Clovis Taittinger Interview - Champagne Taittinger

I am a big fan of Cune Rioja's; when in Spain, do as Spaniard's do… and Spaniard's drink Cune!  

With a dark ruby complexion and aromas of vanilla and strawberry that open up into more intense red fruits with pleasant spice, this is a wine that urges the mind the dream…

The initial taste is strawberries and vanilla. The oak is subdued and, as it should be, not overpowering. It develops further into more ripe cherries and hints of eucalyptus. Imagine being in rural Spain and walking into a bar for tapas and tinto. That tinto is very likely this wine. It's a benchmark Rioja, produced for pleasure.. richer with more body and complexity than the Cune crianza (that is also lovely). My advice on this one is to roast some red peppers stuffed with pork belly and some Padron peppers cooked in a pan with a little oil, sprinkled with rock salt. [YUM!]

It's a blend of the most pleasing tempranillo (85%), grenache, graciano and mazuelo. The tempranillo gives it that soft round fruitiness, which is perfect for so many dishes or, even just chatting, preferably with a less interesting friend so you can contemplate the wine quietly. Good wine and one to keep revisiting. 

Cune Reserva 2009 

£14.49, Waitrose, Wholefoods Market, D.Byrne & Co

By Nick Breeze
Twitter: NickGBreeze