White Wine
- Details
- Category: White Wine White Wine
- Published: 01 September 2016 01 September 2016
Cune have a solid reputation for turning out wines from this region that set a benchmark for how we perceive Rioja. However, the area under vine is vast and the quality levels do vary. Contino’s USP is that they use grapes from specific vineyards. The reds we tasted recently were delicious and the whites are among the best across the sprawling region.
Contino Blanco 2014 gives us some lemon aromas and even a bit of quince, interwoven with soft wood. To taste it has plenty of body and attractive acidity.
For food? This wine could go with so much. I would suggest a caldo Gallego, meaning a Galician broth containing sweet greens, potatos, white beans and fatty pork (though there are many variations).
Grapes: Viura 85%, White grenache 10%, Malvasia 5%
RRP £25 from Waitrose Cellar
Cune Barrel Fermented Blanco 2015
If the Contino is a little costly then try the lower priced Cune Barrel Fermented Blanco 2015. At £10.49 it’s great value. It doesn’t have the rich body or complexity of the Contino but you get a good impression of the style of white wine coming out of Rioja and its enough to keep you sipping on.
This wine is an ideal picnic wine for white meats or a beautifully cooked cod in the Basque style.
Grape: 100% Viura
RRP £10.49 from Waitrose Cellar
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