Elegancia y sutiliza con notas clásicas de la casa. Bajo mi punto de vista, y yo suelo preferir vinos maduros, ya está listo para beber y no esperaría más. Mejor vino de España calidad precio.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark and very youthful in colour. Tobacco, spices, and leather complement the cherry and strawberry fruit profile. Orange zest finish. Lots of fruit, tannin and acidity so should cellar very well: Drink 2027-2039. Crazy value for money! 92+ points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark, sweaty, bloody fruit, old furniture, coconut flakes and dill, old, dusty bookshelf... So yes, LdH all the way. Amazing how even these small Cubillos age; still vibrating acidity, lots of fine tannins, feels youthful to be honest. Long, just slightly drying finish. Difficult, maybe impossible, to get a red wine with more personality and class for the price. 17/20
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
App: pale ruby with garnet rim Nose: medium plus intensity; aromas of Chinese yang berry, sour cherry, strawberry candy, toast, fresh red rose petal, nutmeg, leather. It's developing. Palate: dry, high acidity, high tannins with powdery texture, medium alcohol, medium body, medium flavour intensity, medium finish. Good acidity holds the wine and good with food. However, the flavour intensity isn't as well defined as expected. Less impressive on the palate than on the nose. The tannins are quite dry and a little stand-out for me. It's a good wine. Drink now, not much point to further cellaring it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Savory stewed tomato, dark berry and plum, oak, dill, mineral. M to M+ body, M+ acid, M tannins. Very good, very classic Rioja, not terribly complex but delicious; a ripe year but still more savory than fruity. 7.2-7.3/10
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rioja: This is now really in the zone in my opinion. Open und expressive from first pour with blood, barnyard, ripe red berry fruit, coconut flakes and old furniture. Still lots of energy and vibrating acidity. As usual with this producer the beautiful satiny tannins are still there as well. I don't know a better wine for the price, period. 17/20.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
3+ years after the prior: This was deeper and darker than we remembered. Savory, with good acidity. Showing nice musky black olive notes, backing up a bear suggestion of sweetness. Quite lovely over three nights. Alas, our last — but we think this should perform well for another few years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby, some browning to edge. A real Tondonia in a minor key. Good complexity, with cherry, raspberry and cranberry fruits. Then something smoky, aromatic spices, furniture polish, old church interiors. And more. Simply less concentration and intensity than a Tondonia. Tons of acidity. Medium length. Excellent value.
This is still holding up nicely. Cherries and strawberries on the nose with smoky, bell pepper, black pepper, with pine resin and cannabis pipe note. Velvety tannins, fresh acid, silky feel. The compote of cherry and plums mix with tobacco, menthol, mushroom, pepperoni and dried rose petals. Spicy, herbal, interesting, I'll check in again next year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red color with a brick halo. Lots of vanilla, smoky oak, fruitcake spices, licorice, and dark cherry aromatics. Medium-bodied. A forward wine with vanillin and dark fruits flavors. Tannins are mostly resolved. Quite complex. Good length with some refreshing acidity throughout for balance. Old style Rioja. It’s a real spice box of aromas and flavors. Delicious today though should hold over the next 3-4 years. Love the 19th century style label.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cata al lado de un Laurel 2013, 5 veces más caro Tengo que decir que esos Priorats tan concentrados no son mis preferidos pero este Cubillo le da mil patadas al Laurel. Nariz muy elegante, como a madera recién cortada o carpintería, ciruelas, maduro y jovial. Yo no creo que aguante hasta el 2040 como dicen otros por aquí, está listo para beber y en plenitud (bajo mi punto de vista). Boca pulida, acidez marcada y un deje de los buenos riojas con ese retronasal dulcón.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium dark red. Great LdH nose. It has developed into a slightly more intense version of Tondonia. Plums, antique furniture shop, thyme and leather. Dry old wood, dried herbs and black cherry flavours and a long balanced dry finish which leaves a bit of old wood and thyme on your palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic rioja. Brought all of the things that I can ID as a tempranillo or American oak and then dialed them in to perfection. Very smooth but also mouth filling. Cherry, leather vanilla, but tied together oh so well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Given the age on these at release, there's always a degree of bottle variation, but this was absolutely singing. There's a huge array of complexity due to the process; cloves, cinnamon, subtle dill and coconut (but not at all overbearing), smoke, pepper, iron... tertiary notes of tobacco and mushroom... touches of licorice adding some bitterness to the finish, but it's all held together by a bright seam of ripe cherry and red plum. The brightness of the fruit draws out and accentuates all of the earthiness, spice and territory notes. Expectedly, there are some grainy wood tannins, but it adds a textural note. Enough acid it keep it lively, although it's probably on the low end of med+... at best. I think the Cubillo is probably the most vintage dependent Heredia wine, but in strong years, it's a crazy value for a Gran Reserva at $25. Best with food but very versatile. I would drink these now on the strength of the fruit and look to the Reservas and Gran Reservas for extended aging.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just drink up now through the end of the year. Not as interesting as earlier bottles. Enjoy now and buy a few of the current release for enjoyment into next year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium garnet colour, expressive mix of primary secondary and tertiary aromas, a lot going on in the glass with layers of cherries, figs, strawberry jam, vanilla, cedar, nuts, tobacco, medium body, soft texture and somewhat pronounced acidity, ensuring more years ahead, albeit with little further improvement as the wine is already quite developed. Pleasant medium plus finish. A very good, very reliable, classic old school rioja.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby. Some spices and cured meats on the nose. Lovely wine. Like a lighter version of a fully aged Tondonia (which makes sense of course). Mostly red but some black fruits. Cranberries. Then a savoury spread of smoked meats, cedar, warm spices and more. Well balanced, fine. Pretty mature but no panic.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium garnet, lots of leather/tobacco, slightly tart cherry on the finish with a hint of blueberry pie on the finish. Tannins are barely there, with medium-low acidity. After a few minutes in the glass the acid is becoming more integrated. Given the low tannins, it's still a balanced wine for my tastes. Super classic old school Spanish vibes. Would love to drink this with a simple steak sandwich in Madrid while sitting in an old leather lounge chair.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just a great QPR on this. Secondary and tertiary notes predominate, but there’s still enough fruit to make this super enjoyable. Still surprisingly tannic, but with enough red fruit and acidity to balance everything out. Impossible to buy a wine with these characteristics at this price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Braucht längere Zeit an der Luft, am besten in der Karaffe, entfaltet sich dann aber zunehmend. Sehr frisch, prägnante Säure. Bestens mit einer cote de bouef vom Grill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of my go to everyday wines. Beautiful aromas, a mixture of red and blue fruits, floral notes, and a bit of earth. The tannins are light and the acidity is on the softer side. I would drink up.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As previous noted this is not meant for extended cellaring (always ready to drink by release), but to be consumed in some years after release, maximum 10 years of storing if perfectly stored at 14°C and 75 to 80% humidity as the producer says on his site. It is a great showing right know, if perfectly cellared and if the bottle is not flawed. But the latter didn't happen in the more than a dozen bottles I had of this vintage. And I still prefer it a bit before the 2010 which is scored higher by TWA. 5/13/17/8 -2025. This was my last bottle of the 2009.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really pleasant, think dry meaty red cherry element meets teriyaki, old wood, red apple and dried plum. Leather and strawberry too. Good acidity. I find the red apple peel aftertaste a tiny bit distracting, but still very pleasing. Good with food.
