Tom Kobylarz

9.5

The definition of modern Rioja done the right way. Plenty of fruit that is plenty fresh, savory with good acidity and perfectly ripe and firm tannin. 11 years young! This blends old school and new well! #contador #cueva #sanvicente — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

8.7

Brambly and ripe, round soft and a fruit forward wine. Hugely fruited and deeply flavored, this is a wine that is very different from the other wines in the entire portfolio. The wine is as smooth as silk, but lacks to me some energy, finesse and structure that I prefer.
#contador #rioja — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.1

Excellent body and freshness, sweet lemon citrus, fresh acidity, barely a trace of oak, the wine fills the palate with flavor without much weight.
20k bottles of production.
54% viura, 30 Malvasia, rest grenacha Blanco
8 mos aged oak used
#contador #rioja — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.7

Powerful and complex, excellent structure and depth from the aging process as this is the current release. An homage to his mother Carmen, this is the most traditionally made wine by Benjamin in his line up of wines and one of my favorites. This speaks of purity and power, with structure and some elegance as nothing overwhelms but instead is very precise.
#contador #carmen #rioja — 9 years ago

with Miguel

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

Full bodied and tannic. Classic flavor and intensity, awesome in all ways and just a baby. Densely packed with a complex aroma set, the coaxing from the glass reveals a very typical Contador/Cueva character, though it is for sure a few shades below Contador. The decision to bottle only Cueva was a very good one as the wine is terrific and is likely a success from sacrificing the Contador bottling. This is the highest level of premium wine of the traditional reds in 2013, no Contador.
#contador #rioja — 9 years ago

with Miguel

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

Impeccable "Toe the line" wine here that straddles between classic and modern styles well. Lots of oak, concentration and flavor but in a dense layered and fresh style that will reward aging. Had the 2001 a few weeks ago and it was a beauty! Can drink now buy must decant or handsomely reward yourself and forget about it for at least 5 years. #contador #rioja #benjaminromeo — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

10

Powerful, insane precision, telescopic layers of flavor and nuance, with a crazy long finish. So young, this is intensely complex, with great acidity and balance. Firm, full grain tannins that are ripe and long with the oak exceptionally integrated. Well structured and fresh this will easily age 25-30 years easy. Very good now, the potential is off the charts so check back in 5!
#contador #rioja — 9 years ago

with Miguel

Tom Kobylarz

8.9

Medium bodied and good freshness, crushed fresh red and black fruit with good persistence and good structure.
Predicador spends only 3-4 months in bottle before release. 90k bottles of production which is more than usual in 2013 because they used most of of the production because of poor vintage conditions and did not make anything above the Cueva wine.
96% Tempranillo, 2% grenacha, 1% each Mazuelo & Gracias, 12 mos used oak barrel aging
#contador #rioja — 9 years ago

with Miguel

Tom Kobylarz

9.1

More depth and power, some minerality and plenty of purity. Though it comes across a little tight, it is more complex than the Predicador Blanco.
70% Garnacha Blanco, 20% Malvasia, 10% Viura
This spent 8 months in new oak.
#contador #rioja — 9 years ago

with Miguel