Spain La Rioja Rioja R Lopez de Heredia

R Lopez de Heredia - Vina Tondonia Reserva

94 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
93 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
93 points - The Wine Advocate
R Lopez de Heredia - Vina Tondonia Reserva - 2010 - 75cl - Onshore Cellars
Spain La Rioja Rioja R Lopez de Heredia

R Lopez de Heredia - Vina Tondonia Reserva

94 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
93 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
93 points - The Wine Advocate
Vintage
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Viña Tondonia Reserva 2012 invites us to explore a Rioja red with soul. On the nose, it displays a range of ripe red fruit aromas such as cherries and plums, intertwined with nuances of vanilla and leather, the result of its long barrel aging. On the palate, it reveals an elegant maturity with spicy flavors and a silky texture that stretches towards a tenacious finish. Its complexity and balance make it a cult wine, which seduces without the need for connoisseurship.
The 2011 Viña Tondonia Reserva is darker and shows riper fruit, a rounder palate and some dusty tannins. A year of ripeness, concentration and tannin, the wine is powerful with the finesse of Tondonia. Tasting this next to the textbook 2010 Tondonia revealed how this has more muscle and a wider back and the 2010 epitomizes the finesse and elegance. 270,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2019.
The 2010 Viña Tondonia Reserva has all I expect from a Reserva from Tondonia, complexity, elegance and evolution, a developed nose with notes of forest floor and wild berries, herbs and flowers, a touch of iodine, brick dust and very fine, polished tannins. It has the seriousness and elegance of Tondonia.
The 2009 Viña Tondonia Reserva, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Mazuelo and Graciano, matured in used American oak barrels for six years. It has some toasted character, with ripe fruit, black rather than red, denoting a warm year but more restrained than the Bosconia Reserva from the same vintage. 2009 is a year of ripeness, concentration, and tannin; the wines are powerful, but here you see the finesse of Tondonia in comparison to the more rustic Viña Bosconia.
The nose of the 2008 Viña Tondonia Reserva is very elegant, fresh and with an herbal twist, starting to show the complexity of the aged wines that are sometimes still too young when they are released 10+ years from the vintage! The palate is medium-bodied, with lightness and depth, very classical with extra freshness and all that is needed for a long development in bottle. This is the more Tondonia of the two vintages I tasted side by side. There are notes of maple syrup, smoke, licorice, and crisp fruit. The palate is more austere, crunchy and reveals the chalkiness of the soils. There's more definition and precision here.
Following the appreciation of the 2007 vintage from María José López de Heredia, the red 2007 Viña Tondonia Reserva is showing great, revealing unusual finesse and elegance. The nose is a little reticent but nuanced and complex, a little shy rather than explosive. The palate is medium-bodied, and the tannins are very refined. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Viña Tondonia Reserva of recent years.
The 2005 Viña Tondonia Reserva is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from their vineyards in the meander of the Ebro River, where they have some 100 hectares of vineyards. The wine fermented in the original oak vats that are now some 140 years of age. It's clean and complex, with more freshness. The wine is very spicy and with a palate that feels very balanced, livelier than in the past. It has a long finish where the flavours are clean. Easy to drink and very pleasurable.
Type:
 Red
Country:
 Spain
Region:
 La Rioja
Appellation:
 Rioja
Producer:
 R. Lopez de Heredia
Grapes/Blend:
 Rioja Red Blend
Serving temp:
 16° - 18° C
ABV:
 13%
Pairing Sugesstions:
 Lamb, Duck, Game Birds, Hard Cheeses, Mushrooms, Grilled Meats

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Behind the bottle

R. Lopez de Heredia

R. Lopez de Heredia
R. López de Heredia is one of the oldest and most revered wineries in La Rioja, Spain, renowned for its traditional winemaking practices and exceptional wines that are...
R. López de Heredia is one of the oldest and most revered wineries in La Rioja, Spain, renowned for its traditional winemaking practices and exceptional wines that are a true reflection of the region’s terroir. Founded in 1877 by Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, the winery has remained in the family for four generations, with the current management under María José López de Heredia, among other family members.

Located in the town of Haro, López de Heredia is one of the pillars of the classic Rioja style. The winery is famous for its meticulous aging process, utilizing its vast underground cellars to age wines for much longer than most other producers in the region. Their approach includes extended barrel aging and additional years of bottle aging before release, which is significantly longer than required by Rioja's wine laws.

The portfolio includes iconic wines like Viña Tondonia, Viña Bosconia, Viña Cubillo, and Viña Gravonia. Among these, Viña Tondonia is perhaps the most famous, coming from a spectacular vineyard on the banks of the Ebro River. These wines are known for their elegance, complexity, and remarkable ability to age, developing deep, nuanced flavors over decades.

López de Heredia's wines are distinctive for their traditional vinification methods, including fermentation in large, old oak vats and the refusal to filter wines. The winery also maintains a cooperage on site, one of the few remaining in the region, where they craft and repair their own oak barrels.

The philosophy at López de Heredia centers on a deep respect for heritage, a commitment to quality, and an unyielding dedication to producing wines that speak to the soul of La Rioja. Their wines are celebrated worldwide for embodying the timeless appeal and finesse of old-world Rioja.
R. Lopez de Heredia
La Rioja

La Rioja
La Rioja is arguably Spain's most prestigious wine region, internationally renowned for its high-quality wines, particularly its refined reds. Located in northern Spain, the region benefits from a...
La Rioja is arguably Spain's most prestigious wine region, internationally renowned for its high-quality wines, particularly its refined reds. Located in northern Spain, the region benefits from a diverse climate that ranges from the cooler, wetter Atlantic influences in the west to the warmer, drier Mediterranean influences in the east, with the Ebro River playing a crucial role in moderating the climate. The Cantabrian Mountains also provide a barrier against harsh weather conditions from the north.

The region is best known for its robust, oak-aged red wines primarily made from the Tempranillo grape, which is the backbone of La Rioja's wine production. Other grapes such as Garnacha (Grenache), Graciano, and Mazuelo (Carignan) also play supporting roles in the blends. Rioja wines are classified into several categories based on their aging process: Rioja (the youngest), Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva, with the latter two requiring several years of aging in oak barrels and bottles before release.

La Rioja is divided into three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental (formerly known as Rioja Baja). Each area brings its unique characteristics to the wines. Rioja Alta is known for its old-world style wines with a balance of structure and acidity; Rioja Alavesa produces wines with a full-bodied and aromatic profile due to its limestone-rich soils; Rioja Oriental, being warmer, typically yields wines that are richer and more intensely colored.

The region's commitment to quality and tradition, combined with innovations in winemaking techniques, ensures that La Rioja continues to produce wines that are appreciated globally for their depth, complexity, and longevity. The picturesque landscapes of vine-covered hills and historic bodegas (wine cellars) also make La Rioja a popular destination for wine tourism.
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