Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninmedium
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oakbarrel aged

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2010: best 2020 to 2050.
vintage10 yrs40 yrs42 yrs

Critic scores

CriticVintageScore
Tim Atkin reviewed 2023201097/100
Wine Advocate reviewed 2018200196/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryVery Long finish

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.

How to serve Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Roast wood pigeon, Cordero asado, Aged Manchego. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

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 · visiting guide
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

Frequently asked about Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva

What does Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva taste like?

On the nose, dried strawberry, forest floor, cedar, balsamic, truffle. On the palate, macerated cherry, leather, game, sweet spice. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. 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.

When should I drink Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva?

Drink 10 to 40 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva?

Roast wood pigeon is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Cordero asado and Aged Manchego. Mature game meets the Gran Reserva's truffle and forest-floor depth.

Is Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva vegan?

No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.

What grapes are in Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva?

The blend is Tempranillo (75%), Garnacha (15%), Graciano (5%), Mazuelo (5%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

Tags

cellar worthy dry garnacha graciano high acid iconic library release mazuelo medium body medium tannin mood contemplative mood elegant occasion cellar occasion gift occasion special old vines old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price fine single vineyard still red tempranillo

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