From: Haro, Rioja Alta, Spain
Varietal: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano
Critical Acclaim: “Savory berries, plums, iron, minerals, tobacco, ink and blood oranges. Very bright, juicy and structured, with sensational balance, aged savoriness and brightness that are typical of Tondonia reds. Beautiful now.” 96 Points, James Suckling, August 2024
"The 2012 Viña Tondonia is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, cultivated on the meander of the Ebro River in Rioja Alta. This garnet wine reveals aromas of ash and plum marmalade, with a faintly herbal core and hints of oaky cedar. Dry and lean, the fairly chalky texture lingers long, concluding with a compact, flavorful and lasting finish. The 2012 is a beautiful old-school Rioja.” 95 Points, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous Media
“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. 250,000 bottles produced.” 95 Points, Luis Gutierrez for Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, February 2024
“Viña Tondonia can seem austere in its (comparative) youth, especially when compared with sweeter Bosconia, but this is a wine that will reward patience. Picked earlier to assuage the effects of a warmer site, this blend of Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo is structured and focused, with redcurrant, forest floor and green herb notes. Give it time.” 95 Points, Tim Atkins, Master of Wine
"All you can expect from a classical Viña Tondonia with its focused intensity and muscular yet very elegant tannins. At once assertive and silky, with juicy red and blue fruit gliding through the palate while being pleasantly pulled back by an energetic, iodine verve. Subtle, hovering, brooding notes of tobacco, mocha and wet forest floor. 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, bottled in January 2022 having matured in 225-litre American oak barrels for six years. Drinking Window: 2025-2040. (12/30/24)” 94 points, Ines Salpico, Decanter
"Color: light cherry, brick rim edge. Aroma: fruit preserve, tobacco, sweet spices, scrubland, meaty notes, metalic. Flavour: spicy, round tannins, flavourful, fresh. (Jul 2024)” 94 points, Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine
Pairing: The 2012’s acidity, aged savory complexity, and firm but resolved tannins make it a versatile match for dishes with roasted or braised elements, umami-rich flavors, or bright acidity. Start with braised rabbit with rosemary and white wine, or Riojan-style bacalao a la riojana (salt cod with tomato and peppers).
About: The López de Heredia family has played a foundational role in shaping both Rioja winemaking and the region’s regulatory structure. The estate was founded in 1877 by the Basque wine trader Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, making it one of the first three wineries, alongside Marqués de Riscal (founded in 1858) and Marqués de Murrieta (founded in 1852), established in Rioja and the oldest in Haro, in the Rioja Alta region.