CVNE Vina Real Gran Reserva 2013
- RP
- JS
- W&S
- WE
Winemaker Notes
Intense cherry color. In the nose, great aromatic richness in intensity and complexity. It mantains a perfect balance between the aromas of tempranillo, such as the mature wild fruits and licorice, with those from the graciano, which gives a mineral touch, it all complemented with the roasted and balsamic aromas from the barrel aging. Excellent entrance in the mouth, round and well structured, with a good assembly between wood and youth which provides amplitude and elegance. It is a great wine with typical characteristics of the region. It is perfect for having it alone or meat, fatty fishes, and cheeses.
Critical Acclaim
All Vintageshe Gran Reserva from Viña Real is also from the wet, cool and challenging 2013 vintage, so I tasted the 2013 Viña Real Gran Reserva next to the Cune Gran Reserva from the same vintage. This classical blend of Tempranillo with 10% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano matured in barrel for 24 months. This is a redder style of Viña Real, a little lighter, less concentrated and more aerial, with a cereal-like twist and a medium-bodied palate with very fine tannins. Good for food.
A delicious red now with wet earth, spice and ash aromas and flavors. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. A nice wine from a difficult vintage.
This is a classical style of Rioja, with a lightly tannic green-peppercorn grip to the strawberry highlights of fruit. It’s edged by oak notes of nutmeg and turmeric, lasting on spice. For lamb meatballs with mint.
Dried plum and cherry aromas include spice and mulchy notes. This is yet another 2013 Rioja that's got issues—which doesn't mean this isn't without its charms. A tannic palate is raw and gritty but built to last. Cherry and red berry flavors finish short.
Cvne, is situated in Rioja in the traditional neighborhood of the station, where the oldest wineries of Rioja Alta established themselves, for the main reason of transporting their goods to the port of Bilbao.
In 1879, two brothers decided to set up a business in the recently flourishing trade of the wine business. C.V.N.E., Compañía Vinicola del Norte de España (The Northern Spanish Wine Company) or la Cuné, as it is commonly known in Haro, was created. This cellar still reflects the origins of the company and is kept in the traditional neighborhood of the Haro station.
The Cune winery in Haro, is made up of a group of buildings, mostly from the 19th century and arranged around a courtyard surrounded by pavilions for the purpose of wine production, aging, and bottling.
Hailed as the star red variety in Spain’s most celebrated wine region, Tempranillo from Rioja, or simply labeled, “Rioja,” produces elegant wines with complex notes of red and black fruit, crushed rock, leather, toast and tobacco, whose best examples are fully capable of decades of improvement in the cellar.
Rioja wines are typically a blend of fruit from its three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental, although specific sub-region (zonas), village (municipios) and vineyard (viñedo singular) wines can now be labeled. Rioja Alta and Alavesa, at the highest elevations, are considered to be the source of the brightest, most elegant fruit, while grapes from the warmer and drier, Rioja Oriental, produce wines with deep color, great body and richness.