Contador 2021
$495.00
Contador 2021 is a red wine that on the nose offers a bouquet where ripe red fruits such as cherries and raspberries are prominent, interwoven with a subtle hint of spices and vanilla. On the palate, it unveils an elegant maturity with velvety tannins and a balanced acidity leading to a lingering finish. Its complexity beckons the connoisseur to uncover layers of flavor that astonishingly evolve with each sip. Perfect for those in pursuit of depth and sophistication in a red wine. A distinguished cult wine.
Red wine Aged in wood Respectful agriculture. 18 months in French oak barrels.
Varietals: Graciano, Mazuela, Tempranillo
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About brand
The Bodega Contador story starts in 1995 when Benjamin Romeo, winemaker and vine-grower, acquired a centuries old cave hewn into the rock beneath the Castle of San Vicente de la Sonsierra (Rioja). In 1996 he made the first vintage of his “La Cueva del Contador” wine and started to buy vineyards for his plan to become a “bodeguero” - a wine producer.
In the following years he carried out small scale vinifications in the cave and continued to acquire vineyards. In 1999 he made the first vintage of “Contador”. Seeing these first wines favourably received by the market and specialist press, in 2000 Benjamin decided to dedicate himself full time to his personal project.
Throughout 2001 Benjamin Romeo reconditioned and equipped the garage at his parents’ home in San Vicente for winemaking, thereby increasing the vinification capacity over what was possible in the cave.
The North American wine critic Robert Parker’s Review awarded maximum points (100) to the 2004 and 2005 vintages of Contador, made in the garage. This accolade, hitherto unknown in Spain, hugely increased the label’s international prestige.
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WINEMARKER’S NOTES
Nuance and Intrigue characterize the wine, starting with a dark crimson and a ruby rim but manifested by the aromatics: white pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, pine resin and crème de menthe. An entry dominated by a bright acidity, the mid-palate explores characteristics of rhubarb, savory and a hint of wild strawberry with a long finish indicative of graceful aging.
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol : 15.9%
Maturation: Aged 9 months in French Oak, 42% New
Waipara West N Block Chardonnay 2018
A stripped-back Chardonnay style that showcases the fruit from our site while still being rich in subtle complexities. We achieve this using large, berried Chardonnay clones, whole bunch pressing, minimal use of old oak barrels, extended time on yeast lees and no malolactic fermentation.
Three qualities define this wine - above all else, the first being the fruit aroma/flavour, which we want to be subtle and pure. Acid structure is the second propping up the wine and giving it a salt crunch. Yeast derived aroma/flavours and mouthfeel provide balance.
Color: Pale golden kiwifruit in colour with hues of green and silver.
Aroma: On the nose, this wine is truly multi-layered however, all of them are understated. Fresh pineapple and sea salted cracker at first, perfumed white flower and white tea in the centre, all sitting on a base of malt toffee. These aromas combine and evolve into a vast number of flavours in the mouth.
Palate: Ripe peach and lemon meringue define the taste, due to a combination of full-bodied mouthfeel, cleansing acidity and a bite on the finish. A rich complex wine.
Food Pairing: Pork. Rich Fish (salmon, tuna, etc...), Vegetarian, Poultry
Residual Sugar: 0.52 g/L
pH: 3.51
Acidity: 6.75 g/L
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Hand-picked, individual parcels were destemmed without crushing into small open-top fermenters. The fruit was soaked until natural fermentation commenced before a selected yeast strain was inoculated to carry on and finish the fermentation, which was hot and quick. During this time, the ferments were worked to extract tannins appropriate to fruit weight and intensity. The more aromatic parcels were pressed off skins within five days of dryness, and the Swiss clones spent up to two weeks on skins. Parcels then went to barrel where we used only 5% new oak, instead opting for a high percentage of one-year-old (20%) to better match fruit weight. The wine then spent 12 months in barrel undergoing malolactic fermentation in spring, before being lightly fined and course pad filtered prior to bottling.
Colour: Crimson and pink flashes against a plummy red base.
Aroma: Aromatics of currant pastries, woody spice’s, and manuka leaf, leading to notes of forest undergrowth and florals.
Palate: Moderate fruit sweetness, fine tannin and restrained volume allow savoury elements to splice evenly into the tart red fruit. A very enjoyable aromatic pinot noir, with good fruit density
pH: 3.70
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Chateau de Pommard Marey-Monge Vivant 2016
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SOILS
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Production: 5,000 bottles
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VARIETALS
Cabernet Sauvignon 93%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 2%, Merlot 0.5%, and Malbec 0.5%
AWARDS
- 100 points Jane Anson
- 99 points James Suckling
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- 98 points The Wine Independent
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VINTAGE 2o21
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Chateau de Pommard Bourgogne Chardonnay 2022
TASTING
Pale yellow in color, this Burgundy Chardonnay’s bouquet offers perfumed white fruit aromas with floral notes. The palate is fresh and balanced. The finish is round and persistent, with delicate notes of citrus.
Serving Temperature: 13°C
SOILS
The limestone-rich soils of the Côte de Beaune are perfect for producing our Bourgogne Chardonnay, a well-balanced, fruity and fresh wine showing the potential of the Chardonnay grape. The most approachable appellation of Burgundy embodies the essence of the region’s native white grape. We see it as a welcoming entry to all the Villages, Premiers Crus and Grands Crus the region's vineyards have to offer.
WINEMAKING
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WINEMAKING
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TASTING NOTES
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