CVNE, along with fellow famous Rioja winery Lopez de Heredia, were the first producers of Rioja to make a 'Crianza' style wine. This means a minimum of 18 months in oak barrels and a further half year ageing in bottle before being released. American oak is used exclusively for this wine, which adds spicy cassia and vanilla notes, with chocolate and coffee. All of this is accompanied by dried plums and red cherries, with firm tannins and a softness as well. Very classy and articulate, it speaks of dried earth, baked summers and soft red fruits. Wonderful.

CVNE (an acronym for the complex mouthful that is Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) is one of the most renowned and historic bodegas in all of Spain. Founded in 1879 by brothers, Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asúa, the company has been an integral part of the Rioja region’s ascendance in the world of fine wine. With their combination of traditional roots and innovative vision, CVNE has been one of Rioja’s most reliable sources for high quality wine. The company is still run by descendants of the Real de Asúa brothers, now represented by the fifth generation, with current CEO Victor Urrutia Ybarra. This is an ancient company that has it all - fantastic vineyard holdings, established brand, great cellaring potential, and to top it off, wonderfully beautiful cellars. This notwithstanding, the real wonders of CVNE are found below ground. To walk through the dank, dimly-lit cellars is to trace the history of the bodega, vintage by vintage, era by era. It just so happens that their wines are equal to this - spicy, elegant and filled with harmonious power.