Benjamin Romeo Rioja Contador 2021 750ml

If you want to show a textbook example of the modern, ripe, exuberant and powerful wines from Rioja, the 2021 Contador is a perfect is exactly that. It’s a hedonistic dark and ripe Rioja with 15.63% alcohol, plenty of clout, concentration, power and (integrated) oak, as the wine is so aromatic and powerful that it seems to have absorbed the oak quite well. The uncrushed berries fermented in oak vats, and the wine matured in brand-new French oak barriques for 20 months. The tannins are abundant but very fine-grained and leave a dry, chalky sensation on the palate. It should develop nicely in bottle. 4,500 bottles produced.

• Country: Spain
• Region: La Rioja
• Appellation: Rioja
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red

Varietal

Tempranillo

There are plenty of notable native Spanish grapes which have made a big impression on the wine world at large, but none are as renowned or as widely loved as the Tempranillo varietal. This black skinned grape has been used for wine making for centuries, with several ancient civilizations noticing the fact that it is highly versatile and holds some delicious flavors and aromas, perfect for those looking for a powerful yet elegant grape for their wines. Tempranillo often causes winemakers some trouble, however, as it is highly susceptible to many diseases. Despite this, plenty continue to persevere with this varietal, as it is perfect for producing delicious and complex single variety and blended wines, packed full of classic Spanish flavors and plenty of aromatic and intense surprises.