2010 Que Bonito Cacareaba

The 2010 Que Bonito Cacareaba (an expression that, according to Benjamin, means “very nice while the rooster sung”), is a blend of 50% Garnacha Blanca, 30% Malvasia and 20% Viura with half of the fruit originating from the “Leza” parcel of vines. It is raised entirely in new oak over seven months. It has an intense bouquet of apple blossom, grapefruit, almond and white peach that is well-defined, although it needs bottle age to absorb the new oak. The palate is waxy and generous on the entry with harmonious stone fruit (dried apricot, nectarine and passion fruit), and it exhibits very good weight on the slightly viscous finish. As mentioned, it needs two or three years to subsume the oak, but it is undoubtedly a very well-made white Rioja. Drink 2014-2020. One of the most memorable days in Rioja was spending an afternoon in the company of the inimitable Benjamin Romeo, the tour de force behind Bodega Contador. We flitted from one patch of twisted ancient vines to another, mainly around the medieval village of San Vincente, Romeo again and again propounding his mantra that terroir creates great wine. This involved one perilous drive through vegetation as thick as the Amazon until the 4x4 exited into a parcel of century-old, gnarly Tempranillo vines (upon which he mentioned that they were far more accessible on foot). Since leaving Artadi in 2000, he has gradually acquired around 80 parcels of old vine material, vinifying the fruit in a simple, modern, efficient winery, inaugurated in 2007, a facility that places functionality over aesthetic charms. Benjamin himself comes across as an intense, passionate, uncompromising winemaker, a little distant and apprehensive at first, but warming to someone who is patently interested in terroir. Bodega Contador is certainly a slick operation, fastidious down to the last detail, resulting in a set of sumptuous, silky smooth, curvaceous Rioja wines that are seductive, yet deserve considerable cellaring. Moving on to the 2010s, readers should note that these were bottled a week prior to my tasting them. Although Romeo’s name is synonymous with “modern” Rioja, he told me that he wished to make a classical wine for his mother, whom he described as a “classical woman” and fancied a “change of scene.” Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565