(Served with pot roast and root vegetables + horseradish.)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
See also notes from 01/20/2019. Black currants, leather, smoke, tobacco, nutmeg and soy sauce. Still performing great with intense fruit flavors. 5/12/17/8 -2023+?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Darkish red. Caramel, red fruit, green herbs, not dill, thyme and something weedy. Dry medium light green herbs, olive brine and plums in the background. A nice balanced finish.
Not the the ripe fruit driven wine it was a year or so ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Same scents and flavors as previous notes, but the nose is getting a bit less complex. Nevertheless yummy. -2023 in a textbook cellar. Otherwise time to drink it up. The 2010 is available yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The first glass was from a Coravin pull and it was very earthy and very oak influenced, leaving you looking for the fruit a bit... okay, maybe a lot. Two days later, it was a whole different story. Beautiful red fruit, mostly cherry and raspberry, with an orange peel influence. This is still traditional Rioja, so there are barrel influences, with cloves and a general spiciness, but the dill and vanilla are noticeably absent. Tertiary notes of leather, tobacco and general earthiness poke their heads out, adding complexity. Very refreshingly medium bodied, with just enough acid and tannin for structure. This goes down dangerously fast.
Drink or hold at this point, but definitely give it a little air. The difference pre and post Coravin was so marked, that I'm thinking that a partial glass Conavin extraction, in place of decanting, might be a thing. Could be specific to these wines, as they are a stylistic outlier, but it made a huge improvement. 89 on day one... 92ish post Coravin. Insane bargain / value.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitely liked this vintage more than the 2005. Redcurrant, leather, cigar box on the nose. Dry, medium tannins, medium plus acidity, medium alcohol. Acidity is pronounced but not overwhelmingly. You can feel some maturity on this but there's enough fruit and acid for further development. Drink now till 2030.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Even on the low end, a classic. This really needs 30-60 minutes to start to open up and then it just keeps unfurling from there and never really seems to stop. The fruit reads tart and red, with a slightly dried quality to it...but aged, not punish. Dried orange peel. This is riddled with oak notes, but never reads as "oaky". This bottle showed a ton of fresh anise, which at time could go full licorice, but it was complimented by nutmeg, cloves, a touch of cinnamon and some occasional vanilla... but not high toast glop. Smoke, sure. A touch of rye or dill, yup. The tannins rise up a bit on the finish and feel more wood driven and serve as more of an anchor. Medium+ acid for lift. This is a ton of complexity for $25, even if it requires a very old world leaning palate.
Day two, the earthier elements receded a bit, bringing the fruit and spice to the fore. Greater intensity all around. Delicious wine that I think has a lot of positive upside.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I last had a chance to try this Crianza in its 2001 instantiation. I remember marking it for its remarkable pairing with my dinner that night. This 2009 hasn't changed much over the past three days. It's simple with red cherry and raspberry fruit flavors that entwine with bracing acidity on a lovely baseline palate of freshness and balance. Some dusty tannin shows in the finish, which seems short at this point. I very much appreciate the vegetal qualities that appear on the mid-palate, but mostly I'm impressed by the transparency and freshness to this now 10 year old wine. I can only see this improving over the coming half to full decade.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great QPR. Red core with brown rim. Chocolate, coconut, vanilla combined with red fruits. Nice acidity and soft tannin. Had this with lamb kofta and it was a treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fat, fat, fat (vanilj) överallt. Körsbär, tomat och en knippe oidentifierade örter. Känsla av smält smör i munnen vilket jag förknippar med fat. Gott men med löjliga mängder fat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not a wine that will make it to 2040. Decent wine but not a great value (for Riojas). Had side by side with 2009 Olarra Clasico Reserva that was less expensive and far better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A really solid showing here. Aromas of juicy cherries and strawberries, with lots of menthol, black pepper, bell pepper, with some tobacco and soy. Silky on the palate but still some moderate, dusty tannins and zippy acidity. Cherry and red plum compote mixes well with complex, savory, saucy notes of pepper, leather, soy, chewing tobacco, along with rose potpourri and earth. Complex, harmonious, not super deep or complex for a long cellar life ahead, but it's in a great spot and very expressive and delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took to a poker game, didn't take formal notes, but exceeded my expectations of my general impressions of the Cubillo Crianza. Bold red fruits, tart acidity, and tons of oak spice. I enjoyed it with some chill powder dry rub beef ribs, the crowd did too. Will try to get more, especially at the $25 proce tag (Wine Merchant Cary). Price gets it to an A- (90) eval IMO.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose is beautiful, notes of grape leaf, oak, cherries and vanilla. Palate is balanced and acidic with more grape leaves, tobacco, new leather, blackberries and raspberries. In a really good place now; pair it with a roast pork shoulder and pickles.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seems to be quite a bit of bottle variation on these. This one was quite dried out and austere with very muted fruit.. neither improved or declined over three days.. Starting to doubt these..
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Shared this bottle amid some new world wines to showcase the difference. Medium ruby color and translucent, this bottle came across as fairly advanced. Some sultana raisin, tobacco, and library must did add some interest. A little austere relative to the crowd, but with good balance overall. I see this as a drink now wine, knowing that it will continue to develop over the next 10 years, but if my bottle is representative, they’ll be OtH by then.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic PnP. Great red fruit acidity, beautiful earthy nose. Gives me the impression that this is just entering its window at 10 yrs. This might not be your go to wine, but if you love rioja in good vintages at a great price this is beautiful. Again, this has fantastic fruit flavors with secondary notes coming in, while strong tannins are still present and drying on the finish. Great stuff, this was a gift, and now I'm searching for more. Will get better with time. Be patient if this is your style.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red. Medium intense nose, antique store, hardwood floors and black cherry fruit. More like a Tondonia then previous bottles. Balanced secondary flavours , some earth, black cherry and spice. The finish is starting to soften a bit but there is still a fair bit of acid.
