R. López de Heredia 'Viña Cubillo' Crianza, Rioja, Spain 2017
R. López de Heredia stands as one of Spain's most legendary wineries and a bastion of traditional Rioja winemaking. Founded in 1877 by Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta in Haro, the mythical capital of Rioja Alta, the bodega is the oldest in Haro and one of the first three established in Rioja. Don Rafael, a young oenology student, carefully observed French négociants who came to Rioja seeking quality grapes after phylloxera devastated their vineyards. He recognized the magical combination of soil and climate around Haro that would produce world-famous wines. Today, the estate is owned and operated by the fourth generation, sisters María José and Mercedes López de Heredia, who remain steadfastly committed to the traditional viticulture and winemaking methods established over 143 years ago. The winery is distinguished by its reliance exclusively on estate-grown fruit, its unparalleled aging program, and its remarkable underground cellars—a 6,000 square meter labyrinth 15 meters below ground housing approximately 14,000 American oak barrels. López de Heredia is the only bodega in Spain to hand-craft all barrels in its own cooperage, purchasing whole trees to split and age before construction and repair.
- WINEMAKER: María José López de Heredia and Mercedes López de Heredia
- FARMING: Sustainable practices with organic principles. Hand-harvesting exclusively, manual vineyard work, cover cropping, composting, dry farming to encourage deep root growth, no chemical treatments, minimal sulfur use (50 mg/L versus EU limit of 200 mg/L). Natural pest control through spiders in cellars.
- VARIETY: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo from vines averaging 40-53 years of age
- TERROIR: Viña Cubillas vineyard, located 4 kilometers from the bodega in Haro, Rioja Alta. The 24-hectare estate sits at 410 meters elevation with Tertiary-age soils composed of clay and limestone. The vineyard includes 16 hectares of Tempranillo, 4 hectares Garnacha, 2 hectares Mazuelo, and 2 hectares Graciano. Named parcels include "La Encina" and "La Monja." Historically called "Special Harvest," the vineyard produces wines that could easily be classified as Gran Reserva due to the exceptional combination of soil, aspect, and vine quality, though the estate labels them as Crianza. The vineyard benefits from Rioja Alta's gentle topography and mix of Atlantic and Mediterranean climatic influences.
- VINIFICATION: Grapes hand-harvested and transported in century-old poplar wood containers to preserve fruit integrity. Fermentation occurs in 72 large oak vats, some over 142 years old, using indigenous yeasts that have been maintained in the winemaking vats for generations. Temperature control achieved through natural ventilation rather than modern thermoregulation. Alcoholic fermentation lasts approximately seven days with pump-overs encouraging maceration and color extraction. The 2017 vintage presented unique challenges: an April frost killed 100% of the vegetal mass at Cubillo, resulting in grapes exclusively from the second generation that ripened in a much shorter cycle with an earlier harvest.
- AGING: Minimum 3+ years in used American oak barrels (225 liters) hand-crafted in López de Heredia's cooperage, followed by an additional 2-3 years in bottle before release. Wines are racked once or twice per year to remove sediment. Fined with fresh egg whites following tradition and bottled unfiltered. Total aging significantly exceeds Rioja's minimum requirements for Crianza, approaching Gran Reserva standards. Released after approximately 9 years of aging when the wine is considered mature and ready to drink.
- TASTING NOTES: Clear, bright ruby color. The 2017 displays more development and faster aging than previous vintages, showing evolved tertiary characteristics. Aromas of damp earth, mushrooms, truffles, forest floor, dry leaves, decayed flowers and herbs. Fresh, vinous aromatics with gentle oak integration, licorice notes, and sweet tobacco undertones. Consistent texture with persistent aromatic qualities. Medium-bodied with a polished, smooth palate. The frost-affected vintage produces lighter fruit with some green herbal notes, yet retains the fine-boned elegance characteristic of the Cubillo style. Mostly resolved, supple tannins create a juicy, slightly chalky texture. The wine feels a little lighter than typical vintages but maintains remarkable balance and complexity. Stewed red and black berries mingle with distinct earthy tones and mushroom-inflected umami. Long, persistent finish with lingering spice and mineral notes.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: All meat dishes, tapas selections, charcuterie boards, roasted lamb chops with rosemary, chorizo-stuffed piquillo peppers, pisto manchego, braised chicken with olives and smoked paprika, aged Manchego cheese, grilled steaks, wild mushroom dishes, eggplant with garlic and oregano.
