Benjamin Romeo Rioja Contador 2011 750ml

The 2011 Contador is a compact, tight-knit wine, serious and backward that needs plenty of air. It’s still a baby showing the typical aromas that only the very best barrels can give and that you only find in a very few top wines (and I’m thinking of Pingus here). However, the personality is quite different, akin to a young Nuits-St-Georges, with very fine tannins and subtle acidity. I feel the wine needs a couple of years in the bottle. Drink 2016-2022.

• 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.