Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva 2013

Produced by R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia, Viña Tondonia Reserva is one of the world’s great traditional wines and the benchmark bottling of one of Spain’s most historic estates. Founded in 1877 and still owned by the López de Heredia family, the winery has remained steadfast in its commitment to nineteenth-century Rioja methods, resisting fashions in favour of patience, precision and extraordinary longevity. The wine comes from the celebrated Viña Tondonia vineyard, a vast estate on the banks of the River Ebro in Rioja Alta, where clay-limestone alluvial soils and the cooling Atlantic influence produce grapes of freshness and balance. The estate controls every stage of production, from the vineyard to its own cooperage, where the American oak barrels used for ageing are crafted and maintained in-house, a practice that has become a hallmark of the winery.

Traditionally made from Tempranillo with supporting proportions of Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, Viña Tondonia Reserva is fermented in old oak vats before spending many years in American oak barrels, with regular manual rackings, followed by extended bottle ageing prior to release. The result is a wine that transcends the conventional idea of Rioja Reserva, combining youthful vitality with the complexity of long maturation. Aromas of red cherry, dried cranberry and wild strawberry are interwoven with cedar, tobacco leaf, leather, vanilla, dried herbs and delicate earthy notes, while the palate is refined, savoury and beautifully balanced. Silky tannins and vibrant acidity provide remarkable freshness, allowing the wine to age effortlessly for decades. Elegant, nuanced and unmistakably classical, Viña Tondonia Reserva remains one of the defining wines of Rioja and a reference point for traditional fine wine across the world.