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At Petit Philippe we are committed to your wine journey, and this week we bring you a historic Spanish Producer, C.V.N.E., a formidable wine producer and icon in Rioja!
You have seen the classifications before: Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva... but what do they mean? What do they taste like? What's the difference and why might you like one over the other!?
Well this week, we will guide you through the Rioja classifications by offering four D.O.Ca wines (including a white Rioja!) that will help you learn more about your preferences, and you'll be surprised by the price points.
Read on below for the Fast Facts on Rioja, the Primer on C.V.N.E (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) plus what we're pouring.
We hope you are able to stop by Petit Philippe this week to enjoy these expressive Riojas that overdeliver in value and quality. And they're a delicious way to celebrate the labor day weekend.
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September Calendar of Events
SCRIBE - Winemaker Dinner
featuring a property that pioneered pre-prohibition Sonoma Valley winemaking
- Thursday, September 8th at 6:30PM
- 4-course repast, Dressler's Metropolitan
- Click here to purchase tickets
- This event is now half full.
KRUPP BROS Winery - Private Tasting
featuring single vineyards at the foot of the Vaca Mountains just off the Silverado Trail
- Wednesday, September 14th
- Hosted here at Petit Philippe
- Email us for details & pre-reservations
- Details coming your way soon.
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See you this wekend and drink mas Rioja.
Have great Labor Day Weekend.
Salud!
Mark
PETIT PHILIPPE
Stewards for your wine journey℠
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We Have All Your Rosé needs covered.
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Stay up to date with our latest offerings on Instagram and Facebook!
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Join us Wednesday through Saturday for a flight of four Rioja wines:
CVNE, Monopole Clásico Blanco 2018 - $31 btl/retail
Rioja Alta, Spain
CVNE, Cune Crianza 2019 - $18 btl/retail
Rioja Alta, Spain
CVNE, Cune Reserva 2017 - $30 btl/retail
Rioja Alta, Spain
CVNE, Cune Gran Reserva 2016 - $41 btl/retail
Rioja Alta, Spain
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Full Flight of 4 - $16 (2.5oz pours)
4:30 - 7:00pm Wednesday
4:00 - 7:30pm Thursday - Friday
1:00 - 7:30pm Saturday
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C.V.N.E. Primer:
In 1879, the Real de Asúa brothers arrived in Haro to embark on what would become one of the longest-standing histories in the wine world. A trip initially taken for health reasons led to the creation of Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (C.V.N.E.) in the iconic Barrio de la Estación railway station. This marked the birth of a family winery that has grown over five generations.
The first wine produced by CVNE took the name of the company’s initials. However, a simple and fortunate spelling error, confusing the V with a U, led to the creation of the iconic Cune brand, now the leading wine on the national market.
Today, the winery is still run by the same family, producing quality, artisanal and traditional wines that grace tables in more than 90 countries. An industry leader in Spain and winner of prestigious wine awards including accolades from Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate over the course of its history, CVNE has continued to grow while always remaining true to its objective of creating premium wines and tapping into the potential of the outstanding vineyards in its environs. The group currently has seven wineries in Spain’s principal wine-growing regions.
These wineries produce a wide variety of wines (the best from each region), combining tradition and modernity to create reliable and characterful wines, including: Imperial, the flagship of the winery, ranked the world’s number one wine in 2013 by American magazine Wine Spectator (the first wine in Spain to receive the accolade); Monopole, Spain’s oldest white wine; the Corona 1939 white wine, and the Viña Real 1947 red wine (a Robert Parker 100-point wine); Contino, the first single-vineyard wine; and Roger Goulart, a pioneering producer of traditional method sparkling wine in Spain since 1882.
Over its 140-year history, CVNE has not ceased to evolve, grow, and innovate in terms of both wines and production. Despite its growth, the winery has maintained its profound respect for tradition while incorporating innovative processes and a commitment to its environment, with environmentally sustainable viticulture and excellent quality wines.
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CVNE, Monopole Clásico Blanco 2018
Rioja Alta, Spain
$31.00 (purchase it online here)
This Monopole is a throwback to an ancient style: a traditional white Rioja that is fortified with a touch of Manzanilla sherry — an age-old trick to preserve the wine and make it taste (or so they thought, back then) more like Burgundy. A cool spring freshness & pear citrus meets brisk minerality and ocean-breeze salinity.
