Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva

In the glass

Aroma: dried strawberry, forest floor, cedar, balsamic, truffle

Palate: macerated cherry, leather, game, sweet spice

Released only in great years and only after a decade-plus in the cellar; ethereal, savoury and impossibly fresh, the Gran Reserva is one of the wine world's great old-style reds.

What it pairs with

• Roast wood pigeon
  Mature game meets the Gran Reserva's truffle and forest-floor depth.
• Cordero asado
  Slow-roast lamb's sweet fat is the historic foil for aged Tondonia.
• Aged Manchego
  Crystalline hard sheep cheese matches the wine's saline, nutty finish.
• Pintxos de autor Find pintxos de autor on TableJourney →
  A glass of old Tondonia turns a Donostia pintxo crawl into an occasion.

History

The Gran Reserva is made only in vintages the family considers worthy and is held in barrel for about nine years and then for many more in bottle. Recent commercial releases have been from the 2000s while the cellar still holds decades of library stock.

1. 1934 — Early Tondonia Gran Reserva vintages laid down
2. 1981 — 1981 becomes a celebrated Gran Reserva vintage
3. 2021 — 2010 released as a modern reference Gran Reserva

Facts

Producer

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia

Grapes

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

Classification

DOCa Rioja

Oak

Around 9 years in American oak barrels with biannual racking, then extended bottle ageing before release

ABV

12.5%

Price

EUR 90 to 200 at retail

Drinking window

10 to 40 from vintage

First vintage

1934

Scores

• Tim Atkin 97 (2010 vintage, reviewed 2023)
• Wine Advocate 96 (2001 vintage, reviewed 2018)

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