Going one step up in the quality ladder, the Viña Real 2010 Reserva plays with the advantage of being cropped from a quite balanced, fresh vintage, a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano from Rioja Alavesa fermented in stainless steel and matured in barrel for 22 months, during which time it was racked every four months. This wine has all the classical aromas of an old time Rioja, cherries, vanilla, some coconut, dill, leather, cured meat, incense, old furniture and cold bonfire. The palate is medium-bodied and very balanced with great acidity and fine tannins that make it easy to drink. Pop or keep. It has good freshness, and with time in the glass it develops beautiful aromas of orange peel that transmit very good freshness. 100,000 bottles produced. Viña Real has always been a brand from CVNE, but produced from a separate company since 1943. As it now has its own winery in Rioja Alavesa by Contino, it's taking an even more independent personality. The wines are distinctly different form the Imperial range, with a great value Crianza and a Gran Reserva going back to where it belongs among the best classical long aged reds from Rioja.
... More details
Cvne Rioja Reserva Vina Real 2010 750ml
Rated 93 by Wine Advocate
Going one step up in the quality ladder, the Viña Real 2010 Reserva plays with the advantage of being cropped from a quite balanced, fresh vintage, a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano from Rioja Alavesa fermented in stainless steel and matured in barrel for 22 months, during which time it was racked every four months. This wine has all the classical aromas of an old time Rioja, cherries, vanilla, some coconut, dill, leather, cured meat, incense, old furniture and cold bonfire. The palate is medium-bodied and very balanced with great acidity and fine tannins that make it easy to drink. Pop or keep. It has good freshness, and with time in the glass it develops beautiful aromas of orange peel that transmit very good freshness. 100,000 bottles produced. Viña Real has always been a brand from CVNE, but produced from a separate company since 1943. As it now has its own winery in Rioja Alavesa by Contino, it's taking an even more independent personality. The wines are distinctly different form the Imperial range, with a great value Crianza and a Gran Reserva going back to where it belongs among the best classical long aged reds from Rioja.
... More details
(90% tempranillo, with equal parts garnacha, mazuelo and graciano): Deep ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of black raspberry, cherry pit, vanilla and dried flowers. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering vibrant red and dark berry flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate. The floral quality comes back strong on the very long, smoke-tinged finish, which features a suave spicecake quality and even tannins.
-90% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, Graciano and Mazeuelo.
-Grapes come principally from the ‘Rioja Alavesa’ zone.
-Southfacing slopes running down from the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range to the Ebro river.
-Chalky soils.
-2 years in French and American oak casks.
-Further aging in bottle before release.