2011 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva

Lopez de Heredia really needs no introduction. The vineyards are located on the right bank of the river Ebro in Haro (Rioja Alta). The Tondonia is still made in a traditional way where fermentation of the must with skins is done in large oak barrels of 240 liters for about 7 days. The second fermentation takes place in Bordeaux barrels and is relatively long (up to six months). The wine then matures for more than 6 years in used French oak, after which there is a few more years of bottle aging before the Tondonia comes on the market. The Vina Tondonia Reserve is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo and Graciano. Tondonia makes a very authentic and in the good sense of the word an old-fashioned Rioja and can be called unique in terms of style. After the wine has been exposed to a good portion of oxygen, a beautiful palette of scents unfolds in which cherries, leather, cigar are the first to emerge. The wine is medium bodied and has the typical tondonia oxidative (pleasant) tone and the taste is nice and balanced.

What makes Tondonia unique is the very long aging in old oak (they employ their own tonneliers) before they are marketed after several years of bottle aging. These are wines that can mature for a very long time and have nothing to do with the modern wines aged on French oak. The 2011 vintage has been rated EXCELLENT by the Appelatie.

94/100 Parker
95/100 James Suckling