López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva Tinto 2011

López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva Tinto 2011

Don Rafael López de Heredia acquired the Tondonia vineyard from a group of clergy in 1913. Situated on the right bank of the river Ebro, in Rioja Alta, it stretches over 247 acres; the soil is alluvial clay with a high proportion of limestone. There are 4 varieties of red grapes planted in this vineyard—Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacho—as well as a few acres of white grapes (Viura and Malvasia) planted in the whitest soils, from which R. López de Heredia makes their Tondonia Blanco.

Grape Varieties:
Tempranillo (75%), Garnacho (15%), Graciano and Mazuelo (10%), all from our own vineyards.

Ageing period in barrels:
6 years, racked twice a year and fined with fresh egg whites.

Total Acidity:
6.6 g/l.

Gastronomy:
Goes well with all meat dishes however prepared. A perfect partner to a Leg of New Season Welsh Lamb stuffed with wild garlic, rosemary and anchovies.

Reviews

Tim Atkin – “Aged for nearly six years in very old barrels, Tondonia is one of Rioja’s most proudly traditional wines. Tempranillo dominated, with 20% Garnacha and 5% of both Graciano and Mazuelo, this is complex, mature and well-structured, with plenty of acidity, sinewy tannins, some balsamic sweetness and a taut, focused, age-worthy finish. 2023-35.” (95 Pts)

James Suckling – “A traditional beauty that effuses iron, warm earth and savory tobacco leaves, together with plums, spices and orange zest. This is juicy and still tight, with firm but savory tannins. Medium-weight and quite zesty in texture, as is the case with the other López de Heredia reds tasted this session. Drink now or hold.” (95 Pts)

Wine Advocate – “The 2011 López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva is darker and shows riper fruit, a rounder palate and some dusty tannins. A year of ripeness, concentration and tannin, the wine is powerful with the finesse of Tondonia. Tasting this next to the textbook 2010 Tondonia revealed how this has more muscle and a wider back and the 2010 epitomizes the finesse and elegance.” (94 Pts)