Bodega Contador

A complex aroma of spices, flowers and pretty red fruits. Contrastingly rich on the palate with layers and layers of flavour, this is a full bodied, long-term Rioja. Textured, ripe and mouth filling tannins. There is a huge amount of potential in this wine, which has spent 18 months in new French oak, and is 100% Tempranillo.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

Following on from the huge success of the 2012 Spanish Gold offer, the team at Berry Bros. & Rudd knew that we would have to find some truly outstanding new wines to better the offer in 2013. Fortunately we have done just that and are very proud to present our latest, major Rioja producer, Bodega Contador. The property was founded as recently as 1995, but the fact that it has become one of Rioja’s most respected wineries in such a relatively short time, is testament to its superb terroir and the brilliant wine making skill of proprietor Benjamin Romeo. Starting off with an awe inspiring cellar hewn into the rock beneath the Castle of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, finding extra space in his parents’ garage, where he crafted the stunning 2004 and 2005 vintages, which both received 100 points from the Wine Advocate. In 2008 Benjamin completed his new, state of the art winery, built into the hills of Rioja surrounded by his vineyards. Benjamin’s wine making is relatively modern, with individual vineyard plots farmed to very small yields and vinified separately, before ageing for a comparatively short 18-20 months in new French oak (as opposed to the traditional American oak). The results are extraordinary.

Bodega Contador was founded as recently as 1995, but has already become one of Rioja’s most respected wineries – thanks to its superb terroir and the brilliant winemaking skill of proprietor Benjamin Romeo. His first vintages (2004 and ’05) both garnered 100 points from the Wine Advocate. Benjamin’s winemaking is relatively modern and the results are extraordinary.

Benjamin’s muse is the most feminine and complex of his range. It’s the only wine which he fits into the traditional classification system, with 24 months of wood ageing and a further 36 months in bottle, entitling it to Gran Reserva status. The blend includes Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, each weaving subtle flavour and nuance into the ensemble. The wine is richly structured. Distinctive savoury notes are juxtaposed with the berry fruit. Liquorice, fig and pot-pourri underwrite the latent complexity.