In the glass
Aroma: black cherry, cassis, mocha, cedar, mineral
Palate: concentrated dark fruit, fine tannin, graphite, savoury
CVNE's prestige Alavesa red from selected old vines: dark, polished and mineral, the flagship of the Vina Real cellar.
What it pairs with
-
Venison loin
Dark game meets the concentrated cassis and graphite. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A char-grilled beef chop for the prestige red. -
Aged hard cheese
Crystalline cheese sharpens the mineral finish.
How to serve Pagos de Vina Real
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. Venison loin, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Aged hard cheese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Pagos de Vina Real is the single-estate prestige red of CVNE's Alavesa cellar.
- 1998 — First Pagos de Vina Real vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Vina Real
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (95%), Graciano (5%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 18 months in new French oak
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 40 to 70 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1998
Scores
- Tim Atkin 94 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Pagos de Vina Real
What does Pagos de Vina Real taste like?
On the nose, black cherry, cassis, mocha, cedar, mineral. On the palate, concentrated dark fruit, fine tannin, graphite, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. CVNE's prestige Alavesa red from selected old vines: dark, polished and mineral, the flagship of the Vina Real cellar.
When should I drink Pagos de Vina Real?
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 Pagos de Vina Real?
Venison loin is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Aged hard cheese. Dark game meets the concentrated cassis and graphite.
Is Pagos de Vina Real 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 Pagos de Vina Real?
The blend is Tempranillo (95%), Graciano (5%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.