Honorio Rubio’s 2011 “Lías Finas” Rioja Crianza White was recommended in the top 10 of Eric Asimov’s Wines of the Times tasting panel article on the summer pleasures of White Rioja, entitled “Rich and Oaky, White Rioja Bends the Summer Standard.” The broad ranging look at the relatively unknown category of Rioja whites, highlighted a range of top examples, in varying styles.
The capsule review follows:
★★ HONORIO RUBIO RIOJA CRIANZA BLANCO LÍAS FINAS 2011 $30
Unusual yet balanced, with flavors of spices and tropical fruits. (Spanish Wine Exclusives, Long Island City, N.Y.)
Honorio Rubio’s long lees aged white “Lias Finas” is one of his five limited production series wines. It combines the richness of a long lees contact, barrel-aged white common in Premier and Grand Cru white Burgundy with a selection of his best high altitude Viura grapes. It’s a fresh, modern and elegantly rich style of white Rioja. [more]