Rioja: Bodegas Altanza
Visit a unique Rioja winery and discover Altanza, a place where wine tourism goes far beyond a tour with tastings.
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2015: best 2018 to 2030.
vintage3 yrs15 yrs17 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2015 | 92/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: red cherry, dried herb, leather, balsamic
Palate: cranberry, savoury spice, fine tannin, saline
The house's entry red and arguably the best-value traditional Rioja Crianza: already complex, savoury and high-acid, drinking like many estates' Reserva.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.
How to serve Vina Cubillo Crianza
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Cubillo is the youngest red in the Lopez de Heredia range yet still spends about three years in oak, far longer than the legal Crianza minimum, making it a benchmark value traditional Rioja.
- 1947: Vina Cubillo introduced as the house Crianza
Facts
- Producer
- R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (65%), Garnacha (25%), Graciano (5%), Mazuelo (5%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 3 years in American oak barrels with biannual racking
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 18 to 28 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3 to 15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1947
Frequently asked about Vina Cubillo Crianza
What does Vina Cubillo Crianza taste like?
On the nose, red cherry, dried herb, leather, balsamic. On the palate, cranberry, savoury spice, fine tannin, saline. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a medium finish. The house's entry red and arguably the best-value traditional Rioja Crianza: already complex, savoury and high-acid, drinking like many estates' Reserva.
When should I drink Vina Cubillo Crianza?
Drink 3 to 15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Vina Cubillo Crianza?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Vina Cubillo Crianza vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Vina Cubillo Crianza?
The blend is Tempranillo (65%), Garnacha (25%), Graciano (5%), Mazuelo (5%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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