Contino, "Vina del Olivo" Rioja Red 2021
|
96+
Wine Advocate
The 2021 Viña del Olivo comes from one of the few non-alluvial plots on the property, as it has clay and limestone soils, a pure south exposure with vines planted in 1980 that produce deep wines with very good aging potential. It fermented in oak vats and matured in oak barrels for 14 months followed by another two months in oak vats. It’s 80% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo with 13.85% alcohol, a pH of 3.57 and 5.3 grams of acidity. It surprised me with its finesse and elegance, a big change. There’s no sensation of oak, and it’s fresh, profound and floral, with concentrated back berry fruit, a touch of bacon (but all very subtle), a vibrant palate (the Graciano and the year?) and very fine tannins. It’s still a baby but has gobsmacking balance and very fine tannins. I already liked the 2020, but this is one step above. Possibly the finest Olivo to date… 15,333 bottles and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in July 2023.
Well, well, well. This is one of the best wines of an outstanding vintage, demonstrating that this warm Rioja Alavesa site performs best in cooler vintages. It’s a wine that oozes quality from the first sniff, all blackcurrant leaf, coffee bean and wild herbs, leading into a palate of mocha, plum and blackberry. The palate is refined, polished and beautifully freighted, marrying Tempranillo, 15% Graciano and 5% each of Mazuelo and Garnacha to (near) perfection. I can’t recall a better wine from the estate. Bravo! 2026-2040.
|
|
|
|
Contino, "Vina del Olivo" Rioja Red 2022
|
97
James Suckling
A fresh, youthful yet elegant Rioja with striking aromas of dark minerals, chestnuts, pine, dark chocolate, berries and plums. Precise and refined, with profoundness and crystalized tannins. Full-bodied and intensely packed, but like the rest of Contino’s wines, there is nothing hefty. Vertical and extremely long. A vinous Rioja that shows concentration and layered length. Drinkable now, but better after 2026.
The 2022 Viña del Olivo was produced with grapes from one of their most famous vineyards and is a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. It fermented in 1,000-liter oak vats, where it also underwent malolactic fermentation, and it matured for 18 months in oak barrels, 80% new, mostly French but with 5% of them American, and then was fine-tuned with another three months in the oak vats. 2022 was a challenging year for many vineyards, this one included, as there was a very long heat wave. This has a little more spice (cola nut) and perhaps a more classical profile than the 2021, with a touch of cold smoke. It has a moderate 13.65% alcohol a pH of 3.42 and 5.93 grams of acidity. 15,333 bottles, 800 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2024.
The 2022 Contino Viña Olivo blends 80% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from a limestone-based site. This aged for 18 months in French oak vats. Here, the oak is more pronounced than in others, with notes of menthol, graphite, olive, black fruit and violet. Fine-grained tannins provide structure and lift, while the chalky texture and layered palate add depth. This is more refined than previous vintages.
|
|
|
