Lopez de Heredia 2016 Vina Cubillo Crianza

The Wine

A blend of 65 percent Tempranillo, and 35% Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo. It comes from the Heredia's Viña Cubillo vineyard, purchased by its founder, Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta (the great grandfather of the two women currently running the winery!)

Cubillo is a vineyard that produces exceptional wines sold as Crianza (aged for a minimum of two years, one of which must be in barrel), though if aged an additional 3 years they could eaisly qualify as Gran Reservas given the vineyard's exceptional soil, aspect and vines.

Tasting Notes: Enticing aromas of cedar, smoked meat, leather (a marker for old world reds), hints of licorice, earth, all complimenting the wine's aromas of red and blue fruits. The tannins are very approachable though the wine is hardly flabby - there is sufficient acidity to justify many more years of aging.

While the top wines from this estate will set you back a pretty penny, Vina Cubillo offers an affordable glimpse of greatness.

Rated '94 Pts.' across all the usual big-name scoring publications - Robert Parker, Tim Atkin and Vinous