This Spanish house is also known as Cune (koo' nay). The tasting was in a private home in "Sconset."
We started with the 2013 CONTINO BLANCO, RIOJA from the Viura or Macabeo grape. Stainless steel tanks for fermentation, removing lees, battonage, and then into oak barrels. This had good body.
1988 IMPERIAL GRAN RESERVA. Now we're talking! Slightly brown edges; viscous. Presenter says it has softened with age. "Toasty and licorice note" "Slightly dusty quality" I really like this one!
Cune ages wines at winery before release. They are selling the 2007 vintage now to restaurants. Total production (under three different labels) is 1,200,000 cases.
2007 VINA REAL GRAN RESERVA. Viscous. "black cherries" Almost tastes sweet to me. Presenter says in ten years' time it will have zero tannins.
1975 VINA REAL GRAN RESERVA. My second favorite after the 1988 Imperial Gran Reserva. Browning on edges. I noted down caramel and toffee notes on the nose and one lady mentioned "coffee," someone else said "earthiness" and the presenter say "caramel." Doesn't need oxygenation so not decanted before tasting. The tannins merge over time the presenter explains.
2007 CONTINO GRAN RESERVA. More inky. I didn't take notes on this wine but in answer to questions the presenter said their vines range from 30-60 years old. The wines from much older vintages used cement fermentation tanks. They make two types of rosato (rose' wine)--a lighter one that tastes like a white wine and a more robust one.
1996 CONTINO GRAN RESERVA. This has a bit of bite on the finish and penetrates the nasal passages. Presenter says "more power and more alcohol than the Vina Real. Meant to be an estate wine. Contino in price and reputation would be second tier after the Imperial.
I really enjoyed the tasting but nearly got stranded after the session as the taxi that took me to Sconset could not return for me at 4:15 PM. Two sommeliers in town for pouring at the events were also stranded and the hostess ending up driving us into historic Nantucket after picking her son up from soccer practice.
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