Viña Cubillo Rioja 2016

To step back inside the López de Heredia winery is to step back in time. Founded in 1877, and little changed since, López de Heredia might not be quite the oldest winery in Rioja, but they are certainly the most tradition bound and least changed. You read a lot of marketing fluff about ‘family winemaking tradition’, but at López de Heredia, it’s real. Maria José López de Heredia and her winemaker sister, Mercedes, couldn’t care less about wine fashions. They've been producing wines in the style their great grandfather did, where their wines slumber in their deep cellars for many years before release.  The quest for perfection is of utmost importance, and no wine is released until it is ready.

Tempranillo (65%), Garnacho (25%), Mazuelo and Graciano, the rest, all from owned vineyards.

The wine ages for 3 years in old american oak with a further 3 in bottle.

Already 8 years old yet fresh as daisy, the Cubillo has an intriguing nose of damson plum and ripe red cherries, tobacco and nutmeg with a hint of vanilla and liquorice just adding a seductive sweetness. Dive in and it is silky smooth with the lightest touch of soft tannins and just bursting with fruit. The finish goes on and on