky on the nose. Nice medium ruby w watery rim. Red fruit nose, hint of smoke.
Very traditional style, why has this house fallen out of favour? Zesty acidity good fruit balance, bigger tannins on day 2. "White pepper" from fellow taster and blackberry. Very nice, in fact reminds me of a Campo Viejo. Bravo.

[David M. Bueker]

• 2009 Bodega Dominio Buenavista / Veleta Tempranillo Privilegio - Spain, Andalucía, Vino de la Tierra Contraviesa Alpujarra (9/19/2020)
  Not so long since my last bottle, so no real change, but it remains consistently delicious and balanced. I could go through a magnum of this on my own except that I would pass out before I finished it.

For reference, My note from May...

• 2009 Bodega Dominio Buenavista / Veleta Tempranillo Privilegio - Spain, Andalucía, Vino de la Tierra Contraviesa Alpujarra (5/19/2020)
  Delicious combination of richness and structure, with ripe blackberry fruit leading the way. It’s still incredibly young eleven years after the vintage, with only hints of earthy and leathery tones coming through on the finish. Balanced for several more years of aging, and a fantastic value.

[list][*]2009 Bodega Dominio Buenavista / Veleta Tempranillo Privilegio - Spain, Andalucía, Vino de la Tierra Contraviesa Alpujarra (9/19/2020)

This is very interesting. I had no idea that fine table wine was being made in this part of Andalucia between Granada and Almeria. I guess that the estate must be at quite a high altitude in the Sierra Nevada to attenuate the crushing Andalucian heat.

[David M. Bueker]

[list][*]2009 Bodega Dominio Buenavista / Veleta Tempranillo Privilegio - Spain, Andalucía, Vino de la Tierra Contraviesa Alpujarra (9/19/2020)

This is very interesting. I had no idea that fine table wine was being made in this part of Andalucia between Granada and Almeria. I guess that the estate must be at quite a high altitude in the Sierra Nevada to attenuate the crushing Andalucian heat.

Per the back label, 850 meters above sea level

2004 C.V.N.E.Rioja Imperial Reserva (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja)

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We had this last night. I purchased it last month in a offer of a small lot from The Wine Society.

It was an opportunity to get a mature (16 year old) for a reasonable price. A recent Zoom with CVNE told us the Imperial is their flagship label made only in the best vintages. They've been making Imperial for around 100 years and the name comes from those original bottlings made for the British market and bottled in Imperial Pint size bottles. This was a regular 75cl and 13.5% abv.

It comprised 85% Tempranillo,15% Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha and was fermented in French oak vats and aged for two years in oak.

I decanted this 30 minutes before our Sunday roast beef dinner. Jo didn't see the bottle and she was certain it was Cabernet Sauvignon, and on being told that was incorrect, chose Cabernet Franc.

It was a gorgeous wine, but not noticeably Tempranillo, just a beautiful classy mature red wine

In the "great minds think alike" department, I opened this last night. I didn't read Peter May's tasting note on the 2004 until I visited this thread to post my note.:

2001 Rioja Gran Reserva "Imperial", CVNE

Rioja gran reserva spends two years in barrel and then is aged another three years after bottling. CVNE's Rioja reservas from the 1970s were among the first wines I fell in love with. It's good to see that they still produce old school Rioja and haven't adopted the generic international style, as so many others have. The 2001 has an intense brick-red color and the classic Rioja aromas of dark fruits and cigar-box oak. The flavor complexity follows the aroma. Tannins are fully integrated and everything's in beautiful balance. Long, peacock-tail-type finish. This is a wonderful, fully mature example of a top quality Rioja. Triple Curly.

-Paul W.

[David M. Bueker]

This bottle was a gift from Joe Perry, many years ago.

1999 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Monte Real Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (9/22/2020)
Spur of the moment to open this, and it was quite the moment. At first there was this immediate hit of black cherry, with a a dusty, herbal coating like a haze surrounding the fruit. Thirty minutes later things integrated, as if it had been allowed to simmer over a low flame until all the ingredients had mellowed and integrated to form a finished dish. It’s low on structure, so this is a good time to drink it. It’s high on flavor, so it won’t disappoint. Have a simple meal, or just some charcuterie, and drink it all in.

[Jenise]

Good show. I really like that property.

Great, 2 Monte Real TNs in one week.

2005 Rioja Gran Reserva "Vina Real", CVNE

Vina Real is CVNE's other special cuvee. Like the Imperial it's only made in exceptional years. The difference is that whereas the Imperial is a blend of grape varieties, Vina Real is 100% tempranillo. The wine has a very intense color and classic Rioja aromas of fruit and oak. On the palate it's a bit sterner than the 2001 Imperial and less open. This may be a vintage or age difference, or because it's varietal tempranillo. In any case it's classic old-school Rioja and a delight to drink. No hurry, either--this wine has decades ahead of it. Double Curly.

-Paul W.

[Jenise]

Love those wines, Paul. Was looking forward to opening a '94 Imperial when my sense of smell returned but I may not make it before October comes.

Vina Real CVNE is quite pricy in my area. Was visiting downtown last week and picked up some 2012 Baron de Ley Reserva.
Good natural cork,. love the label, $27Cda. Decanted one hour but think not really required.
Held up nicely over two days. Guess ruby red but with very little bricking. Aromatics flew out of the glass..plums, coffee, cherries, spice. Medium bodied with some tannins. quite dry. Blackcurrant and plum fruits, nicely developed in a traditional style. Very good length, might pick up two more as this will age some I feel.

[David M. Bueker]

2005 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (9/27/2020)
After a corked 2001 Rayas Pignan, I needed a serious pick-me-up. The LdH delivered that and more. An initial rush of cassis fruit was followed by dusty herbs and leather tones. The structure snuck up on me like a ninja, tying my tongue in a Gordian knot that releases within moments. All it takes is time. Given the depth and the level of structure, this would seem to be a long-term prospect.