It is Aug-uary in Vancouver. I cannot see the north shore mountains and the clouds are covering the tops of the concrete towers that are spread across the lower mainland. Red wines are on my horizon. So I dipped into my wine cellar and decided to open two red wines from Europe. The first wine is CVNE Viña Real Crianza 2019, from Rioja, Spain, while the other wine is Chateau Daviaud 2020, from Bordeaux, France. Two different wines, from different grape varieties, and made with different styles. Let me tell you about them.
My Wine Tasting Notes
CVNE Viña Real Crianza 2019, Rioja, Spain (BC $24.99)
Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (the Northern Spanish Wine Company) CVNE was founded in 1879 in the town of Haro in Rioja, Spain by two brothers. This is the 145th anniversary of this winery, which is now in its fifth generation of the family.
This wine is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, with the remainder composed of Graciano, Garnacha, and Mazuelo. Fermented in stainless steel tanks for 10-12 days, followed by malolactic fermentation and aging in American and French oak barrels for 14 months.
Appearance: Opaque garnet from the core to the rim. Teardrops visible on the sides of the glass after swirling.
Nose: Medium intensity, deep aromas of juicy black berries, raspberries, plus touches of cinnamon, chocolate, and oak. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium-plus body and flavour intensity. It has a thicker, smooth, soft mouthfeel. Not quite mouth-filling. Black plums, juicy dark berries, and touches of pepperiness, coffee, floral and oak. Medium intensity tannins and acidity. The wine is a little lighter bodied with a lighter mouthfeel after decanting and has more juicy berry fruit flavours.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with juicy dark berries, dark fruits, and light pepperiness. Mouthwatering acidity and medium intensity drying tannins. A lighter mouthfeel and lighter tannins on the finish after decanting.
An excellent wine. I enjoy the deep berry fruit aromas and flavours. Nice round mouthfeel and complimentary tannins. Decanting lightens up the flavours and mouthfeel, but no need to decant. Open and enjoy.
Rating: 
– 
An opaque coloured garnet in the glass. Deep aromas of black berries, raspberries, plus touches of oak, cinnamon and chocolate. A dry wine with fuller body and flavour intensity of black plums, juicy dark berries along with touches of pepperiness, coffee, floral and oak. Medium tannins and acidity. Medium-plus length.
Chateau Daviaud 2020, Bordeaux, France (BC $18.99 on sale. BC Liquor stores till Aug 31/24)
2020 the Chateau Daviaud Winery changed ownership, with purchase by the Sichel family, which is very well-known in Bordeaux. They own the firm Maison Sichel and also maintain a large ownership stake in Chateau Palmer. The Sichel family has deep roots in Bordeaux, having been there since 1883. This family created the Bel Air winery and purchased Chateau d’Angludet in Margaux.
I don’t have the exact blend for the 2020 vintage, but the 2019 vintage was 45% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Malbec. The same grapes, but different proportions would have went into the 2020 blend.
From the winery, “The grapes were placed in vats after destemming, temperature control at 30° C, in order to promote extraction, then maintaining the temperature until draining. Pressing in a pneumatic press optimises the extraction of supple and ripe tannins. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in vats where the wine is kept for 6 months before bottling.”
Appearance: This wine has a deep garnet colour; about 95% opaque. Swirling leaves teardrops on the sides of the wine glass.
Nose: Light, subtle aromas of dark fruit, earthiness, meat, toast, and floral. The aromas are even lighter after decanting. I did not pick up any earthiness or floral. You get primarily dark fruit aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry with a light, smooth, lightly round body. Medium acidity and tannins. Light pepperiness. Flavours of juicy dark berries, black fruit, and touches of red fruit, floral, earthiness, and toast. After decanting, there was no earthiness on the palate. I did pick up a hint of capsicum.
Finish: A medium-plus length with a drying, puckering finish. A mix of dark and red fruits, plus a touch of floral. A lighter drying finish with more berry fruit flavours.
Overall a very subtle wine. Decanting makes the wine even more subtle, so I recommend no decanting.
Rating: This Bordeaux blend has a deep garnet colour. It has light, subtle aromas of dark fruit, earthiness, meat, toast, and floral. It is a dry with light a lightly round, smooth body. Juicy dark berries, black fruit and touches of red fruit, floral, earthiness and toast on the palate. A medium-plus length.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
The CVNE Viña Real Crianza 2019 is available for purchase at BC Liquor stores and at Everything Wine stores. The Chateau Daviaud 2020 is currently on sale at BC Liquor Stores.
