Lopez de Heredia Tondonia Reserva 2013 1.5L
95 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate)
"[$65 list] The 2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva comes from a very dry year, with 25% less rain than the average (at the time), resulting in lower yields of very healthy grapes that delivered wines with nice balance between alcohol and polyphenols, making it very apt for the aging in barrel. It had a slightly longer élevage in barrel, six years. The wine is aromatic with a developed profile, spicy and tertiary (forest floor, a touch of brick dust and iodine), complex and nuanced. The palate is full and round, with polished tannins and a long, dry finish. It has a textbook Tondonia nose and profile. Drink: 2025-2035. (2/29/24)"
95 points Tim Atkin, MW
"(13%) Viña Tondonia can seem austere in its (comparative) youth, especially when compared with sweeter Bosconia, but this is a wine that will reward patience. Picked earlier to assuage the effect of a warmer site, this blend of Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo is structured and focused, with redcurrant, forest floor and green herb notes. Give it time. 2025-32. (2024)"
97 points Joaquín Hidalgo (Vinous)
The 2013 Reserva Viña Tondonia is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, grown in the calcareous soils of the Tondonia meander in Rioja Alta. Aged extensively in American oak, it offers restrained black fruit, wild herbs, balsamic hints and sweet spices with gentle cedar and vanilla notes. Medium-bodied with chalky grip and a layered, tertiary finish, this is a benchmark classic—refined, enduring and unmistakably Tondonia.
The Tondonia is the flagship of the winery and probably nowadays the most popular of all the Rioja wines made in this special region. This again is a wine I personally buy every year - you will read that a lot here - I only try to offer wines that I personally admire. These wines drink amazingly well now but have the ability to age gracefully another 20 years easy. Wines like this that are held back and matured at the winery should cost a fortune, but lucky for us, Lopez de Heredia thought to do this a long time ago, setting them up to economically be able to do so and offer us a true superior value wine.
Grapes: Tempranillo 70%, Garnacha 20%, Graciano and Mazuelo 10%
Description
95 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate)
"[$65 list] The 2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva comes from a very dry year, with 25% less rain than the average (at the time), resulting in lower yields of very healthy grapes that delivered wines with nice balance between alcohol and polyphenols, making it very apt for the aging in barrel. It had a slightly longer élevage in barrel, six years. The wine is aromatic with a developed profile, spicy and tertiary (forest floor, a touch of brick dust and iodine), complex and nuanced. The palate is full and round, with polished tannins and a long, dry finish. It has a textbook Tondonia nose and profile. Drink: 2025-2035. (2/29/24)"
95 points Tim Atkin, MW
"(13%) Viña Tondonia can seem austere in its (comparative) youth, especially when compared with sweeter Bosconia, but this is a wine that will reward patience. Picked earlier to assuage the effect of a warmer site, this blend of Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo is structured and focused, with redcurrant, forest floor and green herb notes. Give it time. 2025-32. (2024)"
97 points Joaquín Hidalgo (Vinous)
The 2013 Reserva Viña Tondonia is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, grown in the calcareous soils of the Tondonia meander in Rioja Alta. Aged extensively in American oak, it offers restrained black fruit, wild herbs, balsamic hints and sweet spices with gentle cedar and vanilla notes. Medium-bodied with chalky grip and a layered, tertiary finish, this is a benchmark classic—refined, enduring and unmistakably Tondonia.
The Tondonia is the flagship of the winery and probably nowadays the most popular of all the Rioja wines made in this special region. This again is a wine I personally buy every year - you will read that a lot here - I only try to offer wines that I personally admire. These wines drink amazingly well now but have the ability to age gracefully another 20 years easy. Wines like this that are held back and matured at the winery should cost a fortune, but lucky for us, Lopez de Heredia thought to do this a long time ago, setting them up to economically be able to do so and offer us a true superior value wine.
Grapes: Tempranillo 70%, Garnacha 20%, Graciano and Mazuelo 10%