This bottle is quite a bit more advanced the previous bottles.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Same scents and flavors as on 01/20/2019. In the face of the evolution of the 2008 it is clearer to me, that this is meant to be consumed by release with some years to hold through. So the drinking window given by Luis Gutiérrez 2018-2023 from the WA is the most reasonable of the professional writers to me. This is my second bottle of this vintage and it is the best that they have ever produced of the cubillo in my opinion. If you've drunk wine that is three to six fold the price of this cuvée and with good price&/quality-Ratio (and with an outstanding score) and then you go to this cuvée you probably feel no drop in quality. 5/13/17/8 -2023. This isn't achieving an outstanding score, because of its small drinking window and its low aging potential .../8.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clay-ey red brick aromas. Really suave and filled in. No herbal notes to the nose, as the vintage shows a more generous aroma. Palate is still acid forward, maybe not as complex without that herb, traded for more fruit purity. ripe red cherry, dark cherry palate. This is a really jamming vintage. Looking forward to the 2010. Could age glacially. Buy. Buy. Buy. More nuanced fruit and texture to the palate. red plum and wild berry aromas. Medium plus body, medium minus tannin, medium plus acid.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, this wine is killer. A little tight and heavy on the American Oak upon opening. After letting it breathe in bottle for an hour the nose is just singing and in balance. Aromas of sour cherries, dark chocolate, toasted coconut, strawberry, old furniture, old leather, tobacco, and a hint of VA. The palate has wildly high acid (impressive for the 2009 vintage), and tannin is medium minus. The finish is long fresh, and clean. Just drinking beautifully now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a little disjointed straight out of the bottle and it really screams for at least an hour decant. Initially, you get a Grenache-like, tip of the tongue, hit of sweet red fruit, but then the profile quickly changes to a much more tart and dried out feeling through the mid-palate, which then takes on an earthy, slightly bitter, clove and spice finish. Classic Rioja oak notes. Not particularly intensely flavored, but very long on the finish. There's good grip from the tannins, but nothing at a level that would make this tough to drink. Great acidity keeps this super light on its feet and manages to make an older sort of profile very refreshing. This kept getting better throughout the night and should age very well on the tannin and acid, provided you like a very tertiary wine. Insane value.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is quite lovely. Beautiful lifted nose Cranberry, sour cherry flavors. Tons of mouthwatering acidity that still stays in check, and keeps you coming back for more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A restaurant by-the-glass purchase, from a half empty bottle - possibly open since the previous night? Big smoky oak with some ripe black and blueberry fruit. Good palate, feeling nicely integrated. Good acidity keeps it all in balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sandwiched between an earthy Priorat and a lush CVNE, the Cubillo's higher-than-average acidity made me wish we'd decanted this wine. Definitely a food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This seems to have shed some of It's ripeness. Now a much more typical LdH wine. Medium dark red. Traditional nose, plums, berry, leather and antique store. Dry earthy plum flavours and a pretty resolved finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red fruit and hot brick aromas. That is just really, really good. Enough fruit to balance the savory. Generous acid. The other red wines just get more savory from this point. Medium minus tannin, medium plus acid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: The nose is pure, unadulterated, classic Rioja with sour red cherries, sour berries, raspberries, vanilla, dill, cedar, and tobacco tones with a touch of roses.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannins. The structure is youthful with the tannins showing a bit of firmness to them. The feel is refined and elegant with sour red cherries, sour raspberries, vanilla notes, tobacco tones, roses, and cedar oak.
Overall: This is a pure baby in Lopez de Heredia terms, but it is also drinking quite beautifully too. There is an excellent sour red fruit base with distinct American oak tones wrapping themselves around it. This is extremely enjoyable right now, but with the ability to develop over the next 5-8+ years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet with orange and amber tinted rim. I cannot tell you how much I love the wines from this producer. They are really unique. Yes, they have high acidity, but it balances the fruit and carries it in a long complex iron flavored finish. The Cubillo 2009 is now ready to drink without decant. Complex nose of black currants, cranberries, leather, smoke, tobacco, spice and soy sauce. On the palate it shows that riesling like acidity and freshness with present but round and smooth tannin. It is so easy to drink and so animating, that it is dangerous. This is meant to be consumed with food, but for me it is great on its own as well. Suckling and Atkin gave 93 points, Parker (Gutiérrez) 92 points. 5/12/17/9 -2030+ Great bargain as well!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear medium red. Medium intense dill, caramel, freshly ground dark coffee, plum and black cherry nose. Dry earthy cherry and plum flavours Dry tannic dill finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hadn't bought Cubillo in awhile. What do you expect from Heredia? It's very good. Traditional, authentic Rioja in the Old World style. Lots of structure for Crianza (they *could* label it a Reserva anyway, after all), but showed well after about an hour of air. Even better on day two. Lovely red fruit, something a bit stewed about it, but in a pleasant way, very well-integrated oak. A little feral for Cubillo. Plenty of life left, probably better in a year or two. I dare you to find me a better Rioja for $26 in the NYC area.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is exactly what you think it's going to be. Light to medium bodied, dry, 13.5% ABv, cranberry soy tart cherry leather. Some coconut and dill. This is old school entry level wine from an amazing traditional rioja producer. It would fit in at a Spanish restaurant with your friends where no one cares what it is and also for wine dorks who try to get more cerebral with it. Very good.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Showed a very interesting combination of fruit and freshness with the developed notes of a maturing (very) traditional Rioja. Light an heavy at the same time. The food we had I would typically pair with Bojo (pork cheeks with Asian touch) but it worked very well and was so much more exciting combo. Great choice by the somm
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is not an easy wine to enjoy right now. Really tight and even acidic, with tart fruit of red currants and cranberries, strong balsamic and leathery notes, and drying tannins on the finish. Very traditional no doubt, but I wonder if this will ever turn into something truly enjoyable. Academic interest only at present. Maybe in five years’ time, or maybe never?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I enjoyed this second bottle much more than my first. There is definitely a leathery edge which in the first bottle seemed more pronounced to the point of distracting. Similar to what is found in more traditional Chianti, I tend to like this in moderation but it can be a bit much if the fruit (or other interesting non-fruit scents and flavors) isn't up to the job. Here I really paid attention and there is actually a lot of depth to this wine. I may not have given the first bottle enough air either so I suspect some time or a decant will be helpful with these.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Earthy and umami nose with hints of blackberry and sage and menthol. Slightly oxidized notes as it opens up. Palate is lively and acid-driven with underripe blackberries, leather, figs and even a hint of tomato. Medium-short finish. Enjoyable, if not life-changing with charcuterie and pork ragu.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black cherry and berry throughout with some leather, black pepper, cooked mushroom. Still on the firm/ austere side with fairly assertive acidity, but also the fruit to maintain balance. Good+ length and weight. Good now, better in a few more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark cl3ar red. Bright intense black berry fruit in the beginning, develops in the glass and begins to show notes of antique furniture, black cherry and dried mushrooms. Long dry tannic finish.
