In the glass
Aroma: black cherry, cassis, mocha, cedar, mineral
Palate: concentrated dark fruit, fine tannin, graphite, savoury
The estate's prestige red from a plot beside an ancient olive tree: dense, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak, the flagship of the Laserna estate.
What it pairs with
-
Venison loin
Dark game meets the wine's 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 estate flagship. -
Aged hard cheese
Crystalline cheese sharpens the mineral finish.
How to serve Contino Vina del Olivo
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
Vina del Olivo is the estate's prestige red from a parcel beside a centuries-old olive tree, aged in new French oak.
- 1995 — First Vina del Olivo vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Vinedos del Contino
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (90%), Graciano (10%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 18 months in new French oak
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 55 to 90 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1995
Scores
- Tim Atkin 95 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Contino Vina del Olivo
What does Contino Vina del Olivo 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. The estate's prestige red from a plot beside an ancient olive tree: dense, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak, the flagship of the Laserna estate.
When should I drink Contino Vina del Olivo?
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 Contino Vina del Olivo?
Venison loin is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Aged hard cheese. Dark game meets the wine's concentrated cassis and graphite.
Is Contino Vina del Olivo 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 Vina del Olivo?
The blend is Tempranillo (90%), Graciano (10%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.