Contino Viña del Olivo 2022

A fresh, youthful yet elegant Rioja with striking aromas of dark minerals, chestnuts, pine, dark chocolate, berries and plums. Precise and refined, with profoundness and crystalized tannins. Full-bodied and intensely packed, but like the rest of Contino’s wines, there is nothing hefty. Vertical and extremely long. A vinous Rioja that shows concentration and layered length. Drinkable now, but better after 2026. (Zekun Shuai)

The 2022 Viña del Olivo was produced with grapes from one of their most famous vineyards and is a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. It fermented in 1,000-liter oak vats, where it also underwent malolactic fermentation, and it matured for 18 months in oak barrels, 80% new, mostly French but with 5% of them American, and then was fine-tuned with another three months in the oak vats. 2022 was a challenging year for many vineyards, this one included, as there was a very long heat wave. This has a little more spice (cola nut) and perhaps a more classical profile than the 2021, with a touch of cold smoke. It has a moderate 13.65% alcohol a pH of 3.42 and 5.93 grams of acidity. 15,333 bottles, 800 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2024. (Luis Guitérrez)

"Not as hot as people think" is Jorge Navascués' verdict on the 2022 vintage, but this Viña del Olivo doesn’t have quite the same finesse as the amazing 2021. Picked early to retain acidity in a warm site, this needs more time to come together in bottle. For the moment, it's a little firm and gawky, but has a core of plum and mulberry fruit and spicy oak. 2026-34. 

A serious wine with big, bold oak to frame it. Chocolate aromas dominate the nose, leading to a palate of smoky bacon and intense raspberry fruit. It is polished with bright red berries and a touch of spice on the finish. Tannins are well managed but offer enough grip. Somewhat international in style. (Beth Willard)