Could improve.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep red. Dark fruit and antique desk drawer. Hints of pepper and earth, slightly ripe with herb and cigar box. Quite complex. Dry black cherry and old wood flavours and a dry herbal finish.
My first Cubillo after many Tondonia and I definitely love this as much.
Medium to light-ish body. I don't know that I would have picked rioja if I tasted this blind as I didn't pick up many of the signature notes that one would find in a high quality offering or certainly of a reserva, e.g. That said, a good quaff that works very well with a variety of food, good but not overwhelming acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP for this blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo.
Pale Garnet with orange in the rim. Complex aromas of cherry and plums, olives, restrained hints of oak and pepper. Medium-Full bodied, chamois texture, savory on the palate. Juicy plums and citrus peel on entry, with hints of wood in the mid-palate and a lengthy, structured finish of dark fruit.
The intensity of the acidity is a bit odd at first, but mellows a bit with time in glass.
Lovely, dark, savory, complex.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium garnet. Plum, tart cherry, butter and peach pit/almond on the nose, not showing much age. Dry, with fairly high acidity, soft tannins. In terms of fruit, the palate mirrors the nose very nicely. I love the restrained freshness and purity of the fruit; the only thing that throws me off a bit is the level of acidity, which I find to be a bit on the high side for my taste. Still, this is a terrific value, and in no danger of fading anytime soon.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had a glass last night at Heirloom Cafe, here in San Francsico. No specific notes, but my general impression was quite positive. I'm not a big Rijoa drinker, but I found this wine to be both enjoyable and intriguing, and worth purchasing for home consumption. Flavors were medium rich and worked quite well when served along side a wonderful plate of potato gnocchi, braised lamb shoulder, English peas and mint.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I usually don't really like this bottling or young Lopez de Heredia, but damn this is drinking amazingly right now. Dark color with a touch of bricking at the rim. The nose blasts leather, shoe polish, vanilla, sweet & sour pork, plum, dried strawberry, pickle brine, and dried cherries. The palate had the requisite tannin and acid with a fairly lengthy finish. Loved this! Way over delivered.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/11/2024 - Gerhard3 Likes this wine:
Typical Tondonia wood. Medium volume, high density and dark fruit combined with high acidity. Good tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2023 - GonzaloManzaneda Likes this wine: 91 Points
Elegancia y sutiliza con notas clásicas de la casa. Bajo mi punto de vista, y yo suelo preferir vinos maduros, ya está listo para beber y no esperaría más. Mejor vino de España calidad precio.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2023 - Tor Ivar Likes this wine: 97 Points
Utmerket til biff bearnaise!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2023 - BoxerBee Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark and very youthful in colour. Tobacco, spices, and leather complement the cherry and strawberry fruit profile. Orange zest finish. Lots of fruit, tannin and acidity so should cellar very well: Drink 2027-2039. Crazy value for money! 92+ points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2023 - ploher wrote:
Dark, sweaty, bloody fruit, old furniture, coconut flakes and dill, old, dusty bookshelf... So yes, LdH all the way. Amazing how even these small Cubillos age; still vibrating acidity, lots of fine tannins, feels youthful to be honest. Long, just slightly drying finish. Difficult, maybe impossible, to get a red wine with more personality and class for the price. 17/20
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2022 - Jason Wu Likes this wine: 88 Points
App: pale ruby with garnet rim
Nose: medium plus intensity; aromas of Chinese yang berry, sour cherry, strawberry candy, toast, fresh red rose petal, nutmeg, leather. It's developing.
Palate: dry, high acidity, high tannins with powdery texture, medium alcohol, medium body, medium flavour intensity, medium finish.
Good acidity holds the wine and good with food. However, the flavour intensity isn't as well defined as expected. Less impressive on the palate than on the nose. The tannins are quite dry and a little stand-out for me. It's a good wine. Drink now, not much point to further cellaring it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2022 - John Dunlap wrote: flawed
Corked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2022 - tadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark fruit and plum but very dry tannins. Needed some rich food to offset. Medium finish. Many years left
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2022 - afields wrote:
Savory stewed tomato, dark berry and plum, oak, dill, mineral. M to M+ body, M+ acid, M tannins. Very good, very classic Rioja, not terribly complex but delicious; a ripe year but still more savory than fruity. 7.2-7.3/10
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2022 - ploher wrote:
Rioja: This is now really in the zone in my opinion. Open und expressive from first pour with blood, barnyard, ripe red berry fruit, coconut flakes and old furniture. Still lots of energy and vibrating acidity. As usual with this producer the beautiful satiny tannins are still there as well. I don't know a better wine for the price, period. 17/20.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2021 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
3+ years after the prior: This was deeper and darker than we remembered. Savory, with good acidity. Showing nice musky black olive notes, backing up a bear suggestion of sweetness. Quite lovely over three nights. Alas, our last — but we think this should perform well for another few years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2021 - Scott_in_London Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nice balance of subtle fruit and secondary flavours. A fair bit of the fruit agent by the second night, however.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2021 - cannym Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ruby, some browning to edge. A real Tondonia in a minor key. Good complexity, with cherry, raspberry and cranberry fruits. Then something smoky, aromatic spices, furniture polish, old church interiors. And more. Simply less concentration and intensity than a Tondonia. Tons of acidity. Medium length. Excellent value.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
3/9/2021 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 Points
This is still holding up nicely. Cherries and strawberries on the nose with smoky, bell pepper, black pepper, with pine resin and cannabis pipe note. Velvety tannins, fresh acid, silky feel. The compote of cherry and plums mix with tobacco, menthol, mushroom, pepperoni and dried rose petals. Spicy, herbal, interesting, I'll check in again next year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2021 - VinhoVerde Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium red color with a brick halo. Lots of vanilla, smoky oak, fruitcake spices, licorice, and dark cherry aromatics. Medium-bodied. A forward wine with vanillin and dark fruits flavors. Tannins are mostly resolved. Quite complex. Good length with some refreshing acidity throughout for balance.
