Contino Blanco 2017 Mágnum is the model of how white wines vinified in the D.O.Ca. Rioja should be, with an excellent handling of barrel aging.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
10% Garnacha blanca, 90% Viura
Type of barrel
New oak barrels from different cooperages and capacities
Barrel aging time
10 months
Capacity (cl)
150
Alcohol content (% vol.)
13.5
General Information
Viñedos del Contino boasts some of the best tempranillo vineyards in the world, is a pioneer in the production of high-end Rioja reds, and one of the first châteaux of the D.O. Its foray into the aged white wine segment stems from the determination of its winemaking management and their faith in the potential of the white vineyard they cultivate on the estate. Thus, since 2007, they began their journey in the recovery of a traditional winemaking style that today is experiencing a strong resurgence: aged whites.
Contino Blanco 2017 Mágnum (D.O.Ca. Rioja) is created from the harvest of whole grape clusters which, once in the winery, are destemmed and placed in stainless steel tanks, where they undergo a peculiar maceration for several hours. Bleeding and pressing then pave the way for the start of alcoholic fermentation, which will last for 20 days. Afterwards, 50% of the resulting wine is transferred to stainless steel, while the other 50% goes into new barrels of different capacities and cooperages, where it will remain for ten months for aging. The result is a mature, creamy, long, and well-structured white wine, where white fruit and floral aromas intertwine with delicate notes of spices, nuts, and toasted nuances acquired during its time in the barrel.
Tasting notes
Pale straw yellow with golden reflections; clean and very bright.
On the nose, it is perceived as ripe and creamy, where aromas of white fruit, floral and fruity notes blend perfectly with subtle toasted notes, spices, nuts, and hints of vanilla from its aging in oak.
Excellent entry on the palate, where it shows itself as fleshy, glyceric, and broad, with a persistent and long finish.
Creators' opinion
Este blanco convence por su elegancia y un alto potencial de guarda.
The winery
Viñedos del Contino is the 'boutique' project of CVNE, a centenary firm from Haro that aimed to establish a small winery in the Rioja Alavesa subzone to create wines with their own personality. They found the perfect location at the San Rafael estate (Laserna, in the municipality of Laguardia), with very old vineyards and bordered by the Ebro River; and around this estate, the project began in 1973.
Contino is considered ahead of its time: it was one of the first 'châteaux' in Rioja, with facilities and vineyard on a single property, in a special area with a microclimate. It was also a pioneer in producing estate wines with a modern approach, featuring more intensity and new oak: the cornerstone of what would later be called 'alta expresión' (high expression).
It started with 35 hectares of vineyard, which have expanded to the current 62. The vineyards grow around the winery, located in an old manor house with 16th-century cellars that preserve the wines in optimal temperature and humidity conditions. Its wines are made exclusively with its own vineyards, and it boasts one of the best tempranillo vineyards in Rioja. Contino initially focused solely on red wines but later expanded its portfolio to include white wines. It has viura and malvasía vineyards that are 80 years old, to which it later added plantings of garnacha blanca. Its barrel-aged white wine is among the best in Spain.