Cune White

This wine's label, which is white, quite plain and with the name in English, could be rather disconcerting at first, especially if you knew the previous one, but pour yourself a glass and you'll rest assured that this is the CVNE white you’ve always known, and another wine fusing tradition and innovation, the two facets which best describe this great Rioja winery: the tradition it started out with (Viura grapes and American barrels) and the ever-present attention to detail; simply sporting a new label - the CVNE zeal for renovation is constantly active.

Cune White is a typical barrel-fermented Rioja white. Bright in the glass and not showing much colour, a pale yellow with greenish flecks, it reveals aromas of flowers and white fruits, namely pear and apple, characteristic of this variety; plus a hint of fresh pineapple and fragrantly sweet flowers, and some subtle, refreshing traces of coconut resulting from the American barrels used in maturation. Given some time and evolution in bottle, it will gain in complexity, developing more mature aromas, of apple peel. It is one of those wines always worth having at home, for enjoying whilst young, when fresher and full of verve, or more complex after several years.

Oily and with plenty of volume on the palate, good acidity, fennel hints, a touch of sweetness… It’s a flavoursome, appetising white, both a lively and serious wine, high quality, at a good price, complete and with a degree of powerfulness, that leaves us with a subtle touch of fresh liquorice on the finish and fruit on the retronasal passage. A very versatile wine for pairing, like all good barrel-fermented whites.