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(Bodega Contador) Contador 2016 / 2019

- Rioja, Spain

- Bodag Contador

 

2016 vintage:

The super elegant and insinuating 2016 Contador could very well be the modern version of the outstanding 2001. The nose is a little shy and takes time to reveal subtle aromas of violets, lilies and red cherries, deeply perfumed but not explosive. The explosion comes with the 2017 that I also tasted next to it; that was outspoken, while this 2016 is shyer. The palate is intense but velvety, even satiny, with ultra fine and elegant tannins and great purity of flavors, delineated, clean and symmetric. This has to be one of the finest Contador in recent times. Bravo! Unbelievably, this has 15.2% alcohol, which is completely disguised. This should age with grace and for a very long time, but it's hard to resist... 7,000 bottles were filled in June 2018.

 

2019 vintage : 

The 2019 Contador was produced with Tempranillo from seven vineyards—El Bombón, El Cerezo, Bardallo, El Bosque, Vizcarra, La Tejera and La Nava—in the villages of San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Ábalos. The grapes were picked between September 28 and October 9; it fermented destemmed in oak vats and matured in new French oak barrels for 20 months. It's a powerful wine at 15.13% alcohol and a pH of 3.61, with generous oak and a creamy twist, ripe, concentrated and with abundant, fine-grained tannins. It's medium to full-bodied with balance and a long, dry, chalky finish. It needs a little more time but should make a long-lived Contador. Benjamín Romeo thinks this could be reminiscent of 2005 and 2010. 4,000 bottles were filled in June 2021.

 

(Bodega Contador) Contador 2016 / 2019

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