Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza 2013

2013 was a very tough vintage when they had to discard up to 100,000 kilograms of grapes and production of most of the wines was lower; it's also the year when their father died, and they were very encouraged to make very good wines. The 2013 Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza is the entry-level red from that year, the cooler of the shortlist of 2013, 2014 and 2015 I tasted next to each other. The wine is more austere even within the style they say is their wine for the by-the-glass market. It's classical and developed with a polished palate after three years in barrel. It overdelivers for the conditions of the year. 90,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2019.

This old vineyard had its work cut out in 2013, especially given the amount of clay in the soil in a wet year, but it dealt with what the vintage threw at it. Based on Tempranillo with 25% Garnacha and 5% each of Mazuelo and Graciano, this is light, tangy and still youthful, with white pepper and pomegranate flavours and subtle wood. 2022-25