Contador Alma Rioja 2020

Rioja, Spain

Wine Advocate 97 points!

Contador Alma Rioja is a gorgeous Spanish red wine gem from Benjamin Romeo, one of the stars of Spanish winemaking and an “icon” in the Rioja region. BODEGA CONTADOR is among the most respected Spanish wineries in the world. Bodega Contador got 100-point scores from Parker for both the 2004 and 2005 vintages, which launched his “international career” and reputation.

“The new red blend 2020 Alma Contador is going to be sold mostly through the négociants from Bordeaux. It was produced with grapes from three vineyards in San Vicente de la Sonsierra at different altitudes and is a blend of Tempranillo with 8% Garnacha with limited yields because of mildew. It matured in new French barriques for 20 months. He wanted a more classical image and perhaps a more classical profile of wine. It's perfumed and floral, with notes of aromatic herbs, a little balsamic and quite showy, with very fine tannins and freshness, as he used more grapes from the higher-altitude zones. It's powerful and elegant, and in a way it reminds me of the style of the initial vintages of La Cueva de Contador; it's clean and elegant. It's 14.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.55. It's very young but still drinkable, as the quality of the tannins is very good. I think this is the one wine I'd buy from their portfolio if I could only buy one. It transported me to the wines from the early 2000s. 10,000 bottles produced. Drink 2022-2032.”—Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, 97 points!

Enjoy Contador Alma Rioja with roast pork, lamb, grilled steak, paella, and aged cheeses.