CVNE ASÚA
RIOJA, SPAIN 2018
WHY BUY: Folks, it’s time to lay in for some cases to take full advantage of these extraordinary values: $30 for a 94-point Rioja Gran Reserva 2018 that boasts 7 years of age and $22 for a 93-point Rioja Reserva 2020.. Both from the century-old cellars at CVNE, the first Spanish winery to be awarded the coveted number one position in Wine Spectator's annual Top 100, in 2013, and, in the words of critic Tim Atkin, "one of the icons of Rioja." The secret to their continued success — and the reason the name CVNE is a kind of incantation in the world of Spanish wine — is that their approach is to hold their vintages back until, like this pair of bargain beauties, they're at their most gloriously and fully expressive.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: James Suckling reviewed both bottles, extolling the Gran Reserva 2018 for its "plenty of dark fruit in very good concentration,” a "nicely chewy” palate with "lots of tannins on the front,” and a “juicy and very long” finish, and the Reserva 2020 for being “juicy and expressive on the palate with a crunchy medium body and nice firmness … [and] long” finish.
OUR TASTING NOTES: The Gran Reserva 2018 delivers exactly what seven years of patient aging should: dark fruit concentration wrapped in layers of complexity that speak to both terroir and time. Notes of bay leaves and smoked meat notes weave in and out through the sustained attack of black cherries, creating an almost savory depth that keeps evolving in the glass. The Reserva 2020 takes a bit brighter path. Red plums and cherries make up the backbone, but it’s the secondary and tertiary notes (of slate, of salt, of citrus) that compel you. The energy is tremendous; five years of development in bottle has brought it the expected depth and dimension, but that development has not stood in the way of the wine’s essential vibrance.
THE STORY: CVNE has been getting Rioja right since 1879, back when the Real de Asúa brothers founded what would become one of Spain's most reliable sources for premium wine. Five generations later, their descendants have managed to increase production while maintaining the same unerring high quality that built their reputation. Simple on paper, yes, but it's proven to be maddeningly difficult for many businesses, let alone wineries, to execute. Yet CVNE somehow has made it look effortless. Key to the entire operation is CVNE's patience; where other producers are sometimes given to rushing their wines to market, CVNE’s approach is to hold them back, letting time work its subtle magic in their century-old cellars. Fifth generation CEO Victor Urrutia explains their approach: "We age our wines longer than almost anybody...when you buy a good red Rioja, even though it can age in your cellar for decades more, it's far more ready to drink, far more along in its evolution, than almost any fine red wine from anywhere else."
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: These mature Riojas are ideal table wines, particularly with rich and hearty meals, like a braised beef with tomatoes and onions and olives; an herb-roasted rack of lamb; a plate of sausages and lentils.
FUN FACT: It was a clerical error that gave us CVNE. Not the company, but the name. The first wine from this now-legendary group was supposed to have borne the company's initials, CUNE, but the "V” was inadvertently changed to a "U.” Thus, CVNE, not CUNE.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate to ensure that your wines arrive with pristine provenance. Lock in these phenomenal prices and secure your cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2025 (Dec. 21st - March 20th, 2026) With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer will expire on Thursday, November 27th, 2025.