Nicely evolving 2009 Bodegas y Viñedos del Contino Rioja Contino Reserva ($42 in 2017). Sharp mid-garnet, rim variation, viscous (14.0 alc.); red fruit, earth, mushroom, cedar nose; low-mid acids; softening mid-tannins; good structure; balanced semi-long red fruit and wood finish. w/grilled steak. 17/92.
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Clear, deep red colour. Cranberry, tobacco and liquorice on nose. Rounded mouthfeel - cranberry, aniseed and tart fruit flavours. Long finish. Very nice.
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Very ripe, round and rich nose but maybe lacking a bit of elegance. I liked this better a couple years ago when it was still very much on its primary fruit.
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2yrs since last bottle. Opened 8 hrs before dinner. Expressive nose of sweet red fruits, maybe even a touch tropical although not usually applied to red wine. Even smoother and more mellow now. Excellent partner to a fillet of beef. Entering the peak of the curve now but these Riojas have v good longevity
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Red colour with slight browning on the edges. Dark cherry nose along with forest floor and a bit of tobacco. Smooth, slightly creamy mouthfeel with a nice acid bite at the end. Dark fruit flavours along with a bit of leather. Still feels youthful.
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After maturation, spent 24 months in the barrel, and 11 years in the bottle, this wine is a full body, smooth tannins, and a long and flavorful finish. Fruit-driven, the light and firm tannins are well-integrated and crisp acidity keeps this fresh after so long. Bought in February 2016 and opened the first bottle today. Elegant, graceful, and well-balanced.
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Black cherry fruit developing cream and spice. It possesses tannins as well as freshness yet remains soft and sensuous. Super length on the finish and altogether an impressive wine. CHP 90pts
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Gloomy February Weekend in London; 2/19/2022-2/20/2022: Popped poured and swilled after a particularly heavy day at work. Enjoyed with chicken, chips and the final episode of Boba Fett. Colour - crimson, nose - earthy, whiff of vanilla. On the palate - high tone technocolor of young-ish Rioja. Well made - “international” can one say? Opens up over the next couple of hours to become a lot more poised and elegant. Seems to be like French rather than American oak predominates? Really nice wine - last glass so much better than the first. A very welcome comfort after a pretty heavy week.
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We were trying to pair wines to go with Roman Lamb (cooked in the juices, piquant tomato base, just falls off the bone).
Penfold Bin 28 Syrah 2010 – we previously tried a Penfold Max Syrah 2 years old with some lamb wrapped in foil and done over a wood fire which worked. The Bin 28 with Roman lamb did not. We had also previously paired the Bin 28 with Lamb, slow-cooked with Moorish Spices & Buttermilk which also worked, so there really are no rules and the only way to tell is through trial and error. The wine itself had plenty of black fruits (black cherry, plum), liquorish sweetness, coffee & chocolate. It was that herby sage/star anise/liquorish/clove/vanilla hint that clashed with the Roman lamb. Score 89
2006 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste – a lovely smooth left bank Pauillac. 15 years and punching. Oaky with tobacco, blackberry and leather. It was OK with the lamb but we think a right bank with more Merlot would be done better. Score 90
2010 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva – this went best so we then tried it again (2nd bottle, a week later, same lamb recipe) and added a 2009 Bodegas y Viñedos del Contino Rioja Contino Reserva (both Score 90). This time we knew to open both early (8 hours and decanted before serving). Both are outstanding years for Rioja with 2010 thought to be ahead. Both are super smooth but side by side, the Imperial was distinctly woodier. The Contino had more on the nose and was a tad sweeter on the palate. The Imperial was more tobacco and dried leaves. The Contino was more Fig and Strawberry. These differences are not great and you’d probably only notice this with them side by side. Both went beautifully with the Roman lamb. We had some of the first bottle of Imperial left over (cork left in). After a week, it had developed oxidative notes – wet mustiness on the nose, OK on the palate but with less fruit.
All the wines above are at the peak of their curve ie drink now.
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Last bottle - good stuff. Smoky black and red fruits, a hint of vanilla sweetness and all the other traditional characteristics of well made Rioja. Likely to last for quite a while yet, but drinking well now
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Plomme, lakris, mineraler, krydder. Moreller, ung, lang fatpreget ettersmak. Veldig ung og monolittisk. De fleste enige om Rioja. 2009 eller 2010 gjettet Christer. Jeg gjettet Contino ettersom det var lite vanilje 2009 mye 'fransk' fat. Riktig. Contino, Reserva spesialtapping. Dette var en av flaskene som ble produsert for en restaurant som kjøpte 1800 flasker, men aldri betalte. 600 flasker ble levert. De siste 1200 fikk nye etiketter og solgt som reserva. Herlig vin. 93
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PNP - very nice and balance with a good QPR. Good backbone on the front palate with some nice undeveloped tannins and a strawberry nose. This is a very good wine for the price I paid and good everyday wine.
