Daniel M

9.0

R. Lopez de Heredia, Viña Cubillo, Rioja Crianza 2017
This is one of the many bottles we brought back in the trunk of our car from Spain and France after our summer stay over there. The nose shows dark berries, prune, meat juice, autumn forest soil after rain, oak. This is rather complex and layered. The palate is very well made and defined. There is a good acid drive, some nice dark berries and dark cherry notes all along, some width, some spices, a good tannic wall in the rear, disturbing ever so slighlty the mouthfeel by leaving a grippy, drying layer over a long, fruity, spicy finish which goes on for quite a while. The meat juice note that was showing in the nose makes a come back in the very end, adding a savoury, umami touch which is pretty nice, I must say. It's not at the level of the viña tondonia 2011 I tasted a while ago (and it costs only a fraction of the price) but it's very good Rioja Crianza in its own right. Not in-your-face, fresh and balanced winemaking style. Great effort !
90 out of 100 — 10 days ago

farzad farzin

9.2

2012 had it with t bond and NY steak — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

A blend of mostly Tempranillo with Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, aged 5 years in American oak, deep Ruby red color with aromas of ripe fruits, spice and tobacco notes. On the palate flavors of plum, blueberry and ripe cherry with spice, tobacco and cedar notes. Fine big rustic tannins, long finish, savory ending with tobacco and leather notes. Nice! — 3 months ago

Chris MacLean

9.3

Big winner at dinner tonight — 7 months ago

with Alessandro, Sarah and 2 others

Steven Schmitt

9.3

There’s depth and “cut” to it that invites more comparisons to its Burgundy cousins than its German ones, so give it 30 minutes or so in a decanter before diving in: Serve it at a cool 60 degrees in Burgundy stems and you’ve got one of the most versatile reds for food one could possibly ask for. This will sing with a wide range of proteins, from salmon all the way up to beef, but I can’t resist an old-school Alsatian pairing—tarte flambée. Smoky bacon, creamy cheese, crisp crust…that’ll work for me! Enjoy! — 5 years ago

Sam Friedland

9.0

Very nice Pinot Gris. Very delicate with a touch sweetness. Went very well with fresh flounder. — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Splash decanted and enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2014 “Viña Bosconia” pours a deep garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Montmorency cherry, dill, toasted coconut, tobacco, leather and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and elegant. Delicious already in its relative youth and there’s a long, bright future ahead. Drink now with patience through 2044. — 15 days ago

Holly Morgan

10

Blood orange and cloves as well as cherries in the nose. A bit of vanilla as it opens up. Tastes of tangerine and clove with a sweet cherry after taste. — a month ago

JKT

9.2

At Cindy’s with Fing. Mistaken bottle. Golden color, clearly aged with touch of oxidation but lots of complex aromatics. Excellent — 2 months ago

Ryan Colthorp

9.1

Hints of tangerine. Super good. — 4 months ago

Martinez

9.3

Elegant nose with citrus (lemon, orange zest) and petroleum, rubber notes. Medium-bodied, mineral — 4 years ago

Claire

9.5

Really good bubbly — 6 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.3

You have to understand that not many wines ( well, that’s a bit bombastic) give me more pleasure consistently than this, the most recent release-2010! From Calabretta . Kinda like Lopez de Heredia meets Vallana, ie Nebbiolo, though it is Nerollo Macalese. Smoked, tar, roses, fine & integrated tannins on the palate- strong mid palate which in my imagination has gotten stronger with age. Super lithe and really ethereal body- light, light to medium body but gorgeous acid spine, strong presence. Not a light wine. Bought a case or so a while ago-I fear the day I am down to one. Polaner importer. — 6 years ago

romo

9.2

Upside surprise. - at Chris & Mary’s — 2 days ago

romo

9.2

Just when you think it’s going to Thelma & Louise, it spawns wings and lifts off. - at Franklin PT — 2 months ago

Joel Lara

9.4

Upon opening, this seemed a bit disjointed, with muted fruit flavors and strong herbal notes. Decanting didn’t seem to help much, but day 2 it finally opened up nicely, with nice complexity and intensity on the palate. Cherry, raspberry, cassis, bay leaf, dried Italian herbs, anise, cloves, vanilla, cedar, earth, and balsamic notes all come through. Really tasty, but maybe a bit too intense. I can see this improving with a few more years of aging so the flavors coalesce and soften a bit more. — 2 months ago

Kristen Grimes

8.9

Honey sweetness that's not overpowering, a round pleasing body with low acidity, perfect for dessert pairing or alone. — 4 years ago

Malcolm Trimble

9.4

Beautiful golden color. Intense fruit on the nose followed by the same on the palate-lychee pear melon honey. Touch of sugar. A great Alsace Gewurtztraminer!! — 5 years ago

Rich Mueller

9.4

What do you think? — 6 years ago

B

10

1985 Lopez de Heredia Temperanillo. Lunch at Coq SF for A&S’ anniversary. Decanted for an hour before drinking. Excellent. Not too long a finish, but very soft and no hard end to the finish. Balanced and really delicious. — 7 years ago