Cune’s 2007 Crianza is 80% Tempranillo with the balance Garnacha and Mazuelo aged in American oak for 12 months. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up a pleasing perfume of mineral, spice box, balsamic, black cherry, and blackberry. This leads to a medium-bodied, concentrated wine with good grip, ripe flavors, and excellent balance. This medium-long offering will drink nicely for another 4-5 years. Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana (C.V.N.E.) is known colloquially to most Spanish wine drinkers as Cune. The company was founded in 1879 by the Real de Asua brothers and still remains in control of their direct descendants. In the 1920s ownership started Vina Real and in 2004 a new winery was built in Laguardia. In 1973 Contino was created to further the concept of the single estate winery and has since been one of the principal leaders in the resurrection of the nearly extinct Graciano grape. The Contino wines are made exclusively from the estate’s 253 acres located in Laserna near the town of Laguardia. The Reserva bottling is the mainstay of the Contino lineup produced from vines ranging in age from 25 to 60 years. The Contino Vina Del Olivo is the product of a dry farmed single vineyard of the same name planted in 1980. The blend is 90% Tempranillo with the balance Graciano and Carinena aged in new oak for 18 months. The Imperial label is affixed at C.V.N.E. only in the top vintages. Importer: Christopher Cannan, Europvin, www.europvin.com

This light-bodied, supple red offers dried cherry, tobacco, spice and herbal flavors that remain lively through the finish. Not much depth, but harmonious. A traditional style. Drink now. 4,000 cases imported.??–TM??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add