López de Heredia ‘Viña Tondonia’ Reserva 2010
97 POINTS: James Suckling
96 POINTS: Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate
96 POINTS: Wine Enthusiast Magazine
“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. This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho (they use the masculine form of the name of the grape) and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in the ancient oak vats from when the winery was created 144 years ago and matured in well-seasoned, American oak barrels for six years. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.6 grams of acidity. 260,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2017. Drink 2022-2034.”
- Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate
“This is as complex and savory as the rest of the Viña Tondonia wines, but also shows a tad more depth, with a hint of black plum and blue fruit on top of the orange rind, iron, tobacco and earthy spices. Expect some cedar and truffle to develop in the future. Juicy, zesty and tight, with a dusty tannins and bright berry fruit on the medium-to full-bodied palate. Drink or hold.”
- James Suckling
López de Heredia is “one of the last great bastions of Rioja tradition” (Hugh Johnson). As Luis Gutiérrez writes on erobertparker.com, “visiting the winery is like time travelling to 100 years ago, with no stainless steel or new oak to be found anywhere”. All their wines are named after different plots on the estate. From a year of "powerful, concentrated wines of good quality" (Jancis Robinson), Tondonia Reserva comprises mainly Tempranillo, plus portions of Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, all aged for six years in barrels, then bottled unfiltered for maximum flavour. It’s a wine of great complexity with a savoury aroma of spice, leather, intense berry and cigar box. The palate is remarkably fresh and long. Decant early and savour slowly.