2015 Rioja Blanco
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Tasting notes
(malo in stainless steel tanks; aged for seven months in a 60/40 blend of stainless steel and French oak barrels of varying size) Limpid yellow. Bright and energetic on the nose, displaying oak-tinged pear and tangerine scents complemented by suggestions of fennel, toasted bread and white flowers. Nicely concentrated yet lithe as well, offering intense citrus and orchard fruit flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and mineral-driven thrust on a long, smooth finish that leaves a smoky note behind.
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Average Score
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The white 2015 Contino is a classic blend of 85% Viura, 10% Garnacha Blanca and 5% Malvasía Riojana that went through a cold maceration, before fermenting in small stainless steel vats and one 700-liter Nomblot, egg-shaped, cement vat that was first used in 2014. The wine finished fermentation in 350- and 500-liter (mostly new) barriques with a handful of acacia wood barrels thrown in, where it matured for six/seven months with bâtonnage twice per week; it was then transferred to stainless steel vats again. It doesn't go through malolactic fermentation to keep acidity. Even with that I find the acidity on the lowish side, and a ripe and glycerin-rich vintage might give a slightly bittersweet sensation. The nose is quite straightforward with white fruit and flower aromas, with almost unnoticeable oak and just a pinch of spices and balsamic aromas (bay leaf). 9,000 bottles produced and filled in June 2016, two days before I tasted it.