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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Contino Rioja Gran Reservatext
94POINTS
17½/20

Contino Rioja Gran Reserva 2012

Rioja, SpainContino Gran Reserva is an excellent example of the renaissance that has occurred in Rioja. The disappearance of Brettanomyces and heavy oak and the emergence of intense fruit, even in a Gran Reserva, is a significant step forward. Contino has always been a bit of a modern style, but this GR is a terrific model to follow. Soft, silky, and polished, it remains persistent on the palate from front to back. The blend is 70/15/12/3 tempranillo, graciano, grenache, viura, all selected block by block. The grapes are picked ripe, and destemmed in untreated concrete. The malolactic takes place in new French oak barrels, after which the wine was racked to American and French oak barrels. After three years in barrel, the wine was bottled and aged for another two years in their underground cellars. This is a superstar red.Tasted: 01 April 2020Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$89.99750mlprivate wine shops
AB$79.99750mlprivate wine shops
Producer: Viñedos del Contino S. A.Distributors: Pacific Wine & Spirits Inc.
Blend: Tempranillo - Graciano - Grenache - ViuraCSPC: 222732UPC: 8410591305125