| Type | Red wine |
|---|---|
| Region | |
| Grapes | |
| Producer | |
| Allergens | Contains sulfites |
| Alcohol contenti | 13.0% |
| Production | 180,000 - 200,000 bottles |
Viña Tondonia Reserva
2012The great classic among classics
95
PARKER
Other bottle sizes and vintages
Also available in the following packs
Spec sheet
The wine
Viña Tondonia Reserva is the quintessential classic Rioja, a wine that’s suitable for all palates, highly regarded by many and totally revered by a good few more. There’s always something mystical about opening one of these bottles. It’s like going slowly back, with a good friend, on a journey into the past, though enjoying it in the present; you get a similar feeling on entering into this estate’s labyrinth of cellars, impressive underground structures, imbued with a magical ambience, the perfect resting place for this wine, not only individual and authentic but also distinguished and so widely appreciated. Do you want to know what Rioja tastes like? Start with a glass of Tondonia Reserva.
What does this wine taste like?
This wine spends 72 months in barrel, yet don’t expect it to result in an oaky wine, as it’s polished, refined, on both the nose and the palate. A wine that’s very easy to drink, thanks to its delicate mouthfeel and low alcohol content. Its colour displays evidence of its evolution, with a brick-red rim when first released, although its ruby-red colour remains constant over time. On the nose it offers the typical aromas of a classic Rioja, toasted and cocoa, but there’s also ripe fruit, yet without highlighting any particular variety used in its production. On the palate it’s a wine which is clearly dry and juicy, with refined tannins, extremely inviting and with an extraordinary freshness, foretelling a long life ahead. The secret is the old oak barrels, a very good selection of grapes, patience and wisdom. It knows how to please.
| Light | Bold | |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth | Tannic | |
| Dry | Sweet | |
| Soft | Acidic |
View | Ruby red / Brick-red rim |
|---|---|
Bouquet | Fine / Cocoa / Polished fine furniture / Sweet spices |
Mouth | Dry / Fine tannins / Delicate / Fresh / Persistent |
Drinking and storing
Tondonia Reserva bottles leave the cellar after having rested in excellent conditions for more than ten years. These wines are ready for drinking now. However, they also have a long life ahead. To ensure you experience them at their best, please consider the following:
- the wine has not been filtered, therefore it’s advisable to keep the bottle upright for 1-2 hours before opening
- undo the gold wire mesh which covers the bottle but don’t remove it completely, it’s all part and parcel of this wine’s charm; loosen it from the top, letting it come down to the bottle’s shoulders and tie to the lower part
- open up and allow aeration of the wine in the bottle for 1 hour (or decant it, when in its early years)
- use a wide, Bordeaux type of glass
- always have a few bottles to hand, as it’s one of those wines that everyone enjoys, and when kept properly it will remain in perfect condition for 10 years or more.
Serve between 18ºC and 20ºC
Food pairing
This is a delicate wine, easy to drink and ready to accompany practically any sort of food. Leaving aside game and strongly flavoured dishes, it proves a delicious accompaniment to a variety of meats, fish and salads.
Roast lamb / Roast suckling pig / Grilled fish / Foie gras
Ratings and awards
| 2012 | 95 PK | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 94 PK | 95 SK | |||
| 2010 | 96 PK | 97 SK | 93 WS | ||
| 2009 | 93 PK | 93 PN | 97 SK | ||
| 2008 | 95 PK | 95 SK | 96 DC | ||
| 2007 | 96 PK | 95 SK |
PK: ParkerPN: PeñínSK: SucklingWS: Wine
spectatorDC: Decanter
Wine critics reviewsReviews by Parker and Jancis Robinson
Customer reviews
Winemaking
| Vinification material | Wood |
|---|---|
| Ageing period | 72 months |
| Barrel age | Used |
| Type of wood | American oak |
| Clarification and filtration | Unfiltered / Clarified with fresh egg whites |
Vineyards
Viña Tondonia
Viña Tondonia was this estate’s first brand name, but we shouldn’t forget it’s essentially López de Heredia’s main vineyard: a beautiful vine-growing area that ranges over more than 100 hectares, located on the River Ebro’s right bank, affording a landscape of alluvium, limestone and black poplar trees, which the winery’s founder, Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, planted in the years 1913-1914, in his desire to ensure quality at source, this vineyard, where work is carried out manually.
| Vine age | 100 years |
|---|---|
| Soil | Calcareous-clay / Gravel surface |
| Climate | Atlantic |
| Yields | Low yields |
The winery
Bodegas R. López de Heredia
R. López de Heredia (Viña Tondonia) is one of the names which inspires most respect and admiration with regard to wineries producing "fine wine". It is, moreover, the oldest winery in the emblematic town of Haro and one of the first three set up in La Rioja.
