CVNE CONTINO, VIÑA DEL OLIVO
RIOJA, SPAIN 2021
WHY BUY: This 99-point Contino Viña del Olivo masterpiece from a 700-year-old vineyard is a capstone from CVNE that merges new Rioja dynamism with the pedigree of one of Spain’s most respected producers. The Contino Viña del Olivo 2021 is modern Rioja at its finest. Polished, refined, and with mineral precision from that calcareous clay terroir, it shows what happens when you combine seven centuries of vineyard history with impeccable winemaking. And here's the most beautiful part: this singular and transcendent bottle is only $119.97.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Tim Atkin awarded a near-perfect 99 points: “One of the best wines of an outstanding vintage,” he wrote, "demonstrating that this warm Rioja Alavesa site performs best in cooler vintages ... The palate is refined, polished and beautifully freighted... I can't recall a better wine from the estate. Bravo!”
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 still run the company with the same philosophy: increase production while maintaining the quality that built their reputation. It might sound like a simple concept, but it’s proven to be maddeningly difficult to execute … and yet CVNE somehow has made it look effortless. Imperial Gran Reserva first appeared in the 1920s and quickly established itself as a Rioja classic. The Contino project represents a different kind of excellence: single-vineyard expression from a 700-year-old plot in Rioja Alavesa, where calcareous clay soils and a south-facing slope create something unique in the region. The wine was fermented in French oak vats and aged for 16 months in barrel plus three months in wooden vats before, yes, spending years and years resting in bottle.
FUN FACT: The first wine ever produced by CVNE was actually a mistake — not the wine, but the labeling. It was supposed to have borne the company's initials, but, because of a clerical error, the “V” was changed to a “U.” Thus was the “Cune" brand born.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: Contino's minerality calls for a juicy ribeye, a three-mushroom risotto, or a hearty sausage-and-white bean stew.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate, so rest assured: your wine will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. So act now to secure this remarkable Rioja today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2025. 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. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Monday, July 14th, 2025.