"The Lemon zest and tart cherry flavors of this wine leave a clean feel. The wine's peppery warmth will enliven gambas al ajillo or other shellfish tapas."
- Wine & Spirits Magazine (December 2014), 88 pts + BEST BUY
- Wine & Spirits Magazine (December 2014), 88 pts + BEST BUY
"
(90% viura and 10% malvasia; raised in new French oak for three and a half months): Pale yellow. Intense aromas of fresh peach, pineapple and lemon pith complicated by floral and ginger topnotes. Juicy and expansive on the palate, with vibrant acidity giving cut and focus to the ripe pit and tropical fruit flavors. Spicy notes linger on the sappy, sharply focused finish, which leaves a bitter quinine note behind. This is a superb value in white Rioja. - Josh Raynolds"
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Sep/Oct 14), 90 pts
"
Vanilla, honeyed oak and floral aromas. Superbly balanced palate with excellent clarity and a firm mineral component showing grapefruit citrus and toasty oak. An 85/15 blend of old vine (50 years) Viura and Malvasia fermented and aged in new oak (75% French, 25% American) for 4 months with lees stirring. A precise, crystal clean wine that improves the longer it's open."
- iWineReview (Report 43: Rioja - A new Look), 90 pts
"Luis Cañas, located in Rioja Alavesa, has turned out a delicious dry white, the 2014 Rioja Blanco, made from 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia. No doubt, the latter component gives it its fragrant, floral notes, but the vibrancy of the lovely melony and currant-like fruit are all present in this delicious, dry, zesty wine that is excellent and, of course, a terrific bargain. Drink now."
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (March 2016), 87 pts - Excellent Wine Values for Under $25
"This barrel-fermented Rioja is woody and toasty up front, although exotic white-fruit aromas with a minerally boost can handle the barrel influence. Almost Burgundian in style and weight, this tastes like honey, nectarine and wood spice. Fresh acidity, generous body weight and creamy, woody stone-fruit flavors close it out."
- Wine Enthusiast (December 2015), 89 pts
"(raised in new French oak barrels for three-and-a-half months) Pale gold. Ripe pear, melon and yellow apple aromas are complemented by suggestions of pungent flowers and vanilla. Supple and seamless in the mouth, offering pliant, oak-spiced orchard and pit fruit flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. Shows very good focus and thrust on the finish, which leaves behind notes of candied citrus fruits and honey. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (May 2017), 90 pts
"Candied lime and grassy tropical elements, the palate has good weight and gathers nicely at the finish. The wood works well. Drink now."
- James Suckling (July 2017), 90 pts