Author: Dirk Chan
Our online feature this week is the 2016 Cune Viña Real Crianza (Rioja, Spain) – $20.49, regularly $24.99.
Viña Real is CVNE’s Rioja Alavesa-based winery, releasing its first vintage in 1920. The Viña Real style is one that showcases the forward fruit of Alavesa while simultaneously possessing the structure to age. The original fruit source was in the Elciego area, in the heart of the Rioja Alavesa region. The vineyards are located adjacent and clustered around the old Camino Rea (“Royal Road”), from which the wine takes its name.
Nowadays, the grapes are principally sourced from sunny south-facing slopes which run from the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range down to the Ebro River. As is also the case with the Cune line, the Viña Real wines are produced from over 50% estate fruit, an unusually high percentage for Rioja.
A new facility for Viña Real was completed in 2004 – it is situated on top of the hill known as Cerro de la Mesa and commands sweeping views of both the Alavesa vineyards and the town of Logroño (where we stayed during our last trip there), Rioja’s commercial center. If the Cune bodega represents CVNE’s commitment to the old and the traditional, the Viña Real bodega demonstrates their forward-thinking philosophy and their embrace of modern technology.
This week’s Crianza is a modern style Rioja, it is medium-full bodied red sourced from sunny, south-facing slopes in Rioja Alavesa. Look for aromas of cherries, raspberries, vanilla and mineral hints. Its medium bodied solid juicy blue and red fruits has a clovey edge finishing with zingy acidity. I recommend a half hour decant and pair with a well-spiced chickpea stew.
2016 Cune Viña Real Crianza (Rioja, Spain) – $20.49 (regularly $24.99)