CVNE : Contino San Rafael Garnacha 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Contino San Rafael Garnacha 2022 by CVNE

Tasting

Colour
Brilliant and of medium intensity, it reveals a hue ranging from ruby to pale garnet, marked by a slight transparency.

Nose
Very expressive, it opens with aromas of fresh red fruits (raspberry, wild strawberry, cherry) mingled with floral notes of rose and violet. Fine touches of spice (white pepper, anise) and minerality harmonise with a very discreet oakiness evoking cedar and sandalwood.

Palate
The attack is lively and juicy, carried by a lovely freshness. Medium-bodied, the wine reveals a silky texture supported by fine, polished tannins. The brightness of red fruit and spice lingers through to a long, persistent and subtly saline finish.

Food and wine pairings
This red wine pairs wonderfully with grilled or roasted meats, such as milk-fed lamb or pork chops. It also goes very well with mild Iberian charcuterie, herb-roasted poultry, Mediterranean dishes featuring roasted vegetables, as well as medium-intensity hard or semi-hard cheeses.

Service and storage
To fully appreciate this wine, serving it at around 15 to 16°C is recommended, with 30 to 60 minutes of decanting while young. It offers good aging potential, allowing it to be enjoyed until around 2030.

The elegance of a great wine from La Rioja by CVNE

The estate
Founded in 1879 near the train station district of Haro, the wine company CVNE is a historic and essential player in La Rioja. Still led by its founding family, now headed by Victor Urrutia and his sister Maria, the estate relies on a vineyard of around 545 hectares. Renowned for its pioneering role, this iconic brand has managed to combine tradition and innovation. It stands out for its strong environmental commitment and its model bringing together several estates, each with a unique identity, contributing to the international renown of great Spanish wines.

The vineyard
The grapes come from Finca San Rafael, a single 62-hectare estate located in Laserna, in Rioja Alavesa. This unique terroir, nestled in a bend of the Ebro River, benefits from varied soils ranging from clay-limestone to alluvial and stony land. The old vines used for this cuvée were planted between 1940 and 1980, naturally yielding low quantities and offering great aromatic concentration.

Winemaking and aging
After manual harvesting and a rigorous double sorting, the destemmed berries undergo a cold pre-fermentation maceration in large French oak vats. Fermentation begins spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts. The vatting lasts around three weeks for gentle extraction. The wine is then aged for nearly ten months in a 2,000-litre foudre and 500-litre barrels, refining its structure without overpowering the fruit.

Grape variety
100% Garnacha