2017
R. López de Heredia Rioja Crianza Viña
Cubillo
(Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja)
$38.50
Tradition
lives on at Lopez de Heredia. The same
winemaking methods are imployed just as
they were back in 1877; practices that
almost nobody else has kept, from vineyard
to cellar.
They
use only estate-grown fruit. Musts are
fermented in large old oak vats with
native yeasts; temperature is managed by
opening and closing doors and windows
rather than modern cooling (?!?), which
encourages slow, traditional
fermentations.
The
winery still makes all its barrels
in-house and uses mostly older American
oak, which provides gentle oxidative aging
and subtle spice rather than overt, sweet
oak impact.
We
could go on...but what about the wine?
Smooth,
juicy, dark fruit notes, texture! A modest
hint of forest floor and
truffles, dried blood orange, savory
plum with a splash of citrus fruit on the
finish. And yes, 2017 is the current
release!