Sour strawberries and cherries on the front. Burnt caramel nose with a hint of chcocolate coming through.
I can see this being optimal still in 5+ more years and 92/93.
Good juice
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Taste Spanish Wines (San Diego Wine Co.): “85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, + 5% Mazuelo & Garnacha; Manual harvest from a selection of our estate vyds. After desteming, the grapes were fermented in 12,300 L s/s tanks @ a controlled temp of 82-86° F. Total maceration time was 15-20 days. The wine was placed into a mix of used FR & AM oak. Racking was done every 6 mos. After 2 yrs in barrel, the wine was bottled & spent another 2 yrs in our underground cellars. 14.23% ABV, 5.7 g/L T.A., & 3.44 pH;”
N: Closed; Smoke atop berries?
P: Med body; NICE frt met by an astringent pucker which evolves into a LONG, toasty, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish. For now & through '20... easily. 93 pts WA, + 4 scores & 3 medals on wine-searcher's Tasting Notes pg. [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher likely shows no sources for this vintage].
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Opened to breathe for 1h. This is a lovely rioja. Caramel, red fruit, and oak on the nose. Medium bodied, juicy cranberries and sour cherries, plus a hit of acid and tannin on the finish. There is some milk chocolate in there somewhere too.
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The wine is clear and bright with a medium ruby colour.
The nose is clean and developing, displaying pronounced intensity aromas of ripe red fruit (strawberry), black fruit (dark plums), pungent spices (liquorice), oak ageing (cedar, vanilla, hints of walnut).
The wine is dry in the mouth with a medium acidity. It has a high well-integrated alcohol and medium(+) tannins with a fine-grained texture. It has a medium(+) body and pronounced intensity flavours of ripe red fruit (strawberry), black fruit (dark plums), pungent spices (liquorice), oak ageing (cedar, vanilla, hints of walnut). The finish is medium(+).
It is a very good quality wine. It shows some complexity provided by oak ageing, and the balance between tannins and alcohol, supported by a tasty fruit concentration, is very well achieved. On the other hand a better example of this style would be even more complex and would show a longer finish. Anyway it shows some elegance and finesse.
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Polished, well-made wine in a fairly international style. The balance, the texture and the aromas speak of its origin. However it's all a bit masked by the oak and the alcohol.
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Appearance: Clear wine with a medium ruby colour and a slight fading on the rim.
Nose: Clean nose with a Medium+ intensity. This wine is developing.
Quite a savoury nose with baked fruit, tobacco and leather combining pleasantly together. Sweet spice and charred wood are present but not overwhelming.
Palate: Dry Medium+ acidity Medium tannins Medium alcohol Medium+ intensity Medium body Medium+ finish
Surprisingly juicy on the palate with plenty of ripe fruit fading into leather notes. Round and smooth with a lively acidity and smooth tannins fading into a pleasant finish. Good wine!
Excellent quality Tempranillo blend from Rioja. Can be drank now but will gain complexity over the next 3-8 years. At 23 euros, very good QPR.
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4/14/2024 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nicely evolving 2009 Bodegas y Viñedos del Contino Rioja Contino Reserva ($42 in 2017). Sharp mid-garnet, rim variation, viscous (14.0 alc.); red fruit, earth, mushroom, cedar nose; low-mid acids; softening mid-tannins; good structure; balanced semi-long red fruit and wood finish. w/grilled steak. 17/92.
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10/15/2023 - rjsmall Likes this wine:
Clear, deep red colour. Cranberry, tobacco and liquorice on nose. Rounded mouthfeel - cranberry, aniseed and tart fruit flavours. Long finish. Very nice.
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9/26/2023 - rwpalmer wrote: 89 Points
Very ripe, round and rich nose but maybe lacking a bit of elegance. I liked this better a couple years ago when it was still very much on its primary fruit.
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7/30/2023 - shallIshantI Likes this wine: 90 Points
2yrs since last bottle. Opened 8 hrs before dinner. Expressive nose of sweet red fruits, maybe even a touch tropical although not usually applied to red wine. Even smoother and more mellow now. Excellent partner to a fillet of beef. Entering the peak of the curve now but these Riojas have v good longevity
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3/12/2023 - rjsmall Likes this wine:
Red colour with slight browning on the edges. Dark cherry nose along with forest floor and a bit of tobacco. Smooth, slightly creamy mouthfeel with a nice acid bite at the end. Dark fruit flavours along with a bit of leather. Still feels youthful.
