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A remarkable red from a Rioja icon, López de Heredia. There’s no concession to modernity, with fermentation in 140 year old wooden vats plus six years’ ageing in oak casks, the rest in bottle. 95 points from James Suckling, this is a Reserva legend.
Tasting notes
Mature black fruit, truffle with cedar, spice and balsamic notes
Aroma
Dried fruit, raisin, toasted oak, spice, leather
More information
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 vintage officially rated 'very good', the stunning Tondonia Reserva comprises mainly Tempranillo, plus portions of Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, and was aged for six years in barrels, then bottled unfiltered for maximum flavour. It’s a wine of great complexity with a savoury nose of spices and leather, vibrant berry and cigar box. The palate is rounded and remarkably fresh and long. Decant early, then savour slowly.