Rioja: Bodegas Altanza
Visit a unique Rioja winery and discover Altanza, a place where wine tourism goes far beyond a tour with tastings.
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2018: best 2026 to 2043.
vintage8 yrs25 yrs27 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2021 | 2018 | 94/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: black cherry, blackberry, mocha, violet, spice
Palate: dark fruit, fine tannin, mineral, savoury
The second wine of Contador, from old-vine Tempranillo: dense, polished and powerful but more approachable, sharing the estate's mocha-and-cassis signature.
What it pairs with
-
Chuleton de buey
Find chuleton de buey on TableJourney →
Aged-beef chop frames the wine's fine tannin and dark fruit. -
Venison loin
Dark game meets the cassis-and-mocha density. -
Aged Manchego
Hard cheese balances the structured frame.
How to serve La Cueva del Contador
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Chuleton de buey, Venison loin, Aged Manchego. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
La Cueva del Contador is the second wine of the estate, named for the cave cellar, made from old-vine Tempranillo.
- 1999: La Cueva del Contador established as the estate second wine
Facts
- Producer
- Bodega Contador · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (100%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 16 months in French oak
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 45 to 80 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1999
Frequently asked about La Cueva del Contador
What does La Cueva del Contador taste like?
On the nose, black cherry, blackberry, mocha, violet, spice. On the palate, dark fruit, fine tannin, mineral, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The second wine of Contador, from old-vine Tempranillo: dense, polished and powerful but more approachable, sharing the estate's mocha-and-cassis signature.
When should I drink La Cueva del Contador?
Drink 8 to 25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with La Cueva del Contador?
Chuleton de buey is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Venison loin and Aged Manchego. Aged-beef chop frames the wine's fine tannin and dark fruit.
Is La Cueva del Contador vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in La Cueva del Contador?
The blend is Tempranillo (100%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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