With another iconic CVNE, from the one and only Viña Real, and this too top-of-the-line GRAN Reserva…

Same price, same 50% off break - same STEAL of a bargain for sky-high quality.

Wine Spectator raves “CVNE has refused to go to extremes, instead taking a measured approach to the struggle between tradition and innovation.” having crowned them with the “#1 Wine of the Year” award in 2013 for their “ability to balance past and future in such delicious harmony.”

CVNE, or Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España is an institution. Die-hard Rioja fans know CVNE wines need time to evolve into their best version. And this Gran Reserva has oomph to shed yet it’s at an oh-so-IRRESISTIBLE place today. You can still put it away since winemaking is as traditional as it gets, they age gracefully for many years.

Viña Real, as you can tell from its Burgundian bottle shape, is more about elegance, and grace, than, say the Contino line. Which does not mean it lacks in any way in oomph and depth. From kirsch to menthol, from boysenberry to bay leaf, this one has it all, it’s like a chameleon aromatically and on the palate, as it ebbs and flows through a symphonic finish. If only all Rioja drank this beautifully!

With the review for this below, Vinous adds: “One of Rioja’s most well-known, oldest and largest bodegas, CVNE was founded in 1879 in Haro. Today the property owns over 500 hectares of vines. Over the past decade, the quality of these traditionally made wines has been on a steady rise. Today I would count CVNE among the region’s top producers, up and down the range. These wines have established an enviable track record for long aging. Bottles of the legendary 1968 Gran Reserva are still going strong, with what seems to be years of life ahead.”

Does that leave you feeling all wine-nerdy like we are? Check out “10 Things every wine lover should know about CVNE” here.

But make sure you checked out first though - this too won’t last.

96 Points – James Suckling

“Fantastic aromas of cappuccino and orange with dark berries. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are layered and wonderfully polished. The wine has wonderful depth and complexity, as well as super structure. Great Viña Real. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years. Will age beautifully.”

95 Points – Tim Atkin MW

“Youthful and vigorous for a Gran Reserva, with the emphasis on vibrant Tempranillo fruit. The freshness of the Alavesa vineyards is really evident on the palate. This is refreshing and fine, with sweet oak, medium weight tannins and nuanced red and black fruits flavours.”

94 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“One of Rioja’s most well-known, oldest and largest bodegas, CVNE was founded in 1879 in Haro. Today the property owns over 500 hectares of vines. Over the past decade the quality of these traditionally made wines has been on a steady rise. Today I would count CVNE among the region’s top producers, up and down the range. These wines have established an enviable track record for long aging. Bottles of the legendary 1968 Gran Reserva are still going strong, with what seems to be years of life ahead. Glass-staining ruby. A highly complex bouquet features ripe red berry, cherry liqueur, cured tobacco and mocha scents, and a smoky mineral nuance and a hint of white pepper add urgency. Sweet, mineral-driven blackberry, cherry-vanilla, chewing tobacco and candied rose flavors show impressive depth as well as energy. Blends power and finesse with a steady hand and finishes chewy, sweet and impressively long, with youthfully gripping tannins adding framework. Drink 2025-2036.”