R. LOPEZ DE HEREDIA Rioja Blanco 'Vina Gravonia' Crianza DOCa 2016 Bottle - VERY LIMITED

Description

Viña Gravonia is an iconic white wine crafted by Bodegas López de Heredia, predominantly from the Viura grape, native to Rioja. This 2016 vintage exemplifies the estate’s dedication to tradition, showcasing extended ageing in oak barrels and in bottle before release. It opens with rich aromas of cashews, roasted almonds, saffron, and honey, complemented by hints of dried lemons and beeswax, which earned it 96 points from James Suckling. The Wine Advocate awarded it 95 points, praising its elegant freshness and subtlety, derived from 92-year-old vines and fermented with indigenous yeasts. Vinous rated it 93 points for its dry, refreshing nature and bold texture, with lingering flavours of peach and hazelnut. This exceptional wine can be enjoyed from 2025 to 2032.

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Viña Gravonia is one of the iconic white wines produced by Bodegas López de Heredia. It is made predominantly from the Viura grape variety, which is native to Rioja. Viña Gravonia is known for its distinct style, which emphasizes extended ageing in oak barrels and bottle before release. Viña Gravonia wines often exhibit a combination of nutty, toasty, and honeyed notes, along with hints of dried fruits and citrus. The oxidative aging process imparts a certain richness and depth to the wine, resulting in a unique flavour profile that sets it apart from more conventionally styled white wines.

JAMES SUCKLING 96 points
Aromas of cashews, roasted almonds, saffron, white truffles, honey, dried lemons and beeswax. Bright acidity with cream, nuts and subtle white fruit on the palate. Long and savory in nature. Such a beautiful wine with a finish that lasts a minute. Classic Lopez de Heredia and one of the best. 100% viura. Drink or hold. - Zekun Shuai, Senior Editor

THE WINE ADVOCATE 95 points
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
Drink Date: 2025 - 2032
2016 was a superb vintage in Rioja, and the 2016 Viña Gravonia Blanco, which has the cellar aroma that all the wines, especially the whites, have, due to the longer time the wines spend in barrel. The white vines in this vineyard are now 92 years old and their juice was fermented in old oak vats with indigenous yeasts. They explained, "We have never used selected yeasts." It was matured in their well-seasoned American oak barrels for four years. It's paler than any of the other whites, and it has a little less pungency, with very good freshness. It's elegant, subtle, clean and ethereal. They had good yields and a good climatic year. 42,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2022. I give these wines a conservative drinking window, but they will probably last much longer.

VINOUS 93 points
Whites from López de Heredia are legendary, and Viña Gravonia rightfully earns its place in the pantheon. The 2016 Blanco Crianza Viña Gravonia, 100% Viura sourced from the Gravonia vineyard in Rioja Alta, underwent four years of aging in old foudres followed by an additional four years in bottle. This yellow wine with a subtle golden sheen features aromas of peach and fennel, accompanied by a floral tea note and a delicate layer of oak. Dry and refreshing, it possesses a bold texture. This flavorful white lingers on the palate with a hazelnut tone. - Joaquín Hidalgo