The 2001 Contino Vina del Olivo received the same elevage as the 2005. It remains a youthful purple color with aromas of black fruits, cassis, violets, and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, it reveals a velvety texture, a sense of elegance, and unimpeachable balance. Approachable now, this pleasure-bent offering will still be drinking nicely in 15-20 years. Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana (C.V.N.E.) is known colloquially to most Spanish wine drinkers as Cune. The company was founded in 1879 by the Real de Asua brothers and still remains in control of their direct descendants. In the 1920s ownership started Vina Real and in 2004 a new winery was built in Laguardia. In 1973 Contino was created to further the concept of the single estate winery and has since been one of the principal leaders in the resurrection of the nearly extinct Graciano grape. The Contino wines are made exclusively from the estate’s 253 acres located in Laserna near the town of Laguardia. The Reserva bottling is the mainstay of the Contino lineup produced from vines ranging in age from 25 to 60 years. The Contino Vina Del Olivo is the product of a dry farmed single vineyard of the same name planted in 1980. The blend is 90% Tempranillo with the balance Graciano and Carinena aged in new oak for 18 months. The Imperial label is affixed at C.V.N.E. only in the top vintages. Importer: Christopher Cannan, Europvin, www.europvin.com

Dark ruby. Suave, deeply concentrated aromas of dark berries, candied plum, licorice, graphite, toasty oak spices and dried violet convey an impression of power. Lush and velvety, with superb concentration of blackberry and cassis flavors accented by abundant but well-integrated oak and lifted by tangy minerals. Finishes with youthful tannins, impressive length and smoky, mineral-tinged notes of blackberry and bitter chocolate. This should age wonderfully.