Contino Mazuelo 2019
The purest expression of a singular variety in Rioja
Contino Mazuelo 2019 is a limited-production red wine that reflects the unique character of the mazuelo grape; an estate wine carefully crafted in the Don Vicente plot, where this variety finds its best expression. The 2019 vintage, rated as Excellent in Rioja, offers a fresh, complex, and elegant profile.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Grape variety
100% Mazuelo
Type of barrel
French oak barrels (80% new and 20% second use)
Barrel aging time
16 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Bottling
marzo de 2022
Total acidity (g/l)
6.26
pH
3.36
Alcohol content (% vol.)
13.96%
General Information
Contino Mazuelo 2019 is one of the most unique gems of Viñedos del Contino, a winery that has become an undisputed reference in the modern history of Rioja wine. Founded in 1973, it was the first to adopt the “château” concept in Spain, producing wines exclusively from its own vineyards. Located in Laserna, in the municipality of Laguardia, the estate spans 62 hectares along a meander of the Ebro River. Its 16th-century manor house and historic underground caves coexist with cutting-edge technology, resulting in wines that combine tradition, innovation, and a profound expression of terroir. Each plot is cultivated and vinified separately, allowing the uniqueness of each corner of the estate to be captured and offering wines of great personality and international prestige.
Contino Mazuelo 2019 has been made exclusively with grapes from the Don Vicente plot, planted in 1980 on stony soils. This estate, located in San Rafael, is a mosaic of varieties and soils, where the mazuelo variety is cultivated with special dedication. The variety, with its long cycle and sensitivity to diseases, finds in this enclave the ideal conditions to achieve optimal phenolic and technological ripeness. The harvest of the grapes that make up Contino Mazuelo 2019 is carried out manually, selecting the best clusters, and the wine is aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, 80% of which are new and 20% second-use, contributing structure and elegance without overshadowing the varietal expression.
The 2019 vintage of this red wine, rated as Excellent in Rioja, had a limited production of only 2,667 bottles. It is worth highlighting the magnificent reception it received from critics, with high ratings such as 97 points awarded by the Guía de Vinos Gourmets; 93 by Robert Parker and his publication, The Wine Advocate; 94 by the Guía Peñín de los Vinos de España; and 92 by the wine guru Tim Atkin.
For pairing, it will be the ideal companion for dishes such as a soupy rice with rabbit and mushrooms or a bra
Tasting notes
Beautiful cherry red color with garnet rim, lively and bright.
On the nose, it is elegant, complex, and fragrant. The first notes reveal ripe red fruit (cherries and redcurrants); later, hints of anise and fennel emerge, closing with floral and subtly spiced memories; a subtly smoky finish.
On the palate, it is elegant, very balanced, and harmonious, with a great balance between acidity, body, and alcohol. High-quality tannins coat the palate with elegance, leaving abundant echoes of anise and ripe red fruit.