Compañia Vinícola del Norte de España Cune Rioja Gran Reserva 2017 750ml

Very classic character to this with toasted oak, hints of consomme, meat and dried lemon. Medium body with crisp, firm tannins. Drink or hold. (James Suckling)

A fresh, graceful red, with dense, sculpted tannins creating good tension while finding fine integration with a lovely range of ripe black plum and black cherry, cured tobacco, balsamico and minerally iron and tar notes. Firm and racy on the lasting, spiced finish. Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo. Best from 2025 through 2035. 4,166 cases made, 500 cases imported.

The 2018 Gran Reserva Cune is 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from Rioja Alta, aged up to 24 months in American and French oak barrels. Aromas of plum and blackberry intermingle with herbal and oaky notes. Dry, creamy and chalky on the palate, it offers a fairly compact mouthfeel. This red wine presents a modern twist on the fruit-forward style, resembling more of a New World red than a classic Rioja.

A balanced, medium-bodied red, with hints of cedar and cigar box accenting plum and soft cherry fruit. Gains supple definition from fine-grained tannins, and delivers depth and focus without excessive weight or power. Elegant. Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2028. 4,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported. (Alison Napjus)

The 2017 Cune Gran Reserva comes from a very challenging year marked by frost and a dry and warm end of the season, but it shows very good freshness and youth, transcending the adverse conditions of the year. It’s a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo with good ripeness and 14% alcohol; it’s approachable and affordable with a mix of developed and fruit-driven characteristics. It matured in oak barrels for 24 months, and the oak is neatly folded into the wine. Great effort for the vintage. 175,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2020.