With the Contino Rioja Crianza 1995, Viñedos del Contino crafted a remarkable exemplar of classic Rioja style. The grapes originate from Finca San Rafael in Laserna in Rioja Alavesa—a contiguous historic estate nestled within a meander of the Ebro River. The estate’s distinct microclimate and old vines rooted in diverse, predominantly calcareous and clay-loam soils endow the Tempranillo with a union of ripe fruit, bright acidity, and structural depth. Since its founding in 1973, Contino has been a pioneer of single-estate Rioja.  

Today, the Contino Crianza 1995 displays a distinctly mature aromatic profile. Black cherries and woodland berries intertwine with figs, dates, and liquorice, joined by tobacco, dried herbs, spices, and delicate balsamic notes. With aeration, the wine evolves increasingly towards forest floor and dried fruit. Extended bottle age has refined the fruit considerably without stripping it of the hallmark savouriness of fine Rioja. Tastings of well-preserved bottles reveal a remarkable interplay between still-vibrant fruit and fully developed tertiary nuances.  

On the palate, the Contino Crianza 1995 possesses remarkably fresh acidity for its age. The tannins have largely resolved, lending the wine a soft, elegant texture while red and dark fruit, liquorice, and spice provide depth. Compared to a more powerful Rioja Reserva, the Crianza feels less defined by oak and structural weight, and more buoyed by its mature fruit and bright acid line. The finish is fine, savoury, and marked by dried fruit.

The signature of Viñedos del Contino shines through in the marriage of classic Rioja tradition and the singular character of Finca San Rafael. Today, the Contino Rioja Crianza 1995 rests on an expressive plateau of maturity. Given its fully resolved tannic structure, well-cellared bottles are best enjoyed in the near term, with individual bottle provenance playing a decisive role for a wine of this age.