Jakub Kalinowski

9.3

You just got to love these! Oxidative, nutty, waxy. And yet, with incredible freshness and precision.
Bruised apples, pears, a touch of citrus peal, nutty notes. So complex, so distinctive.
On the palate this is just so fresh, juicy, pure, with some fruity notes but also with this vibrant salinity. So alive!
Damn, this is so good! — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Let’s get one thing clear right away: this was more about checking in on the early days of a wine that has a history of lasting for decades. Having that out of the way, it’s fun to check in on great wines in their youth, when you get the opportunity. Splash decanted sometime before service, no formal notes. The 2016 “Unico” is already showing its quality with abundant, beautifully ripened fruit and effortless elegance. That being said, having some experience with properly aged Unico, the better days (to my palate) are well ahead. Drink now if you have multiple bottles and can’t help yourself. Give it some air at least. Otherwise, better after 2036 and through 2076, probably. — 5 days ago

Roman Ochocki

9.2

My fourth vintage. Always with pleasure. — 10 hours ago

Fin Jams

9.2

Quintessential Rioja. Rounded ard the edges. Tertiary notes are out to play — 20 days ago

Hiroshi Tominaga

9.2

Complex. Dark ruby. Very good. Bought through JAL Mall for ¥8,800. — 25 days ago

John Van Trijp

9.6

100/100 Parker tasting — a month ago

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 — 2 months ago

Dave

9.2

Bashful nose, I smell some florals and woodsy stuff. Big flavors! Lush and dark, but light weight in the mouth. Plums, overripe strawberries, cocoa, cedar, licorice, a bit of mint. Lots going on, and a real bargain at $17. Decanter says 95 points. Let's not get crazy!
Listening to Bad Brains — 5 days ago

Elmars

9.2

After approximately 30–40 minutes, the wine developed favorably, exhibiting a peppery bouquet and balanced tannins. It proved an ideal accompaniment to steak at Dominic in Tallinn. — 3 hours ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.0

Puzzling. Bitter, hard, unforgiving. This should be open for business, no? — 13 days ago

Karilyn Lesassier-Van Oosten

9.1

Nice with manchego. True Rioja — 19 days ago

Roberto Carli

9.1

Writing about this wine because of the uniqueness of the bouquet on the nose. the dominating profile is of decayed flowers. Even the fruit that shines through comes in through that. it smells like walking through a cemetery in europe, quite pleasant if you forgive the morbid analogy. Wet decaying red flowers, and petrocore. Then it gives way to pleasant grippy and rustic tannins on the palate. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

When something is sooooooo good, you go back and bring in your own bottle.

This is drinking beautifully, but would be even better in 5yrs.

This started with a caramel front. After a hour decant…it’s evenly balanced fruit, florals & spice/earth. It is now elegance refined with spice and roses from my backyard.

The best version of ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, strawberries, bright cherries, pomegranate & raspberries. Dry crushed rocks-top soil, cedar shavings, tobacco, old leather, mid berry cola, hints of graphite, charcoal, just a touch of moist herbs, some clove/nutmeg, a dab of olive tapenade, tree bark puree, the most insane red & pink roses, red florals, seriously perfect acidity, balance for months, mid tension, long length and elegance that most Tempranillo doesn’t give and long sets in dry soils.

Not your average Tempranillo with the right age. It is refined.

@KobeBeef511 Tokyo

If you find yourself in Tokyo, don’t miss it! They shave fresh Wasabi. — a month ago

brando cox

9.2

21 years old. Drinking 2005 in 2026. One of the best QPR wines out there. A classic Old World Rioja offering unbelievable quality for the price. Visually, it pours a deep, dark ruby. The nose is rich with seductive burnt oak, dark berries, and smooth vanilla.
On the palate, it delivers a soft, well-balanced light-to-medium body bursting with red and black fruit, sweet cocoa, and a subtle green touch. It closes with a solid medium-plus fruity finish.
This 2005 vintage has plenty of life left to improve for years — an hour ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

10.2026. Good fruit. Bold and easy to drink. Lingers on the palate. — 8 days ago

Sean Lyons

9.5

Amazing. I guess you really do have to wait a decade for Riojas to reach their potential. This 2016 tastes right in the sweetspot - very firmly structured while showing vibrant fruit notes (plum, prunes, cranberry, currant) elevated with an incredible earthiness (mulch, leather, tobacco). This is the real deal — 20 days ago

Jan A

9.3

Lots of sediment, more evolved than we expected at the tasting group — 13 days ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.3

💯 for the privilige and the scarcity. Incomparable nose of chocolate figs, dates and raisins. Port/sherry notes! On the palate this is very lively, yet quite acidic.
To me, this is more intriguing and interesting than tasty… — a month ago

Dave

9.3

Oh, I like this. Light raspberry and crushed rock.
Listening to Son Volt and still coming down from seeing them last night. — a month ago

David White

9.4

Deep ruby colour, dark berries on nose and palate, with integrated tannins and good balance of acidity and fruits.
Nice Rioja in contrast to my usual line up.
— 2 months ago