We are very excited to present for the first time in Kompas’ history, and not for lack of trying, a Lopez de Heredia Rioja wine. Libraries have been written about this winery and when one hears the name Lopez on the lips of a wine professional, it is said with reverence. Established in 1877, at the very beginning of Rioja’s embrace of global commerce, the winery is still owned and run by the Lopez de Heredia family and its wines have always been estate grown in a region dominated by large wineries buying fruit from legions of small growers. Further, even with new regulations allowing “Viñedos Singulares” (Single Vineyard) wines to be indicated on a Rioja label, wines such as Viña Cubillo that have always been from a single vineyard, still only account for .37% of the total output of the region. In the case of Viña Cubillo, a world of difference exists between this organically farmed estate vineyard with decades of time-proven pedigree versus a generic Rioja assembled from fruit purchased from dozens of small growers. The old-vines field blend of 65% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo (AKA Carignan) and 5% Graciano is hand-harvested and made in a traditional, non-oak-dominated style. The wine has been lavished with time: aging for 36 months in estate-produced neutral barrels of American oak, and for more than 4 years in bottle before being released. This 2016 is the current release of Lopez’s youngest wine, a Crianza that could be labeled a Gran Reserva as Rioja DO regulations require just 12 months in barrel and six in bottle for Crianza wines and 3 years in barrel and 2 years in bottle for Gran Reserva. When put into that context the wine becomes an incredible bargain, and even more so when one realizes that the excess demand for the Lopez’ wines that have prevented our presenting them previously would easily justify a much higher price. Classic flavors of red fruits, spice and forest floor. This wine is absolutely ready to drink now, and the intention of the winery is to release wines when they are at their peak, but one could still age it further if your preferences incline to less fruitiness in your wine. We are going to wait no longer than it takes to grill ourselves a rack of lamb.