Contino Gran Reserva 2018

A selection of the best soils from the vineyards is used to produce the Contino Reserva to offer the best possible wine in terms of acidity, concentration and maturity. The Tempranillo grapes are harvested primarily from an area of stony soil near the Ebro River, resulting in slower ageing due to the humidity of the ground.

Blend: 82% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo, 3% Garnacha

98 Points - James Suckling

A juicy and delicious red Contino with harmony and balance showing cherry, chocolate and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Extremely perfumed. Incense. Mushroom. Medium body, with firm, muscular and fine tannins that have excellent length and raciness and open nicely in the glass. 25% new French oak for 24 months. Beautiful now and will age wonderfully. Drinkable now, but even better in two or three years and onwards.

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast

This dark garnet-colored wine has a bouquet of purple plum, mocha and violet. It is slightly spicy on entry, with opening notes of clove, mint leaf and dark chocolate that are accompanied by flavors of blackberry and black cherry swaddled in a layer of plush tannins that drift into a lasting finish.

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2018 Gran Reserva comes from a rainier year at Contino, a challenging vintage that gave them a lot of work but with good results and healthy grapes. This was produced with a blend of 82% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo and 3% Garnacha selected by their ripeness, acidity and concentration. It fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in 225-liter French oak barrels for two years. They aim for a renewed classical style. The parameters are 13.94% alcohol, a pH of 3.38 and 5.7 grams of acidity, a fresher wine reflecting a cooler year. There is more depth of fruit, more acidity and more complexity, while keeping the classical profile and with effect of the long élevage; it is spicy and developed, with a polished palate and a dry, chalky finish. 30,600 bottles and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in July 2021.