CVNE, Viña Real Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain, 2016

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Overview of the Wine
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.

Winemaker
Victor Urrutia Ybarra

Grape / Blend
Blend: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano

Origin
Rioja, Spain

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Vivid and bright ruby-red in colour with garnet rims and high colour layer. Very intense and complex on nose highlighting notes from its barrel aging (coffee, spices, toasted, balsamie) well combined with aromas of ripe red and black fruits and dried fruits.

A very smooth, unctuous wine in the mouth, evolving towards an intense, structured and long-lasting finish with a certain acidity that gives it freshness. At all times a sweet tannin is appreciated, perfectly integrated. It will evolve very positively in the bottle, having a long life ahead.

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Vina Real Gran Reserva Especial is a beauty based on 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano, and it offers up some classic Rioja spice and vanilla oak notes as well as beautiful plum and cassis-like fruits. With air, more smoky tobacco, chocolate covered orange, and Asian spice come to the forefront, and it's beautiful on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness, a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe yet certainly present tannins, and a juicy spine of acidity that keeps it focused. It's ripe yet not excessive, and given its acidity and structure, I expect it will have a lengthy prime drinking window. Hide bottles for 2-3 years at a minimum, and it should evolve gracefully over the following two decades.

95 Points - James Suckling
Attractive nose of dark cherries, dill, thyme, coconut and chocolate. Some salted caramel, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins and vibrant acidity. So balanced and fresh with a long, refined finish. 95% tempranillo and 5% graciano. Better from 2024.

95 Points - Wine Advocate
The extremely affordable 2016 Viña Real Gran Reserva Especial recovers the "Especial" mention from the old Reserva Especial vintages from a very good year. It's a classical Rioja Alavesa blend of 95% Tempranillo with 5% Graciano from their own vineyards. It's open and expressive, with notes of berries, fresh blood and iron, orange peel and sweet spices with the oak still present and in need of some more time in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied and feels lean and serious, with abundant chalky tannins. This should be a classical vintage of this wine in the making. It matured in barrel for two years and no less than three in bottle. 30,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2019.

Product size: 750ml