- Region
- Rioja
- Producer
- R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia
- Vintage
- 2011
- Grape varieties
- 75% Tempranillo
- 15% Grenache / Garnacha
- 5% Graciano
- 5% Mazuelo
- Bottle size
- 75 cl
- Ratings
- 95 points James Suckling
- 94 points Robert Parker
- 93 points Wine Spectator
- Alcohol
- 13%
- Classification
- DOCa
- Special characteristic
- Contains sulphites
Hand-picked and hand-selected grapes. Destemming followed by wild-yeast fermentation in 240-hectolitre oak vessels, accompanied by regular punch-downs of the grape skins. Subsequent maturation, including malolactic fermentation, for six and a half years in 225-litre American oak barrels. Racking twice a year during this period to separate the wine from its natural sediment. Fined with fresh egg white before bottling. After bottling, the Vina Tondonia ages for another 2 years in botlle before its release.
Garnet colour. Complex, stunning nose of ripe, dried berries, cherries, plums and violets, complemented by thyme, rosemary and spicy notes of roasted nut and tobacco, leather and earth. This Viña Tondonia has a very delicate palate. The spicy tannins are still slightly grippy but not astringent. Very elegant medium body. The fruit is intense but by no means overpowering. Already a delight to drink but will easily age for another 20 years.
Sourced from Viña Tondonia's estate-owned vineyard on the right bank of the River Ebro in Haro. The vines are mostly over 100 years old and where planted in 1913 and 1914. The combination of alluvial clay soilswith a high proportion of limestone make this 100-hectare vineyard one of the most special in the entire region.