Real de Asúa 2019

María Larrea uses grapes from CVNE's 2.37-hectare Carromaza vineyard at 600 metres in the village of Villalba to make this superb wine. Scented, glossy and polished, with orange zest, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, stylish 60% new French oak, some chalky freshness and layered, fine-grained tannins. 2025-40.

A full-bodied, ripe and delicious red with firm, lightly chewy tannins. Lots of cherries, dried flowers, coconut and rosemary. Lavender and white roses, too. Firm and very well structured. Tight and fresh at the end. First year with single vineyard on the label. 100% tempranillo. Try this after 2025.

The modern 2019 Real de Asúa has been produced since 2018 with grapes from a paraje in the village of Villalba called Carromaza (now mentioned on the label) on sandy, south-facing soils that were harvested between the 8th and 9th of October. 2019 was a low-yielding year with loose and small bunches that ripened thoroughly delivering wines that are balanced and have aging potential. It's 14.5% alcohol and has mellow acidity and good freshness and balance. It fermented in small oak vats with indigenous yeasts followed by malolactic in new French oak barrels and then matured in new and second use French barriques for 12 months. The wine is very impressive, showy, clean and harmonious, without any noticeable oak, juicy, harmonious, young, fresh and elegant. It has concentration, power and finesse. It has a new label and bottle and a much more modern image but with the essence form the past. The wine has improved a lot, and it has grip and very fine tannins. Very impressive. It has the naked essence of Rioja without the layers and layers of oak, now from a single vineyard where they want freshness and a lush but floral and delicate profile you have to drink effortlessly. Superb. 10,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2022.

A new addition to the Place de Bordeaux. This is a 'more modern' wine from the established Spanish winery says CVNE CEO and fifth generation family member Victor Urrutia made from the 2.5ha plot of 30-year-old Tempranillo grapes known as Carromaza in the village of Villalba, 700m high in Rioja Alta. Gorgeous fragrance on the nose with a soft and juicy core of black and red cherry and bramble raspberry fruit with liquorice, toasted caramel and clove spice backed up by chalky tannins that give an enjoyable minerality to the palate. Lifted and driven, this is vibrant with plush but well defined fruit and a sculpted frame. Excellent freshness overall, youthful and energetic.