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 2017: best 2023 to 2039.
vintage6 yrs22 yrs24 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2017 | 93/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: red and black cherry, cedar, tobacco, dried herb, spice
Palate: dark fruit, fine tannin, savoury, mineral
Rioja's pioneering single-estate Reserva, from the Laserna property on a bend of the Ebro: balanced, savoury and ageworthy, a chateau-concept benchmark.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register. -
Roast partridge
Game and the estate red's tobacco depth align.
How to serve Contino Reserva
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. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Contino was Rioja's first chateau-concept single-estate wine, drawing entirely on the Laserna property at a meander of the Ebro.
- 1973: Vinedos del Contino founded as Rioja's pioneering single estate
- 1974: First Contino Reserva vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Vinedos del Contino · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (10%), Mazuelo (5%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 18 to 20 months in French and American oak
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 25 to 40 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6 to 22 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1974
Frequently asked about Contino Reserva
What does Contino Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red and black cherry, cedar, tobacco, dried herb, spice. On the palate, dark fruit, fine tannin, savoury, mineral. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Rioja's pioneering single-estate Reserva, from the Laserna property on a bend of the Ebro: balanced, savoury and ageworthy, a chateau-concept benchmark.
When should I drink Contino Reserva?
Drink 6 to 22 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Contino Reserva?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Contino Reserva 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 Contino Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (10%), Mazuelo (5%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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