EN PRIMEUR
This product is currently en primeur status. Effectively, it's a pre-order with payment
required now and stock will be delivered up to 18 months later.
For more detailed arrival times please contact the store.
Urbina Rioja Crianza 2015
DOZEN: $612.00 or $51.00 each
35+ year old vines, fermented at 28 degrees in stainless and macerated 28 days before a standard ageing of 12 months in mixed US/French oak. From a truly great vintage, the Rioja-versus-Bodega conundrum is fully in play here. Is it a great tempranillo from a specific vineyard in a characteristic village, or is it the product of oak treatment in a winery? It is of course, more-or-less the best of both worlds, if you believe in having your cake and eating it too. Let's go Alice in Wonderland here.
Red currant berries in dry leaf scatter and a balsamic touch are the hallmarks of Urbina, with dried tobacco leaf, dehydrated cherry and gentle earthiness clearly locating this wine by estate characteristics. Orange peel, scrubland, incense/dark tea, whisps of lavender and fennel. The palate has great balance between estate and winery, fruit and structure. With excellent development, there's plenty of freshness for the future. Just mid-weight, with some nice dark characters, balsam and spice. There are no excesses of fruit, glycerol or oak, all work together to affect a very classy Rioja-Bordeaux.