Cune Rioja Gran Reserva, CVNE

• Vintage: 2008
  
• Origin: Rioja - C.V.N.E. - Rioja - Spain
  
• Grape Varietals: circa 85% tempranillo, 10% graciano, 5% mazuelo
• Taste guide: Full bodied and oaked. Beautiful garnet colour with reddish hues. In the nose we find mature black fruit and licorice in perfect balance with the aromas coming from the barrel aging such as vanilla, toffe, tobacco leaves, etc. On the palate, its passage is smooth and silky. The final slight acidity gives the wine a length with an aftertaste of balsamic and fruity notes. Due to its age please drink immediately instead of re-storing and decant before enjoying.
  
• Food pairing: It’s richness and structure are a perfect match for stews and casseroles.
• 75cl - 13.5% ABV - Traditional Cork Opening
• *** SOME BOTTLE LABELS ARE NOT PERFECT with marks, scuffs but nothing terrible***
• Consistently reliable score and good vintage on Vivino.com

The initials CVNE stand for Compañía Vinicola del Norte de España, though the name is often depicted as CUNE, and pronounced "Coonay".

CVNE owns over 500 hectares (1250 acres) of vineyards, one of the largest holdings in Rioja and primarily uses estate grown grapes for their wines.

Viña Real Crianza is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano from Rioja Alavesa that fermented destemmed in stainless steel with neutral yeasts and matured in French and American oak barrels for 13 to 14 months, during which time it was racked every five or six months.

£20 a bottle (2017) at Majestic (or £18.50 if you “mix 6”). £17.95 at ND Johns (2017) but ours is the 2008 vintage which is circa £60 a bottle according to Vivino; Checked July 2025

Just £14.99 here is a BARGAIN! (only 30 bottles sourced; July 2025)