Old style Rioja. It’s a real spice box of aromas and flavors. Delicious today though should hold over the next 3-4 years. Love the 19th century style label.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2021 - GonzaloManzaneda Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cata al lado de un Laurel 2013, 5 veces más caro
Tengo que decir que esos Priorats tan concentrados no son mis preferidos pero este Cubillo le da mil patadas al Laurel.
Nariz muy elegante, como a madera recién cortada o carpintería, ciruelas, maduro y jovial.
Yo no creo que aguante hasta el 2040 como dicen otros por aquí, está listo para beber y en plenitud (bajo mi punto de vista).
Boca pulida, acidez marcada y un deje de los buenos riojas con ese retronasal dulcón.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2020 - bemeyer wrote:
Drink next bottle on 2024 or later
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2020 - David J Cooper wrote: 92 Points
Medium dark red. Great LdH nose. It has developed into a slightly more intense version of Tondonia. Plums, antique furniture shop, thyme and leather. Dry old wood, dried herbs and black cherry flavours and a long balanced dry finish which leaves a bit of old wood and thyme on your palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2020 - whitejones Likes this wine: 90 Points
Surprisingly good. High acid, some tannins, but a bit young and might mellow with age. Notes of cherry, robust ripe plum.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2020 - jdkrabbe wrote: 99 Points
Fantastic rioja. Brought all of the things that I can ID as a tempranillo or American oak and then dialed them in to perfection. Very smooth but also mouth filling. Cherry, leather vanilla, but tied together oh so well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2020 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 93 Points
Given the age on these at release, there's always a degree of bottle variation, but this was absolutely singing. There's a huge array of complexity due to the process; cloves, cinnamon, subtle dill and coconut (but not at all overbearing), smoke, pepper, iron... tertiary notes of tobacco and mushroom... touches of licorice adding some bitterness to the finish, but it's all held together by a bright seam of ripe cherry and red plum. The brightness of the fruit draws out and accentuates all of the earthiness, spice and territory notes. Expectedly, there are some grainy wood tannins, but it adds a textural note. Enough acid it keep it lively, although it's probably on the low end of med+... at best. I think the Cubillo is probably the most vintage dependent Heredia wine, but in strong years, it's a crazy value for a Gran Reserva at $25. Best with food but very versatile. I would drink these now on the strength of the fruit and look to the Reservas and Gran Reservas for extended aging.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2020 - John Dunlap Likes this wine:
Just drink up now through the end of the year. Not as interesting as earlier bottles. Enjoy now and buy a few of the current release for enjoyment into next year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2020 - cannym wrote: 85 Points
This bottle or me just wasn't quite as good as the last one. Not giving much away on nose or palate, bit thin and acidic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2020 - epicurealist Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium garnet colour, expressive mix of primary secondary and tertiary aromas, a lot going on in the glass with layers of cherries, figs, strawberry jam, vanilla, cedar, nuts, tobacco, medium body, soft texture and somewhat pronounced acidity, ensuring more years ahead, albeit with little further improvement as the wine is already quite developed. Pleasant medium plus finish. A very good, very reliable, classic old school rioja.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2020 - cannym Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ruby. Some spices and cured meats on the nose. Lovely wine. Like a lighter version of a fully aged Tondonia (which makes sense of course). Mostly red but some black fruits. Cranberries. Then a savoury spread of smoked meats, cedar, warm spices and more. Well balanced, fine. Pretty mature but no panic.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2020 - IDKDavid Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium garnet, lots of leather/tobacco, slightly tart cherry on the finish with a hint of blueberry pie on the finish. Tannins are barely there, with medium-low acidity. After a few minutes in the glass the acid is becoming more integrated. Given the low tannins, it's still a balanced wine for my tastes. Super classic old school Spanish vibes. Would love to drink this with a simple steak sandwich in Madrid while sitting in an old leather lounge chair.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2020 - smorris291 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Just a great QPR on this. Secondary and tertiary notes predominate, but there’s still enough fruit to make this super enjoyable. Still surprisingly tannic, but with enough red fruit and acidity to balance everything out. Impossible to buy a wine with these characteristics at this price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2020 - christopher.j.braun@gmail.com wrote:
This is a test
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2020 - Basti wrote: 90 Points
Braucht längere Zeit an der Luft, am besten in der Karaffe, entfaltet sich dann aber zunehmend. Sehr frisch, prägnante Säure. Bestens mit einer cote de bouef vom Grill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2020 - Maphill01 wrote:
Earthy red fruit on the nose and palate. Tannins fully resolved. Oak and leather with a tart cherry finish. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2020 - Saxman1984 wrote:
One of my go to everyday wines. Beautiful aromas, a mixture of red and blue fruits, floral notes, and a bit of earth. The tannins are light and the acidity is on the softer side. I would drink up.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2020 - Caruso Likes this wine: 93 Points
As previous noted this is not meant for extended cellaring (always ready to drink by release), but to be consumed in some years after release, maximum 10 years of storing if perfectly stored at 14°C and 75 to 80% humidity as the producer says on his site. It is a great showing right know, if perfectly cellared and if the bottle is not flawed. But the latter didn't happen in the more than a dozen bottles I had of this vintage. And I still prefer it a bit before the 2010 which is scored higher by TWA. 5/13/17/8 -2025. This was my last bottle of the 2009.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2020 - Panchoricardo Likes this wine: 90 Points
A great ruminative wine, singing with acidity. Long and complex, but tannins have almost vanished which may affect longevity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2020 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really pleasant, think dry meaty red cherry element meets teriyaki, old wood, red apple and dried plum. Leather and strawberry too. Good acidity. I find the red apple peel aftertaste a tiny bit distracting, but still very pleasing. Good with food.
(Served with pot roast and root vegetables + horseradish.)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2020 - NickEnro Likes this wine: 90 Points
Licorice/anise, tar/smoke, dill, redcurrant. More acidic than I expected. Somewhere in between maturity and youth right now. Good stuff!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2020 - Caruso Likes this wine: 92 Points
See also notes from 01/20/2019. Black currants, leather, smoke, tobacco, nutmeg and soy sauce. Still performing great with intense fruit flavors. 5/12/17/8 -2023+?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2020 - David J Cooper wrote: 88 Points
Darkish red. Caramel, red fruit, green herbs, not dill, thyme and something weedy. Dry medium light green herbs, olive brine and plums in the background. A nice balanced finish.