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12/3/2022 - Geoffy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank next to an Ardanza 2008, which is the better wine. Smooth and longish, but without the complexity and excitement.
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11/13/2022 - JC1000 Likes this wine: 92 Points
After maturation, spent 24 months in the barrel, and 11 years in the bottle, this wine is a full body, smooth tannins, and a long and flavorful finish. Fruit-driven, the light and firm tannins are well-integrated and crisp acidity keeps this fresh after so long. Bought in February 2016 and opened the first bottle today. Elegant, graceful, and well-balanced.
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3/8/2022 - platpeeps Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black cherry fruit developing cream and spice. It possesses tannins as well as freshness yet remains soft and sensuous. Super length on the finish and altogether an impressive wine. CHP 90pts
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2/19/2022 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Gloomy February Weekend in London; 2/19/2022-2/20/2022: Popped poured and swilled after a particularly heavy day at work. Enjoyed with chicken, chips and the final episode of Boba Fett. Colour - crimson, nose - earthy, whiff of vanilla. On the palate - high tone technocolor of young-ish Rioja. Well made - “international” can one say? Opens up over the next couple of hours to become a lot more poised and elegant. Seems to be like French rather than American oak predominates? Really nice wine - last glass so much better than the first. A very welcome comfort after a pretty heavy week.
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7/24/2021 - Geoffy Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is lovely. Full-bodied, fruity and hints of spice/oak, but it's quite smooth and modern. More Sandra D than Rizzo, Roger Moore not Connery.
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6/20/2021 - shallIshantI Likes this wine: 90 Points
We were trying to pair wines to go with Roman Lamb (cooked in the juices, piquant tomato base, just falls off the bone).
Penfold Bin 28 Syrah 2010 – we previously tried a Penfold Max Syrah 2 years old with some lamb wrapped in foil and done over a wood fire which worked. The Bin 28 with Roman lamb did not. We had also previously paired the Bin 28 with Lamb, slow-cooked with Moorish Spices & Buttermilk which also worked, so there really are no rules and the only way to tell is through trial and error. The wine itself had plenty of black fruits (black cherry, plum), liquorish sweetness, coffee & chocolate. It was that herby sage/star anise/liquorish/clove/vanilla hint that clashed with the Roman lamb. Score 89
2006 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste – a lovely smooth left bank Pauillac. 15 years and punching. Oaky with tobacco, blackberry and leather. It was OK with the lamb but we think a right bank with more Merlot would be done better. Score 90
2010 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva – this went best so we then tried it again (2nd bottle, a week later, same lamb recipe) and added a 2009 Bodegas y Viñedos del Contino Rioja Contino Reserva (both Score 90). This time we knew to open both early (8 hours and decanted before serving). Both are outstanding years for Rioja with 2010 thought to be ahead. Both are super smooth but side by side, the Imperial was distinctly woodier. The Contino had more on the nose and was a tad sweeter on the palate. The Imperial was more tobacco and dried leaves. The Contino was more Fig and Strawberry. These differences are not great and you’d probably only notice this with them side by side. Both went beautifully with the Roman lamb. We had some of the first bottle of Imperial left over (cork left in). After a week, it had developed oxidative notes – wet mustiness on the nose, OK on the palate but with less fruit.
All the wines above are at the peak of their curve ie drink now.
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1/14/2021 - belfast taxman wrote: 90 Points
Last bottle - good stuff. Smoky black and red fruits, a hint of vanilla sweetness and all the other traditional characteristics of well made Rioja. Likely to last for quite a while yet, but drinking well now
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6/15/2020 - mdanyc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great for a gently aged rioja. Very smooth, definitely drinking well. No harshness. Good on day 2. Glad I have some more of this.
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5/21/2020 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
It it is a pretty fruity wine and is a smooth wine that most will enjoy.
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4/7/2020 - Olebanole Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fra spesialtapping, nydelig vin, smooth, lang ettersmak, mørke bær, plomme, litt vanilje. Avrundede tanniner, men fortsatt ung.
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3/15/2020 - Francophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very smooth enjoyable well balanced wine
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12/13/2019 - noni15 wrote: 92 Points
Ready to drink now, still some fruit left with hints of oak. Good PQR.
