Viña Tondonia Reserva 2013

Description

GRAPE VARIETIES

75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo

WINE TASTING

López de Heredia is nothing if not a family business. Having been handed down through four generations to its present custodians María José, her sister Mercedes, and brother Julio, its old-school philosophy and elegant, long-lived Riojas have remained steadfast through war, fashion, and new technologies.

Set up during a boom for supplying a French market whose own vineyards had been ravaged by phylloxera, María José’s great-grandfather, Rafael, took inspiration from influential Bordeaux châteaux and purchased sites around Haro based on their suitability to emulate the regions that his new Gallic clientele base admired most. Today, Tondonia remains arguably Rioja’s greatest estate.

Made from a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazeulo and Graciano, the estate’s flagship red is Viña Tondonia. Produced in a soft, elegant Médoc style, this is one of our favourite Riojas bar none.

The 2013 vintage was marked by cooler conditions and a later harvest, resulting in wines of freshness, elegance, and remarkable balance. Viña Tondonia Reserva 2013 combines classic spicy and tertiary notes: forest floor, brick dust, tobacco, balsamic nuances, and subtle iodine hints with polished tannins and vibrant acidity.

After six and a half years of ageing in barrels, the wines are stored for another two years in the bottle before being marketed. The result is daunting. You will be amazed by its nose of vanilla, cocoa and leather.

The bouquet is refined and deeply complex, revealing layers of ripe red berries, candied orange peel, sweet spice, tobacco leaf, fine leather, and delicate balsamic notes, all seamlessly interwoven with perfectly integrated oak. On the palate, the wine is fresh, poised, and exceptionally polished. Vibrant acidity, silky tannins, and a smooth, harmonious texture lead to a long and persistent finish, where gentle spice and toasted nuances linger elegantly.

Full of grace and vigour, it can still be kept in the cellar for a dozen years or be enjoyed now. 95 parker points, this is a Reserva legend. For optimal enjoyment, serve between 16–18°C

FOOD PAIRING

Vina Tondonia Reserva 2013 goes well with all meat dishes, however it is the perfect partner to milk-fed lamb rubbed with garlic, rosemary and roasted in a wood-fired oven.