This year's edition of the Volta a Catalunya did not stay within the confines of the Catalunya region. Instead, it traced a route through most of Spain that skirted the Rioja region on the third and fourth stages of the week long race.
Spending two days in the vicinity of Rioja certainly provided a great opportunity for the pro racers to enjoy some excellent wines. In addition to the cycling action, Rioja is also celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Ultimately, the general classification was won by Jonas Vingegaard in his early season built up to an attempt at winning his third Tour de France in July.
This edition of the Lucha Vino challenge pits the 2012 Idilico Tempranillo against the 2016 Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza.
Tale of the Tape
100% Tempranillo from the Upland vineyard in the Snipes Mountain AVA
Aged for 20 months in neutral French oak barrels.
Purchased at the winery for $22, the current vintage is also available at the winery for purchase or online for $22.
2016 Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza
65% Tempranillo
25% Garnacha
10% Graciano and Mazuelo
All grapes from Cubillo estate vineyard
Barrel aged for 3 years
Purchased at Total Wine for $29.99
Round 1. First Opening
Like it's namesake, the Idilico Tempranillo from Washington bursts into the ring featuring plenty of tertiary character. The nose leads off with notes of tobacco, olives and leather followed by dark fruit of baked plums and smoke. The palate brings more dark plum and black currants backed up with cracked pepper, leather and light menthol.
The Rioja is young and lively, bounding around the ring with a nose of plum, cherry, dried leaves and menthol. The palate follows up with more plum, tart cherries, white pepper and high intensity tannins.
The younger Rioja challenger tried to take the round with an aggressive and agile attack. However, the massive Idilico Tempranillo easily withstood the attacking strategy to take round 1.
Round 2. One Hour After Opening
Idilico might be a brute, but this luchador is not a one trick pony. The nose is evolving to show more fruit character with dark stewed plums, creamy olive loaf, smoke and herbal sage. The palate is continuing the round one power approach with black plum, black currants, cracked pepper, leather and menthol.
The Lopez de Heredia challenger is searching for any advantage while circling the ring looking for an opening to bring down Idilico. The nose is shifting to show darker fruit character of plum and black currants backed up by leather and menthol. The palate is more aligned with the early round one style with plum, tart cherries and white pepper with an addition of leather all followed with those youthfully exuberant tannins.
This round was closer as the Lopez de Heredia challenger from Rioja continued to prod and probe looking for any weakness in the defenses of Idilico. The effort was commendable, but the results were the same as round 1. The experience and power of the Idilico Tempranillo prevail to take a 2-0 lead heading to the final round of the match.
Round 3. One Day After Opening
 |
| Idilico |
Here we go with the third and final round.
Idilico is proving to be a dominant Luchador in this challenge. Let's see if our challenger from Rioja can devise a strategy to bring down the beast.
Even though Idilico has more than a decade of age, it is still going strong in round 3. The nose blasts off showing black plum, currants, leather, herbal white pepper and dried leaves. The palate remains steady with notes of black plum, currants, cracked pepper cola and menthol.
In a last ditch effort for victory, Lopez de Heredia is going for the knock out blow. The nose is shifting to feature more red fruit and floral character with red plum, crushed rose petals and olives. The palate has smoothed out a bit with red plum, tart cherry, leather, light herbal pepper and mellower tannins.
You have to admire the youthful tenacity of the Rioja challenger. It continued to look for angles and openings to take down Idilicao, but to no avail. Idilico takes round 3 and the match.
Wrap Up and Overall Observations
This was a fun match up. I was curious about the Idilico Tempranillo from 2012. Would it still have life? Or, would it be past its prime? It did not disappoint, showing plenty of fruit character along with desirable tertiary aromas and flavors.
The Lopez de Heredia was very nice. I prefer the Crianzas since they spend less time in oak, allowing the fruit character of the Tempranillo grape to show through. I will admit that I was surprised by the level of tannins in this wine.
Both highly recommended. It could be a challenge to find higher quality wines at this mid-twenty to thirty dollar price point!
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