CVNE : Cvne Gran Reserva 2018

Tasting characteristics and advice for Cvne Gran Reserva 2018

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a deep garnet hue with reddish highlights visible at the rim of the glass, reflecting beautiful phenolic ripeness.

Nose
The nose reveals a remarkable balance between ripe black-fruit aromas and the notes imparted by barrel aging. Fragrances of plum, cherry, and berries mingle with spicy notes, vanilla, toffee, and tobacco leaf. Hints of dried herbs, cloves, and cocoa complete this complex, expressive bouquet.

Palate
On the palate, this wine charms with its smoothness and velvety texture. The mid-palate shows fine concentration with flavors of black cherry, Kalamata olive, and black tea. The tannins are pleasant and well integrated, providing an elegant structure without harshness. A creamy, chalky texture adds depth, while lively acidity brings freshness and balance. The long, persistent finish combines fruity and balsamic notes with toasted nuances, leather, and tobacco.

Food and wine pairings

This Gran Reserva 2018 is an ideal match for all Mediterranean cuisine. It pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats, lamb with Herbes de Provence, duck, or game. Aged Spanish cheeses such as manchego also make an excellent pairing.

Service and storage

This wine is best enjoyed at a temperature of 17-18°C. It can be enjoyed now, but has aging potential through around 2028, or even beyond depending on cellaring conditions.

The refinement and structure of a Gran Reserva from Rioja

The estate

Founded on March 24, 1879 by brothers Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asúa, CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) is one of the most prestigious houses in La Rioja. Located in the station district of Haro, in Rioja Alta, the estate has remained family-owned for five generations. Now led by Victor Urrutia, the great-great-grandson of the founders, alongside his sister María Urrutia Ybarra and technical director María Larrea, CVNE owns 545 hectares of vineyards. The bodega stands out for its exceptional architecture, notably the Nave Eiffel designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel between 1890 and 1909. A pioneer in innovation, CVNE was the first Spanish winery to use gravity for winemaking in 1989.

The vineyard

This Gran Reserva 2018 comes exclusively from CVNE-owned vines located in Torremontalbo, in Rioja Alta. This terroir of around 70 hectares is home to vines averaging 45 years of age, trained as bush vines in keeping with Spanish tradition. The parcels benefit from optimal south and east exposures, planted on clay-limestone soils scattered with pebbles that promote excellent drainage. This privileged location in Rioja Alta makes it possible to produce grapes of great elegance and lovely freshness.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage was marked by a cool winter with frosts and snowfall, followed by a very wet spring. The summer was mild, without excessive heat. These climatic conditions allowed for a long 180-day growing cycle, encouraging slow, gradual ripening of the grapes. Harvest took place late, between October 8 and 26, allowing the grapes to be picked with great aromatic intensity and fine concentration, while preserving refreshing acidity and moderate alcohol levels.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes were harvested by hand and immediately placed in a cold room for 24 hours to preserve their aromatic freshness. After 24 hours of cold maceration, alcoholic fermentation took place in small stainless-steel and concrete tanks with indigenous estate yeasts. Different types of pump-overs were carried out to optimize extraction. Malolactic fermentation took place in concrete tanks. The wine was then aged for 24 months in American and French oak barrels, followed by a minimum of 36 months of bottle aging in the estate’s cellars under controlled temperature and humidity conditions.

Grape varieties

Tempranillo (85%)
Graciano (10%)
Mazuelo (5%)