2020 Cune (CVNE) Real de Asúa Carromaza Rioja

Winemaker Notes:  Asúa was born out of a desire to capture the essence of Haros’ historic wines. Haro was the birthplace of modern Rioja in the 19th Century, and is home to some of the most important historic wineries not only in Rioja but in all of Spain. The Asúa project pays tribute to the founders of C.V.N.E., the Real de Asúa brothers.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Decanter - "The second release on the Place de Bordeaux of this 'more modern' wine from the established Spanish winery says CVNE CEO and fifth-generation family member Victor Urrutia made from the 2.37ha plot of 30-year-old Tempranillo grapes known as Carromaza in the village of Villalba, 700m high in Rioja Alta. From the fresh and cool 2020 vintage, this is intensely fragrant, verging on heady aromatics on the nose; baked plum, strawberries and soft aniseed, cinnamon and clove spices. Supple and so smooth but with a crushed velvet edge giving weight and texture. Instantly satisfying on the palate with delicate, yet enrobing tannins that give structure and support but don't overwhelm the crunchy, ripe and fleshy fruit. Acidity is high and perfectly balances the warming underlying elements. Rich, sumptuous, seductive but with poise and nuance - everything feels well defined with the most delicious juiciness on the mid palate. Bright, shiny, alive and utterly drinkable. Wild yeast fermentation. Ageing 12 months in new and one year old French oak barrels."


James Suckling - "Such purity and clarity to the wine with blackberries, blackcurrants, violets and orange peel. Medium to full body and fine tannins. Polished, bright, vivid and agile. Powdery tannins with wonderful length and finesse. Savory, too. Give it three to four years of bottle age."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "The 2020 Real de Asúa is a wine that changed in 2018 when it started being produced exclusively with Tempranillo from the lieu-dit Carromaza in the village of Villalba. 2020 was warm, and the grapes were picked two weeks earlier than in 2019. The grapes are harvested in 300-kilo palot containers and fermented after a cold soak in small oak vats with indigenous yeasts. Malolactic was in French oak barrels, and the aging was in new and second-use barriques and lasted 12 months. This feels quite classical, balanced and serious. The nose is subtle, elegant and quite impressive, with notes of herbs and a touch of mustard; it's fresh and well above the expectation from a year like 2020. Today, I prefer this to the 2021. 12,453 bottles were filled in March 2023. 96+"