At a glance

Producer

Bodega Contador

Region

Rioja, Spain

Grape variety

Tempranillo

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Smooth

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$150-$250 USD per bottle

Tasting profile

Ripe black cherry, plum, balsamic hints, graphite, toasted oak, sweet spice, subtle leather.

Evolution: Moving from pronounced dark fruit and new oak to more savory, earthy, and tertiary notes.

At peak: Complex mix of fruit and tertiary aromas—dried blossom, forest floor, subtle leather and tobacco.

Structure

Acidity

Medium

Tannins

Silky, integrated, medium-plus

Alcohol

High (14.5%)

Aging potential

15-20 years from vintage; very good longevity for Rioja.

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2022 to 2028

Optimal window

2017 to 2032

Current status

Optimal drinking, beginning to show maturation complexity.

Current condition

Excellent; tannins have integrated, primary fruit softening, tertiary notes emerging.

2010 was an outstanding vintage in Rioja; after a decade, the wine is just reaching full maturity, balancing fruit and secondary development. From 2022-2028, expect a harmonious synthesis of fruit and complexity, with elegant texture and nuanced aromatics.

Food pairing

Grilled lamb, roasted game birds, aged Manchego cheese, wild mushroom dishes, or rich braises.

Serving

Decant

Yes (30 minutes) — The wine has medium-plus tannins and is 15 years old, which suggests it could benefit from aeration to enhance its flavors and aromas.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 6/10

Bodega Contador practices low-intervention, manual vineyard management with some organic methods (not certified). They use gravity for gentle handling and invest in high-quality oak (sustainably sourced). Limited information on energy/water usage and no noted innovations in packaging.

Bodega Contador is a quality-focused boutique estate known for limited production and careful vineyard stewardship, but it does not publicize comprehensive environmental certification or formalized sustainability metrics. Sustainable viticultural practices are employed, but more could be done to achieve recognized certification and improve transparency, particularly regarding carbon footprint and resource usage. Packaging is conventional (glass bottle, natural cork).