Rioja Garnacha Contino 2019

Contino Rioja Garnacha is a terrific expression of Rioja made exclusively from the Garnacha grape. Winemaker Jorge Navascues has produced an aromatic and expressive wine which focuses on fruit rather than oak. Lovely bramble fruit notes dominate with green herbs, pepper spice and a balsamic note on the finish. It is a silky wine with sweet oak notes and amazing saline freshness on the finish. Excellent!

Contino is a pioneering, 62ha estate that was established in 1973 as the first single estate Rioja. Its creation marked a significant step towards the idea of terroir in Rioja, a notion that was overlooked at the time. The Contino estate is based on the concept of a Bordeaux style Chateau with its own surrounding vineyards rather than a winery that bought grapes from several different regions. The estate and its vineyards sit in a lovely spot within a bend of the river Ebro, Northwest of Logrona in the Rioja Alavasa sub region. They are protected from the north by the Cerro de la Mesa hill which creates a unique microclimate for the vineyards. The vines are old bush vines and some are over 60 years old. The wines are truly spectacular and amongst the region’s finest.