Varietal: Viura with a small amount of Palomino. Fermented in stainless steel tank, then the wine is transferred (with its lees) into vats and botas of 300 & 500 liters that have been previously used by two+ wines. The wine ages in these recipients for 8 months. The uniqueness of this wine lies in the contribution of a small quantity of manzanilla sherry, developed by the traditional method of biological crianza under “velo de flor”.
Taste: Pale yellow in the glass with a complex nose full of aromas of chamomile, pear, citrus, almonds, and notes of salinity & minerality. The palate is soft and characterized by an unctuous and round texture that lead into a long elegant and refreshing finish.
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CVNE, Cune Crianza 2019
Rioja Alta, Spain
$18.00 (purchase it online here)
The Cune Rioja Crianza has been produced every year since C.V.N.E (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) was founded in 1879. The 2019 vintage has its characteristic aromatic balance, fine character and an overall expression of the Tempranillo grape.
Varietal: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha Tinta y Mazuelo. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tank at a controlled temperature. After 12 days in a vat, the grapes are pressed, and malolactic fermentation takes place in a tank. The wine is aged in American oak barrels for 1 year.
Taste: Garnet in color with bluish-hints at the rim. On the nose we can find aromas of wild fruits, strawberries, raspberries, and currants. Hints of vanilla and toffee are also evident. Soft entrance on the palate with rounded tannins, and a good acidic balance. Long and fresh finish with notes of cherry and light spice.
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CVNE, Cune Reserva 2017
Rioja Alta, Spain
$30.00 (purchase it online here)
Historically called "Cuarto Año" among the locals because of it spends 4 years (2 in barrel & 2 in bottle) aging to enhance complexity prior to release, this Reserva is full-bodied, layered and powerful with chewy polished tannins. Excellent vintage even with 50% yield loss in 2017.
Varietal: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha Tinta y Mazuelo from vines that average 20-25 years of age. All fruit from Estate vineyards in the villages of Rodezno, Villalba, and Haro in the Rioja Alta region. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tank at a controlled temperature. After 12 days in a vat, the grapes are pressed, and malolactic fermentation takes place in a tank. The wine is aged in American oak barrels for 24-months, and then bottled aged for an additional 24-months.
Taste: The wine is garnet in color with pink hints at the rim. High aromatic intensity with aromas of berries, florals, orange peel, and licorice that blend in with the oak aging notes for spice, vanilla, and aniseed. On the palate it is smooth thanks to the well integrated tannins that give elegance and length and lead to a dark fruity and balsamic-esque finish.
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CVNE, Cune Gran Reserva 2016
Rioja Alta, Spain
$41.00 (purchase it online here)
The Cune Gran Reserva is a rich representation of the Tempranillo varietal after spending 5 years aging (2 in barrel & 3 in bottle). Only produced from exceptional vintages, the 2016 from C.V.N.E has a long, flavorful finish full of dark fruit with hints of chocolate, and vanilla.
Varietal: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciana, 5% Mazuelo from vines that average 45 years of age. All fruit from Estate vineyards in the village of Torremontalvo in the Rioja Alta region. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tank at a controlled temperature. After 12 days in a vat, the grapes are pressed, and malolactic fermentation takes place in a tank. The wine is aged in American oak barrels for 24-months, and then bottled aged for an additional 36-months.
Taste: Ruby red color in the glass with complex aromas ripe fruit such as blackberries, figs, and plums with hints of licorice. Notes of spice, caramelized toffee, and tobacco are also evident given the 5-year aging this Gran Reserva undertakes. On the palate it has velvety tannins which lead to a soft & elegant finish full of fruit notes, spice, and earth.
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DID YOU KNOW?
In the 1890s famous French architect, Aleixandre Gustave Eiffel, designed the CVNE cellar. Truly revolutionary, this imposing structure provided an innovative formula to support its construction. Without columns, the roof is supported by steel trusses, running from wall to wall allowing for a large open space that significantly improved the management of barrels in the cellar, to make racking, maintenance, and monitoring of the wine barrels easier.
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