2007 Contino, Viña del Olivo, Rioja

The flagship from Contino is invariably one of the top wines in all of Spain and the 2007 is no exception. Located near Logrono in La Rioja Alavesa, the vineyard is etched with serpentine assurance around a curve in the River Ebro.

At its heart lies the eponymous hundred year-old olive tree, its shade pretty much the perfect setting for an al fresco luncheon or impromptu tasting, ideally with the former immediately following the latter. The 2007 is made up of 88 % Tempranillo and 12 % Graciano and has been aged for 36 months in oak from a variety of different origins, mainly France, the USA and Hungary It is rich and toasty, with a fine balance between dark berried fruit, flowers, minerals and spice; worth approaching from 2012 and will keep for up to a decade thereafter.
(Simon Field MW , BBR Buyer)C.V.N.E.

Complex bouquet of redcurrant, vanilla, cassis, plum and cherry. Mellow, smoky, rich and ripe with fine oak balanced by tangerine acidity. Pure, intense, very long and very good. Tastes expensive.
Decanter's top-rated wines of 2012 so far, July 2012

Contino is a modern rioja classic. The estate, a beautiful and peaceful place, spreading out from an old farmhouse near the town of Languardia in a crook of the Ebro river, is half-owned by CVNE and half by the Madrazo family. This is their glorious top wine. Will repay cellaring and 2007 is better than 2008 - so now is the moment for a treat.
The wine in Spain is hard to explain, The Daily Telegraph, 22/09/2012

If you are not sticking to a budget in your search for Rioja then Victoria Moore recommends Contino Vina del Olivo 2007. Moore says this is a modern Rioja classic and is the estate's "glorious top wine" and that the "2007 is better than 2008- so now is the moment for a treat".
(Victoria Moore - The Drinks Business - 9 October 2012)