I explained to a connoisseur once that it is really CVNE, and that ‘CUNE’ came about when a sign arrived on which the sign-writer had mistaken the V for a U – but the company ran with it. He told me I was wrong, and it was just CUNE. I futher explained that it is from the Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (CVNE). He wasn’t having any of it… Cune is a rioja ‘Crianza’, which means that the wine must have some time aging in oak, but not as long as a Reserva or a Gran Reserva. Although the label states ‘Tempranillo’, this wine is in fact a blend of Tempranillo (80%), Mazuela (10%) and Grenache (10%). The grapes used for Cune Crianza originate from vines owned by the winery and also other estates found in the La Rioja Alta. CVNE make my favourite white rioja. Is the red any good?

Tasting notes:  An intense, deep, ruby red colour. Initially some red fruit aromas. Secendary aromas (from wine-making) of vanilla, from the oak. No discernable tertiary (from ageing) aromas. Dry. Fairly high acidity (best with food). Fairly high alcohol level. Slightly thin. Soft tannins. Flavour intensity was light. A short finish. Decent rioja.

Region of Origin – Rioja
Wine Colour – Red
Price – £8.75
Where do I get it from? Morrisons (widely available).
Current Vintage – 2016
Producer – CVNE
Grape – Tempranillo (80%), Mazuela (10%) and Grenache (10%)
Country – Spain

Verdict – Perfectly acceptable rioja for the price.

Food matching – went really well with steaks, cooked the way they do it at Casa Julien outside San Sebastian in the Basque region of Spain, i.e. over charcoal with a good coating of Himalayan salt.