Heredia, Lopez - Vina Gravonia Blanco Crianza 2012

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "2012 was a very complete vintage in Rioja, even if it was quite dry, and the 2012 Viña Gravonia Blanco shows superbly. It's very intense, with two levels of complexity, intensity and depth above the 2013 I tasted next to it. It has the textbook aromas of lanolin, diesel, mushroom, yellow dried flowers and chamomile, with perfect ripeness. The palate is round and glyceric, quite lush, and leaves your umami-laden mouth with a salty finish. This should develop nicely in bottle, one of the best vintages of Gravonia of recent times. The wine has 12.5% alcohol and amazing acidity measures. 15,000 bottles produced. This was bottled in November 2017 after four years in American oak barrels."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Lovely aromas of vanilla, praline and pie crust. Some waxy undertones. Full-bodied and very dry on the palate with similar flavors to the aromas. Vanilla cream on the finish. Dried peach, too. Very typical, barrel-fermented white from Rioja. A classic. Drink now."