Not the the ripe fruit driven wine it was a year or so ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2020 - Caruso Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same scents and flavors as previous notes, but the nose is getting a bit less complex. Nevertheless yummy. -2023 in a textbook cellar. Otherwise time to drink it up. The 2010 is available yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2020 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A very good Rioja crianza for the price. I wish more of these were easily available. Still, looking forward to drinking the 2010 Cubillo.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2020 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 91 Points
The first glass was from a Coravin pull and it was very earthy and very oak influenced, leaving you looking for the fruit a bit... okay, maybe a lot. Two days later, it was a whole different story. Beautiful red fruit, mostly cherry and raspberry, with an orange peel influence. This is still traditional Rioja, so there are barrel influences, with cloves and a general spiciness, but the dill and vanilla are noticeably absent. Tertiary notes of leather, tobacco and general earthiness poke their heads out, adding complexity. Very refreshingly medium bodied, with just enough acid and tannin for structure. This goes down dangerously fast.
Drink or hold at this point, but definitely give it a little air. The difference pre and post Coravin was so marked, that I'm thinking that a partial glass Conavin extraction, in place of decanting, might be a thing. Could be specific to these wines, as they are a stylistic outlier, but it made a huge improvement. 89 on day one... 92ish post Coravin. Insane bargain / value.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2020 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 90 Points
Definitely liked this vintage more than the 2005. Redcurrant, leather, cigar box on the nose. Dry, medium tannins, medium plus acidity, medium alcohol. Acidity is pronounced but not overwhelmingly. You can feel some maturity on this but there's enough fruit and acid for further development. Drink now till 2030.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2019 - nzinkgraf wrote:
dark red fruit palate, not overly mature or herbal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2019 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 91 Points
Even on the low end, a classic. This really needs 30-60 minutes to start to open up and then it just keeps unfurling from there and never really seems to stop. The fruit reads tart and red, with a slightly dried quality to it...but aged, not punish. Dried orange peel. This is riddled with oak notes, but never reads as "oaky". This bottle showed a ton of fresh anise, which at time could go full licorice, but it was complimented by nutmeg, cloves, a touch of cinnamon and some occasional vanilla... but not high toast glop. Smoke, sure. A touch of rye or dill, yup. The tannins rise up a bit on the finish and feel more wood driven and serve as more of an anchor. Medium+ acid for lift. This is a ton of complexity for $25, even if it requires a very old world leaning palate.
Day two, the earthier elements receded a bit, bringing the fruit and spice to the fore. Greater intensity all around. Delicious wine that I think has a lot of positive upside.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2019 - saintpauliaally Likes this wine:
Buy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2019 - Nyllet wrote: 89 Points
Elegant nose. Lovely structure with integrated acidity and tannic bite on the after taste. Cherries, murky wood and spices.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2019 - z_willus_d wrote: 90 Points
I last had a chance to try this Crianza in its 2001 instantiation. I remember marking it for its remarkable pairing with my dinner that night. This 2009 hasn't changed much over the past three days. It's simple with red cherry and raspberry fruit flavors that entwine with bracing acidity on a lovely baseline palate of freshness and balance. Some dusty tannin shows in the finish, which seems short at this point. I very much appreciate the vegetal qualities that appear on the mid-palate, but mostly I'm impressed by the transparency and freshness to this now 10 year old wine. I can only see this improving over the coming half to full decade.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2019 - Justinagogo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lopez的酒特征还是很明显,像是里奥哈的罗纳河谷,走向了一个咸香Brett/Fur/Earthy的极端(褒义),晃杯以后开始有二级香气的桶香(但并非同一天喝的橡树河畔Vina Ardanza那么甜美的Coconut)整体还是Fur/Earthy为主
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2019 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
How is this so good already? Tangy, wild, complex, authentic stuff. A good match for paella.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2019 - Gujh Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great QPR. Red core with brown rim. Chocolate, coconut, vanilla combined with red fruits. Nice acidity and soft tannin. Had this with lamb kofta and it was a treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2019 - NickEnro wrote: 88 Points
Fat, fat, fat (vanilj) överallt. Körsbär, tomat och en knippe oidentifierade örter. Känsla av smält smör i munnen vilket jag förknippar med fat. Gott men med löjliga mängder fat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2019 - Slammin Sammie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very enjoyable. Would definitely buy this one again.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2019 - elevwine wrote: 87 Points
Not a wine that will make it to 2040. Decent wine but not a great value (for Riojas). Had side by side with 2009 Olarra Clasico Reserva that was less expensive and far better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2019 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 Points
A really solid showing here. Aromas of juicy cherries and strawberries, with lots of menthol, black pepper, bell pepper, with some tobacco and soy. Silky on the palate but still some moderate, dusty tannins and zippy acidity. Cherry and red plum compote mixes well with complex, savory, saucy notes of pepper, leather, soy, chewing tobacco, along with rose potpourri and earth. Complex, harmonious, not super deep or complex for a long cellar life ahead, but it's in a great spot and very expressive and delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2019 - WineKnurd Likes this wine: 90 Points
Took to a poker game, didn't take formal notes, but exceeded my expectations of my general impressions of the Cubillo Crianza. Bold red fruits, tart acidity, and tons of oak spice. I enjoyed it with some chill powder dry rub beef ribs, the crowd did too. Will try to get more, especially at the $25 proce tag (Wine Merchant Cary). Price gets it to an A- (90) eval IMO.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2019 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent, relatively inexpensive, Rioja. Ruby, nose of spice, wood, light tannins, good mid-range and finish. What's not to like.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2019 - mattym19 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose is beautiful, notes of grape leaf, oak, cherries and vanilla. Palate is balanced and acidic with more grape leaves, tobacco, new leather, blackberries and raspberries. In a really good place now; pair it with a roast pork shoulder and pickles.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2019 - matage wrote: 87 Points
Seems to be quite a bit of bottle variation on these. This one was quite dried out and austere with very muted fruit.. neither improved or declined over three days.. Starting to doubt these..
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2019 - jviz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very rustic, old world style. Good acidity and grip, but this bottle showed a little pruney. I wouldn't wait more than 5 years personally.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2019 - jviz wrote: 90 Points
Shared this bottle amid some new world wines to showcase the difference. Medium ruby color and translucent, this bottle came across as fairly advanced. Some sultana raisin, tobacco, and library must did add some interest. A little austere relative to the crowd, but with good balance overall. I see this as a drink now wine, knowing that it will continue to develop over the next 10 years, but if my bottle is representative, they’ll be OtH by then.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2019 - zanzabar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fantastic PnP. Great red fruit acidity, beautiful earthy nose. Gives me the impression that this is just entering its window at 10 yrs. This might not be your go to wine, but if you love rioja in good vintages at a great price this is beautiful.
Again, this has fantastic fruit flavors with secondary notes coming in, while strong tannins are still present and drying on the finish.
