In the glass
Aroma: black cherry, cassis, mocha, violet, mineral
Palate: concentrated black fruit, velvet tannin, graphite, long savour
Benjamin Romeo's cult garage wine from old San Vicente vines; deep, polished and powerful yet fresh. Multiple vintages have earned perfect 100-point scores from Wine Advocate.
What it pairs with
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Venison loin
Dark game meets Contador's concentrated cassis and graphite. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A grand char-grilled beef chop for Rioja's modern icon. -
Aged hard cheese
Crystalline cheese sharpens the long mineral finish.
History
Contador began as a garage wine made by Benjamin Romeo in a cave beneath San Vicente. The 2004 and 2005 vintages were awarded 100 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, reframing what modern Rioja could achieve.
- 1996 — First Contador vintage made in a cave cellar
- 2007 — 2004 and 2005 vintages awarded 100 points by Wine Advocate
Facts
- Producer
- Bodega Contador
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (92%), Graciano (5%), Garnacha (3%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 18 to 20 months in new French oak
- ABV
- 15.0%
- Price
- EUR 150 to 300 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10 to 30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1996
Scores
- Wine Advocate 98 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
- Tim Atkin 97 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2021)