Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninmedium
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oakbarrel aged

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2010: best 2015 to 2040.
vintage5 yrs30 yrs32 yrs

Critic scores

CriticVintageScore
Tim Atkin reviewed 2021201095/100
Decanter reviewed 2021201096/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: dried cherry, balsamic, tobacco, autumn leaf, orange peel

Palate: sour cherry, leather, cured-meat savour, walnut

The reference traditional Rioja Reserva: pale brick colour, oxidative dried-fruit and balsamic aromatics over a fine-boned, high-acid frame that drinks like old Burgundy.

What it pairs with

  • Cordero asado al sarmiento
    The wine's silky old-oak savour wraps around vine-roasted lamb without overwhelming it.
  • Roast partridge
    Game and the Reserva's autumn-leaf and dried-cherry notes are a classic register match.
  • Jamon iberico de bellota
    Acorn-fed ham's nutty fat lifts the wine's walnut and cured-meat savour.
  • Idiazabal smoked sheep cheese Find idiazabal smoked sheep cheese on TableJourney →
    Basque smoked cheese mirrors the wine's mellow oxidative edge.

How to serve Vina Tondonia 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. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Roast partridge, Jamon iberico de bellota. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Vina Tondonia is the 100-hectare estate vineyard Rafael Lopez de Heredia planted from 1913 above the Ebro at Haro. The Reserva is aged for years in the bodega's own American-oak barrels and released only when the family judges it ready, often a decade or more after the harvest.

  1. 1913: Vina Tondonia vineyard fully planted above the Ebro
  2. 1925: Estate bottling of Tondonia under the family label established
  3. 2020: Tim Atkin and Decanter repeatedly cite Tondonia as the benchmark traditional Rioja

Facts

Producer
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia · visiting guide
Grapes
Tempranillo (75%), Garnacha (15%), Graciano (5%), Mazuelo (5%)
Classification
DOCa Rioja
Oak
Around 6 years in American oak barrels, racked by gravity twice a year, then long bottle ageing
ABV
12.5%
Price
EUR 35 to 60 at retail
Drinking window
5 to 30 from vintage
First vintage
1913

Frequently asked about Vina Tondonia Reserva

What does Vina Tondonia Reserva taste like?

On the nose, dried cherry, balsamic, tobacco, autumn leaf, orange peel. On the palate, sour cherry, leather, cured-meat savour, walnut. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The reference traditional Rioja Reserva: pale brick colour, oxidative dried-fruit and balsamic aromatics over a fine-boned, high-acid frame that drinks like old Burgundy.

When should I drink Vina Tondonia Reserva?

Drink 5 to 30 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 Reserva?

Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Roast partridge and Jamon iberico de bellota. The wine's silky old-oak savour wraps around vine-roasted lamb without overwhelming it.

Is Vina Tondonia 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 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 mazuelo medium body medium tannin mood contemplative mood elegant occasion cellar occasion special old vines old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with charcuterie pairs with game pairs with red meat price premium single vineyard still red tempranillo

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