Contino Graciano 2020Contino Graciano 2020

Viñedos del Contino in Laserna (Laguardia) was Rioja's first "château", a single-vineyard estate by a bend of the Ebro. It also pioneered bottling Graciano on its own, a difficult, low-yielding native grape, and this wine, made in limited quantities, is now a benchmark for the variety.

In the glass it shows ripe red fruit, sweet spice, leather, tobacco and vanilla from its long barrel ageing. The palate is fine and harmonious, with soft tannins, lively acidity and a long, elegant finish. It is a wine of great character and balance.

Serve at 16–18 °C with suckling pig, roast lamb, feathered game or aged sheep's cheese. It can be enjoyed now but has the structure to keep evolving in the cellar.