- SCORES: Wine Advocate: 93/100 (Luis Gutiérrez)
R. López de Heredia 'Viña Cubillo' Crianza, Rioja, Spain 2017
R. López de Heredia stands as one of Spain's most legendary wineries and a bastion of traditional Rioja winemaking. Founded in 1877 by Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta in Haro, the mythical capital of Rioja Alta, the bodega is the oldest in Haro and one of the first three established in Rioja. Don Rafael, a young oenology student, carefully observed French négociants who came to Rioja seeking quality grapes after phylloxera devastated their vineyards. He recognized the magical combination of soil and climate around Haro that would produce world-famous wines. Today, the estate is owned and operated by the fourth generation, sisters María José and Mercedes López de Heredia, who remain steadfastly committed to the traditional viticulture and winemaking methods established over 143 years ago. The winery is distinguished by its reliance exclusively on estate-grown fruit, its unparalleled aging program, and its remarkable underground cellars—a 6,000 square meter labyrinth 15 meters below ground housing approximately 14,000 American oak barrels. López de Heredia is the only bodega in Spain to hand-craft all barrels in its own cooperage, purchasing whole trees to split and age before construction and repair.
- WINEMAKER: María José López de Heredia and Mercedes López de Heredia
- FARMING: Sustainable practices with organic principles. Hand-harvesting exclusively, manual vineyard work, cover cropping, composting, dry farming to encourage deep root growth, no chemical treatments, minimal sulfur use (50 mg/L versus EU limit of 200 mg/L). Natural pest control through spiders in cellars.
- VARIETY: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo from vines averaging 40-53 years of age
- TERROIR: Viña Cubillas vineyard, located 4 kilometers from the bodega in Haro, Rioja Alta. The 24-hectare estate sits at 410 meters elevation with Tertiary-age soils composed of clay and limestone. The vineyard includes 16 hectares of Tempranillo, 4 hectares Garnacha, 2 hectares Mazuelo, and 2 hectares Graciano. Named parcels include "La Encina" and "La Monja." Historically called "Special Harvest," the vineyard produces wines that could easily be classified as Gran Reserva due to the exceptional combination of soil, aspect, and vine quality, though the estate labels them as Crianza. The vineyard benefits from Rioja Alta's gentle topography and mix of Atlantic and Mediterranean climatic influences.
- VINIFICATION: Grapes hand-harvested and transported in century-old poplar wood containers to preserve fruit integrity. Fermentation occurs in 72 large oak vats, some over 142 years old, using indigenous yeasts that have been maintained in the winemaking vats for generations. Temperature control achieved through natural ventilation rather than modern thermoregulation. Alcoholic fermentation lasts approximately seven days with pump-overs encouraging maceration and color extraction. The 2017 vintage presented unique challenges: an April frost killed 100% of the vegetal mass at Cubillo, resulting in grapes exclusively from the second generation that ripened in a much shorter cycle with an earlier harvest.
- AGING: Minimum 3+ years in used American oak barrels (225 liters) hand-crafted in López de Heredia's cooperage, followed by an additional 2-3 years in bottle before release. Wines are racked once or twice per year to remove sediment. Fined with fresh egg whites following tradition and bottled unfiltered. Total aging significantly exceeds Rioja's minimum requirements for Crianza, approaching Gran Reserva standards. Released after approximately 9 years of aging when the wine is considered mature and ready to drink.
- TASTING NOTES: Clear, bright ruby color. The 2017 displays more development and faster aging than previous vintages, showing evolved tertiary characteristics. Aromas of damp earth, mushrooms, truffles, forest floor, dry leaves, decayed flowers and herbs. Fresh, vinous aromatics with gentle oak integration, licorice notes, and sweet tobacco undertones. Consistent texture with persistent aromatic qualities. Medium-bodied with a polished, smooth palate. The frost-affected vintage produces lighter fruit with some green herbal notes, yet retains the fine-boned elegance characteristic of the Cubillo style. Mostly resolved, supple tannins create a juicy, slightly chalky texture. The wine feels a little lighter than typical vintages but maintains remarkable balance and complexity. Stewed red and black berries mingle with distinct earthy tones and mushroom-inflected umami. Long, persistent finish with lingering spice and mineral notes.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: All meat dishes, tapas selections, charcuterie boards, roasted lamb chops with rosemary, chorizo-stuffed piquillo peppers, pisto manchego, braised chicken with olives and smoked paprika, aged Manchego cheese, grilled steaks, wild mushroom dishes, eggplant with garlic and oregano.
- SCORES: Wine Advocate: 93/100 (Luis Gutiérrez)