2017 Viña Cubillo Crianza, Lopez de Heredia - La Rioja

The 2017 Viña Cubillo Crianza from Bodegas R. López de Heredia hails from Rioja Alta, where Atlantic breezes and limestone-clay soils create elegant, fresh wines. Founded in 1913, this family-run estate farms around 170 hectares and is famed for its traditional, extended ageing; Cubillo spends about three years in old American oak. The 2017 vintage, shaped by spring frost and a warm summer, produced a lighter, approachable style. In the glass, expect bright cherry, red berries, liquorice and gentle spice with earthy undertones. Silky and balanced, it pairs beautifully with roast lamb, grilled vegetables, or classic Spanish tapas.