2014 Cune Vina Real Rioja Crianza

Sipping Cune’s 2014 Viña Real Rioja Crianza, with all of its wild strawberry aromas, ripe raspberry, and soulful undercurrents of leather, tobacco, and cocoa, we were reminded instantly why Cune is the only Spanish winery ever to receive Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year award. 

After snapping out of our cherry-scented reverie, we were determined to offer this beacon of Spanish terroir to our members. Cune, after all, magically manages to straddle the line between classic and contemporary, traditional and forward-thinking. Today, we have their Viña Real Crianza at the best price in the nation on cases, and are proud to share that this is a wine that delivers $50 complexity for $15. It also comes with a 92-point endorsement from James Suckling and 4-star member rating. 

Let us put it this way: If you try one Spanish wine this year, make it this one. The 2014 Viña Real comes from an outstanding Rioja vintage, and boasts the sacred crianza balance between rich, red-fruit ripeness, spice, and toasty vanilla notes imparted by a year resting in oak. It’s what we call a “Goldilocks” bottling—full-bodied, fruity, and powerful enough for the New World drinker, but with plenty of rustic flavors and elegant structure for the Old World fanatic. 

Viña Real has turned out nearly a century of fresh and serious Rioja from Basque country. 2004 saw the opening of their sleek and modern facility designed by famed Bordelaise architect Philippe Mazières. Integrated into the hill of Cerro de la Mesa, this winemaking stronghold symbolizes Viña Real’s devotion to modern methods and classically inspired tactics, as well as their commitment to the sun-kissed south-facing slopes above the Ebro River. That’s what we mean by balancing tradition with a respectful use of modern methodology. It’s a best-case scenario that only gets better when you consider the price.

This is truly an anytime wine, one to be stocked by the case, opened without reservations, and enjoyed with dinner and good friends—dinner strictly optional.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 13.50%
• 30 mins
• Now – 2026
• % Tempranillo% Garnacha% Mazuela% Graciano
• Serving temperature – 58°
• Cork