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11/22/2019 - belfast taxman wrote: 90 Points
Top notch Rioja. Smoky dark fruit with a hint of sweet vanilla in the background with long finish
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8/23/2019 - "Rhône Rider" wrote: 93 Points
Plomme, lakris, mineraler, krydder. Moreller, ung, lang fatpreget ettersmak. Veldig ung og monolittisk. De fleste enige om Rioja. 2009 eller 2010 gjettet Christer. Jeg gjettet Contino ettersom det var lite vanilje 2009 mye 'fransk' fat. Riktig. Contino, Reserva spesialtapping. Dette var en av flaskene som ble produsert for en restaurant som kjøpte 1800 flasker, men aldri betalte. 600 flasker ble levert. De siste 1200 fikk nye etiketter og solgt som reserva. Herlig vin. 93
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8/11/2019 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice wine but different from previous Riojas I've had. Fruits were more vibrant and leather was largely missing.
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1/12/2019 - XNO Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice spicy, prune bouquet. Good length in mouth
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4/19/2018 - mchern02 wrote:
PNP - very nice and balance with a good QPR. Good backbone on the front palate with some nice undeveloped tannins and a strawberry nose. This is a very good wine for the price I paid and good everyday wine.
Sour strawberries and cherries on the front. Burnt caramel nose with a hint of chcocolate coming through.
I can see this being optimal still in 5+ more years and 92/93.
Good juice
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3/2/2018 - Varlic Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lovely deep ruby colour. Tannins are soft now, with a full and juicy flavour. Enjoyed with a steak this evening.
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9/9/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
Taste Spanish Wines (San Diego Wine Co.): “85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, + 5% Mazuelo & Garnacha; Manual harvest from a selection of our estate vyds. After desteming, the grapes were fermented in 12,300 L s/s tanks @ a controlled temp of 82-86° F. Total maceration time was 15-20 days. The wine was placed into a mix of used FR & AM oak. Racking was done every 6 mos. After 2 yrs in barrel, the wine was bottled & spent another 2 yrs in our underground cellars. 14.23% ABV, 5.7 g/L T.A., & 3.44 pH;”
N: Closed; Smoke atop berries?
P: Med body; NICE frt met by an astringent pucker which evolves into a LONG, toasty, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish. For now & through '20... easily. 93 pts WA, + 4 scores & 3 medals on wine-searcher's Tasting Notes pg. [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher likely shows no sources for this vintage].
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1/21/2016 - skurtz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened to breathe for 1h. This is a lovely rioja. Caramel, red fruit, and oak on the nose. Medium bodied, juicy cranberries and sour cherries, plus a hit of acid and tannin on the finish. There is some milk chocolate in there somewhere too.
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1/19/2016 - Man in Black wrote:
The wine is clear and bright with a medium ruby colour.
The nose is clean and developing, displaying pronounced intensity aromas of ripe red fruit (strawberry), black fruit (dark plums), pungent spices (liquorice), oak ageing (cedar, vanilla, hints of walnut).
The wine is dry in the mouth with a medium acidity. It has a high well-integrated alcohol and medium(+) tannins with a fine-grained texture. It has a medium(+) body and pronounced intensity flavours of ripe red fruit (strawberry), black fruit (dark plums), pungent spices (liquorice), oak ageing (cedar, vanilla, hints of walnut). The finish is medium(+).
It is a very good quality wine. It shows some complexity provided by oak ageing, and the balance between tannins and alcohol, supported by a tasty fruit concentration, is very well achieved. On the other hand a better example of this style would be even more complex and would show a longer finish. Anyway it shows some elegance and finesse.
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12/8/2015 - csabjon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Polished, well-made wine in a fairly international style. The balance, the texture and the aromas speak of its origin. However it's all a bit masked by the oak and the alcohol.
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11/11/2015 - WineCuentista wrote: 90 Points
Appearance: Clear wine with a medium ruby colour and a slight fading on the rim.
Nose: Clean nose with a Medium+ intensity. This wine is developing.
Quite a savoury nose with baked fruit, tobacco and leather combining pleasantly together. Sweet spice and charred wood are present but not overwhelming.
Palate:
Dry
Medium+ acidity
Medium tannins
Medium alcohol
Medium+ intensity
Medium body
Medium+ finish
Surprisingly juicy on the palate with plenty of ripe fruit fading into leather notes. Round and smooth with a lively acidity and smooth tannins fading into a pleasant finish. Good wine!
Excellent quality Tempranillo blend from Rioja. Can be drank now but will gain complexity over the next 3-8 years. At 23 euros, very good QPR.
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