Description
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. (95pts, Robert Parker)
Producer Information: Lopez De Heredia
ESTABLISHED IN 1877, BODEGAS LOPEZ DE HEREDIA IS THE OLDEST BODEGA IN HARO AND ONE OF THE FIRST THREE HOUSES OF THE RIOJA REGION. IT IS HEADED BY THE INSPIRATIONAL AND ENTHUSIASTIC MARIA JOSE LOPEZ DE HEREDIA, WHO IS STEADFAST IN HER BELIEF THAT THESE WINES SHOULD BE PRODUCED IN THE SAME WAY THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. GRAPE SELECTION AND WINEMAKING ARE DONE BY HAND, WINES ARE FINED WITH EGG WHITES AND AGED ONLY IN WOOD ( NOT A GLIMPSE OF STAINLESS STEEL ) WITH A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR POPULAR FASHIONS. THE MINIMUM TIME SPENT IN OAK IS 36 MONTHS, WHILE THEIR FLAGSHIP TONDONIA RANGE IS AGED FOR SIX MONTHS IN OAK. THEIR STYLE OF RED WINES HAVE INCREDIBLE AGEING POTENTIAL, KEEPING A FANTASTIC DEPTH OF FRUIT AND COMPLEXITY, WHLIE THE WHITES ARE NOT WHAT YOU MAY EXPECT. WITH THE NEW BIG FRUIT DRIVEN STYLES OF RIOJA ON THE MARKET NOW THESE WINES ARE THE EPITOME OF TRADITIONAL RIOJA STYLE, AND ARE ALMOST SO OLD FASHIONED THEY ARE NEW! WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM TO YOU.
