Lopez de Heredia is one of Spain's most historic addresses, unchanged for 140 years, and is renowned for its ultra-classic style of Rioja. For decades, they have been one of the top buys for Old World Red Wine, achieving a level of quality that stuns at this price point. Lopez de Heredia continues to impress, and this late-release 2012 is another sensational effort from this favorite Spanish address, perfect for those who missed out on the 2013. The Tondonia is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, and 5% each Mazuelo and Graciano. It is always a benchmark bottle in this price range, which capitalizes on the rustic style that benefits from cellar time and shows more finesse than the Bosconia bottling. Very few producers have a new release with this much age right out of the gate, which is another reason why these wines are so exceptional. 2012 is a fantastic vintage that is on par with some of the best years, though it was a very warm and dry growing season that resulted in one of the smallest harvests of all time. However, it's a great vintage that showcases the more powerful side of Tempranillo while still retaining the vital acidity it needs. As Gutierrez notes in his review, 2012 was a great candidate for extra barrel time and is a complex and nuanced vintage that is spot on Tondonia. We have friendly pricing today on this top Rioja, which is always highly recommended.