Urbina Crianza Blanco 2016

Urbina Crianza Blanco, Rioja, Spain, 2016  

Grapes: Single vineyard wine (Valle de Angel) produced from 100% Viura (Macabeo), aged for 6 months in French & American oak.

A rare white, Crianza Rioja from Bodegas Urbina with considerable bottle ageing.

Producer Tasting Note:

Straw yellow colour with a steely edge and greenish tones. Luminous and very bright appearance. Dense alcohol "legs" with a slow fall. Nose of medium intensity dominated by stone fruits, melon and ripe citrus fruits with hints of jasmine, fennel and notes of sweetness in the background. Hints of aniseed and herbs, subtle notes of white fruit and hints of citrus and some pastries. Good volume on entry into the mouth. On the palate, it has volume, a certain unctuousness, while being fresh and light, with good acidity. Medium length with aniseed hints. In attack, it is sweet, fruity and of good ripeness, with hints of apricot, melon and grapefruit with honeyed notes, on a background of fennel bulb, hay and white flowers. Tasty, balanced and fresh mid-palate, with a frank aftertaste and pleasantly bitter nuances.

Urbina, a family-owned, single estate winery, has a winemaking history spanning 150 years. The bodega is situated in Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón, on the north-western edge of the region.

Critic's Tasting Note:

"Youthful for a 2016, but still made in a fairly traditional style, with ageing in an equal mix of French and American oak, this pure Viura from Cuzcurrita has flavours of citrus blanched almonds and sweet spices, plenty of texture and a drizzle of honey on the finish. "

Awarded 91/100 points, Tim Atkin MW, Rioja Special Report, 2025

Food Match: Aged white Rioja, with its nutty and honeyed notes, pairs well with richer dishes like baked fish (hake), seafood (mussels, clams, lobster), paella, mature cheeses (Manchego), grilled chicken, menestra (Spanish ham & vegetable stew), white asparagus.