Great stuff, this was a gift, and now I'm searching for more. Will get better with time. Be patient if this is your style.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2019 - David J Cooper wrote: 92 Points
Medium red. Medium intense nose, antique store, hardwood floors and black cherry fruit. More like a Tondonia then previous bottles. Balanced secondary flavours , some earth, black cherry and spice. The finish is starting to soften a bit but there is still a fair bit of acid.
This bottle is quite a bit more advanced the previous bottles.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2019 - bemeyer wrote:
Needs a long decant or more bottle age. Great flavors but needs to mellow and come together. Drink next bottle after 2020
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/10/2019 - Caruso Likes this wine: 93 Points
Same scents and flavors as on 01/20/2019. In the face of the evolution of the 2008 it is clearer to me, that this is meant to be consumed by release with some years to hold through. So the drinking window given by Luis Gutiérrez 2018-2023 from the WA is the most reasonable of the professional writers to me. This is my second bottle of this vintage and it is the best that they have ever produced of the cubillo in my opinion. If you've drunk wine that is three to six fold the price of this cuvée and with good price&/quality-Ratio (and with an outstanding score) and then you go to this cuvée you probably feel no drop in quality. 5/13/17/8 -2023. This isn't achieving an outstanding score, because of its small drinking window and its low aging potential .../8.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2019 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Tart red cherry aromas. Great vintage for this wine. Some earth, vitamin, granite mineral notes. Medium fine tannin. Drink to 2040.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2019 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Clay-ey red brick aromas. Really suave and filled in. No herbal notes to the nose, as the vintage shows a more generous aroma. Palate is still acid forward, maybe not as complex without that herb, traded for more fruit purity. ripe red cherry, dark cherry palate. This is a really jamming vintage. Looking forward to the 2010. Could age glacially. Buy. Buy. Buy.
More nuanced fruit and texture to the palate. red plum and wild berry aromas. Medium plus body, medium minus tannin, medium plus acid.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2019 - Wine Canuck wrote: 93 Points
Wow, this wine is killer. A little tight and heavy on the American Oak upon opening. After letting it breathe in bottle for an hour the nose is just singing and in balance. Aromas of sour cherries, dark chocolate, toasted coconut, strawberry, old furniture, old leather, tobacco, and a hint of VA. The palate has wildly high acid (impressive for the 2009 vintage), and tannin is medium minus. The finish is long fresh, and clean. Just drinking beautifully now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2019 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good, but needs a little longer in bottle. Good with food (something to counter the wine's acidity).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2019 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 92 Points
This was a little disjointed straight out of the bottle and it really screams for at least an hour decant. Initially, you get a Grenache-like, tip of the tongue, hit of sweet red fruit, but then the profile quickly changes to a much more tart and dried out feeling through the mid-palate, which then takes on an earthy, slightly bitter, clove and spice finish. Classic Rioja oak notes. Not particularly intensely flavored, but very long on the finish. There's good grip from the tannins, but nothing at a level that would make this tough to drink. Great acidity keeps this super light on its feet and manages to make an older sort of profile very refreshing. This kept getting better throughout the night and should age very well on the tannin and acid, provided you like a very tertiary wine. Insane value.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2019 - cos65 Likes this wine:
This is quite lovely.
Beautiful lifted nose
Cranberry, sour cherry flavors.
Tons of mouthwatering acidity that still stays in check, and keeps you coming back for more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2019 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 89 Points
A restaurant by-the-glass purchase, from a half empty bottle - possibly open since the previous night?
Big smoky oak with some ripe black and blueberry fruit.
Good palate, feeling nicely integrated. Good acidity keeps it all in balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2019 - FLI Likes this wine: 87 Points
A bit on the acidic side. “Good with food”, as they say.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Sandwiched between an earthy Priorat and a lush CVNE, the Cubillo's higher-than-average acidity made me wish we'd decanted this wine. Definitely a food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2019 - David J Cooper wrote: 92 Points
This seems to have shed some of It's ripeness. Now a much more typical LdH wine. Medium dark red. Traditional nose, plums, berry, leather and antique store. Dry earthy plum flavours and a pretty resolved finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2019 - SteveG wrote: 91 Points
From memory in a non-tasting setting, first bottle of this vintage, seemed typical and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2019 - diggydan wrote: 92 Points
Fruity big cherries. Lots of earth and leather. $55 at Bucks
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2019 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Red fruit and hot brick aromas. That is just really, really good. Enough fruit to balance the savory. Generous acid. The other red wines just get more savory from this point. Medium minus tannin, medium plus acid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2019 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
Nose: The nose is pure, unadulterated, classic Rioja with sour red cherries, sour berries, raspberries, vanilla, dill, cedar, and tobacco tones with a touch of roses.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannins. The structure is youthful with the tannins showing a bit of firmness to them. The feel is refined and elegant with sour red cherries, sour raspberries, vanilla notes, tobacco tones, roses, and cedar oak.
Overall: This is a pure baby in Lopez de Heredia terms, but it is also drinking quite beautifully too. There is an excellent sour red fruit base with distinct American oak tones wrapping themselves around it. This is extremely enjoyable right now, but with the ability to develop over the next 5-8+ years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2019 - Caruso Likes this wine: 93 Points
Garnet with orange and amber tinted rim. I cannot tell you how much I love the wines from this producer. They are really unique. Yes, they have high acidity, but it balances the fruit and carries it in a long complex iron flavored finish. The Cubillo 2009 is now ready to drink without decant. Complex nose of black currants, cranberries, leather, smoke, tobacco, spice and soy sauce. On the palate it shows that riesling like acidity and freshness with present but round and smooth tannin. It is so easy to drink and so animating, that it is dangerous. This is meant to be consumed with food, but for me it is great on its own as well. Suckling and Atkin gave 93 points, Parker (Gutiérrez) 92 points. 5/12/17/9 -2030+ Great bargain as well!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2019 - David J Cooper wrote: 90 Points
Clear medium red. Medium intense dill, caramel, freshly ground dark coffee, plum and black cherry nose. Dry earthy cherry and plum flavours Dry tannic dill finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2018 - diggydan wrote: 91 Points
Burly. Big flavors of dark cherry and dill pickle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2018 - jps3@columbia.edu Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very nice classic Rioja. Freshness comes through on this well balanced wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2018 - jhbrower1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Hadn't bought Cubillo in awhile. What do you expect from Heredia? It's very good. Traditional, authentic Rioja in the Old World style. Lots of structure for Crianza (they *could* label it a Reserva anyway, after all), but showed well after about an hour of air. Even better on day two. Lovely red fruit, something a bit stewed about it, but in a pleasant way, very well-integrated oak. A little feral for Cubillo. Plenty of life left, probably better in a year or two. I dare you to find me a better Rioja for $26 in the NYC area.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2018 - FLI Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very honest old world style. Dark, still showing some tannic structure. Very nice value rioja.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2018 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 88 Points
This wine is exactly what you think it's going to be. Light to medium bodied, dry, 13.5% ABv, cranberry soy tart cherry leather. Some coconut and dill. This is old school entry level wine from an amazing traditional rioja producer. It would fit in at a Spanish restaurant with your friends where no one cares what it is and also for wine dorks who try to get more cerebral with it. Very good.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2018 - manonthemoon wrote: 87 Points
Solid wine all around nice nose, old world palate and good acidity.
