CVNE, LA VIRGEN
RIOJA, SPAIN 2022
How often do you find a wine whose price is virtually identical to its score?
That’s why we had to pounce when it came time to acquire this beauty from CVNE, their 2022 La Virgen Rioja, a 98-pointer for $99 that James Suckling named #15 on his Top Wines of Spain for 2025.
And let me tell you: this single-vineyard, old-vine expression is special.
A soulful tone poem on terroir, it’s loaded with energy and vitality, a reminder that wine is a living, breathing thing.
But what we came away from our tasting marveling most about was its precision, definition, length, and ageability.
Bear in mind: only in years where the harvests are excellent is this wine (formerly known as Pagos de Vina Real) released, with grapes rigorously sourced from CVNE’s best plots.
In his 98-point love letter, Suckling lauded its “superb freshness and integrated tannins that are pristine and so focused through the palate,” noting its “raciness” that keeps things lively and marveling at its "length that really boggles the mind.”
Long before the late 20th century boom in Spanish wine, and, more specifically, the explosion of interest in the wines of Rioja, Viña Real was there. The label goes back a century, and it has built a passionate, world-wide following on more than mere high quality. Its wines offer something ineffable and profound: an exploration of the remarkable intricacies of the Rioja Alavesa.
In this case, that means their La Romera vineyard in the village of Labastida, at the foot of the Toloño Mountains, a plot of old vines planted four decades ago on clay and boulder soils.
Tempranillos are wines of great power, but the best also have a sneaky elegance. To maximize the expressive potential of the vintage, it was fermented in small vats with indigenous yeasts, and aged on the lees in French oak barrels.
A final note: we have every expectation that this will age beautifully … if, that is, you let it. As for us, it would be awfully hard to put this away and not give in its too many charms right now.
We can’t wait for you to taste what has us so excited.
Secure your bottles or cases today.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 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, NY, OK & TN. This offer will expire on Sunday, March 1st, 2026.