kind of what you would expect from this wineries entry point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2018 - BSA Likes this wine: 90 Points
Showed a very interesting combination of fruit and freshness with the developed notes of a maturing (very) traditional Rioja. Light an heavy at the same time. The food we had I would typically pair with Bojo (pork cheeks with Asian touch) but it worked very well and was so much more exciting combo. Great choice by the somm
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2018 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 88 Points
This is not an easy wine to enjoy right now. Really tight and even acidic, with tart fruit of red currants and cranberries, strong balsamic and leathery notes, and drying tannins on the finish. Very traditional no doubt, but I wonder if this will ever turn into something truly enjoyable. Academic interest only at present. Maybe in five years’ time, or maybe never?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2018 - sleepyhaus wrote:
I enjoyed this second bottle much more than my first. There is definitely a leathery edge which in the first bottle seemed more pronounced to the point of distracting. Similar to what is found in more traditional Chianti, I tend to like this in moderation but it can be a bit much if the fruit (or other interesting non-fruit scents and flavors) isn't up to the job. Here I really paid attention and there is actually a lot of depth to this wine. I may not have given the first bottle enough air either so I suspect some time or a decant will be helpful with these.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:
A Couple of Days in Rioja; 11/12/2018-11/13/2018 (Haro and Logroño, Spain): Clear red. For a Heredia wine, pretty exuberantly fruity nose. Light, fresh, clear red fruit, excellent acidity, some finishing tannin. Very enjoyable now, but even this would benefit from a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2018 - mattym19 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earthy and umami nose with hints of blackberry and sage and menthol. Slightly oxidized notes as it opens up. Palate is lively and acid-driven with underripe blackberries, leather, figs and even a hint of tomato. Medium-short finish. Enjoyable, if not life-changing with charcuterie and pork ragu.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Black cherry and berry throughout with some leather, black pepper, cooked mushroom. Still on the firm/ austere side with fairly assertive acidity, but also the fruit to maintain balance. Good+ length and weight. Good now, better in a few more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2018 - jdrach Likes this wine:
Tart cherry. Needs time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2018 - David J Cooper wrote: 90 Points
Dark cl3ar red. Bright intense black berry fruit in the beginning, develops in the glass and begins to show notes of antique furniture, black cherry and dried mushrooms. Long dry tannic finish.
Could improve.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2018 - Paul D wrote: 90 Points
Trip to Rioja - Angie's 50th; 10/24/2018-10/26/2018 (Haro and surrounding area): In Haro, with tapas. Tobacco, dark, slightly leathery fruit, a touch of pleasing austerity on the palate, vibrant acidity, good length firm finish. Lots of interest here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2018 - David J Cooper wrote: 92 Points
Deep red. Dark fruit and antique desk drawer. Hints of pepper and earth, slightly ripe with herb and cigar box. Quite complex. Dry black cherry and old wood flavours and a dry herbal finish.
My first Cubillo after many Tondonia and I definitely love this as much.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
9/27/2018 - Aleks Che Likes this wine: 89 Points
CHE89+
Red berries, menthol and dry pine needles. Soft and enveloping. Excellent QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2018 - mats13 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium to light-ish body. I don't know that I would have picked rioja if I tasted this blind as I didn't pick up many of the signature notes that one would find in a high quality offering or certainly of a reserva, e.g. That said, a good quaff that works very well with a variety of food, good but not overwhelming acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2018 - daveyk39 Likes this wine: 91 Points
PNP for this blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo.
Pale Garnet with orange in the rim. Complex aromas of cherry and plums, olives, restrained hints of oak and pepper. Medium-Full bodied, chamois texture, savory on the palate. Juicy plums and citrus peel on entry, with hints of wood in the mid-palate and a lengthy, structured finish of dark fruit.
The intensity of the acidity is a bit odd at first, but mellows a bit with time in glass.
Lovely, dark, savory, complex.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2018 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Lovely again, as it was two months ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2018 - Beerzebub Likes this wine:
P&p; drinking well right away. Pungent, savory, fresh, lively, delicious; good stuff for its level; another good vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2018 - Thor hegg Likes this wine:
Veldig god til biff
Passer ikke å drikke uten mat
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2018 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Rather dark ruby. Beautifully balanced, with lovely acidity. Hints of smoke and black olives. Admirable restraint. Very enjoyable over three nights.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2018 - bjlcrucrazy wrote: 90 Points
Tried at the winery and this was surprisingly delicious at this early point !! Lovely
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2018 - Guy Des Rosiers Likes this wine: 86 Points
Medium garnet. Plum, tart cherry, butter and peach pit/almond on the nose, not showing much age. Dry, with fairly high acidity, soft tannins. In terms of fruit, the palate mirrors the nose very nicely. I love the restrained freshness and purity of the fruit; the only thing that throws me off a bit is the level of acidity, which I find to be a bit on the high side for my taste. Still, this is a terrific value, and in no danger of fading anytime soon.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2018 - TGRLU Likes this wine: 88 Points
Grill anwerfen, diesen Wein zum Steak trinken .... perfekter Sommerabend!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2018 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had a glass last night at Heirloom Cafe, here in San Francsico. No specific notes, but my general impression was quite positive. I'm not a big Rijoa drinker, but I found this wine to be both enjoyable and intriguing, and worth purchasing for home consumption. Flavors were medium rich and worked quite well when served along side a wonderful plate of potato gnocchi, braised lamb shoulder, English peas and mint.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2018 - Wine Canuck wrote: 92 Points
I usually don't really like this bottling or young Lopez de Heredia, but damn this is drinking amazingly right now. Dark color with a touch of bricking at the rim. The nose blasts leather, shoe polish, vanilla, sweet & sour pork, plum, dried strawberry, pickle brine, and dried cherries. The palate had the requisite tannin and acid with a fairly lengthy finish. Loved this! Way over delivered.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment