One of Spain's most significant addresses Lopez de Heredia is a fantastic traditional producer that has changed almost nothing since its beginning over 140 years ago. Lopez de Heredia couldn't be bothered with any modern styling, and it is this steadfast approach that has created some of Spain's most incredible and timeless wines. The 2008 Tondonia is a gorgeous wine release after an extended stint in the Lopez cellars, and it's one of the best examples of this wine that has ever been made. This bottle can be enjoyed now or cellared even longer if desired and is one of the best and most consistent values for wine with age.
See our original offer below.
Lopez de Heredia is one of the few winemakers left that hasn't abandoned their traditional style. The Tondonia is one of the wines we look to as a bar setter for the region, and once again, it is a home run. Tondonia always has a touch of rusticity that adds an extra level of complexity and intrigue to the wine while being elegant and fresh. The blend here is Tempranillo (70%), Garnacho (20%), Graciano, and Mazuelo (10%). 2008 is one of the more elegant vintages of this wine to date and ranks up among the top efforts of all time for this wine. Not a bottle to miss and such an exceptional value for old-world wine. We have a few cases of this great wine arriving soon so don't miss out!
Tim Atkin, MW 97 points! "Tondonia's reds have been on an upward curve recently and are now at the same level as the bodega's world-class whites. This is a fine, elegant, savoury, low-alcohol blend of Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Mazuelo and Graciano, combining summer berry fruit, racy acidity, granular tannins and an earthy, balsamic undertone. Good now, but this will develop further in bottle. 2020-28."
Wine Advocate (Luis Guttierrez) 95 points! "The nose of the 2008 Viña Tondonia Reserva is very elegant, fresh and with an herbal twist, starting to show the complexity of the aged wines that are sometimes still too young when they are released 10+ years from the vintage! The palate is medium-bodied, with lightness and depth, very classical with extra freshness and all that is needed for a long development in bottle. This is the more Tondonia of the two vintages I tasted side by side. There are notes of maple syrup, smoke, licorice and crisp fruit. The palate is more austere, crunchy and reveals the chalkiness of the soils. There's more definition and precision here."
John Gilman 93+ points! "The 2008 Viña Tondonia Reserva is an absolute classic in the making. At age twelve the wine is still a puppy, and though very, very easy to drink now, it has still not developed any of its secondary layers of complexity that will arrive with further bottle age. The supremely refined nose delivers scents of black cherries, black raspberries, cigar smoke, a lovely array of Rioja spice tones, a touch of meatiness, a complex base of soil and a lovely foundation of oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with lovely soil signature and grip, suave, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex and tangy finish. To my palate, this beautiful wine deserves at least another six to eight years in the cellar before drinking, as there is still a lot to unfold here with the fullness of time. But, it is so perfectly balanced today that I fully expect to see a significant percentage of the bottles not make it that long!"
2008 Lopez et Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia
2008 Lopez et Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia
One of Spain's most significant addresses Lopez de Heredia is a fantastic traditional producer that has changed almost nothing since its beginning over 140 years ago. Lopez de Heredia couldn't be bothered with any modern styling, and it is this steadfast approach that has created some of Spain's most incredible and timeless wines. The 2008 Tondonia is a gorgeous wine release after an extended stint in the Lopez cellars, and it's one of the best examples of this wine that has ever been made. This bottle can be enjoyed now or cellared even longer if desired and is one of the best and most consistent values for wine with age.
See our original offer below.
Lopez de Heredia is one of the few winemakers left that hasn't abandoned their traditional style. The Tondonia is one of the wines we look to as a bar setter for the region, and once again, it is a home run. Tondonia always has a touch of rusticity that adds an extra level of complexity and intrigue to the wine while being elegant and fresh. The blend here is Tempranillo (70%), Garnacho (20%), Graciano, and Mazuelo (10%). 2008 is one of the more elegant vintages of this wine to date and ranks up among the top efforts of all time for this wine. Not a bottle to miss and such an exceptional value for old-world wine. We have a few cases of this great wine arriving soon so don't miss out!
Tim Atkin, MW 97 points! "Tondonia's reds have been on an upward curve recently and are now at the same level as the bodega's world-class whites. This is a fine, elegant, savoury, low-alcohol blend of Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Mazuelo and Graciano, combining summer berry fruit, racy acidity, granular tannins and an earthy, balsamic undertone. Good now, but this will develop further in bottle. 2020-28."
Wine Advocate (Luis Guttierrez) 95 points! "The nose of the 2008 Viña Tondonia Reserva is very elegant, fresh and with an herbal twist, starting to show the complexity of the aged wines that are sometimes still too young when they are released 10+ years from the vintage! The palate is medium-bodied, with lightness and depth, very classical with extra freshness and all that is needed for a long development in bottle. This is the more Tondonia of the two vintages I tasted side by side. There are notes of maple syrup, smoke, licorice and crisp fruit. The palate is more austere, crunchy and reveals the chalkiness of the soils. There's more definition and precision here."
John Gilman 93+ points! "The 2008 Viña Tondonia Reserva is an absolute classic in the making. At age twelve the wine is still a puppy, and though very, very easy to drink now, it has still not developed any of its secondary layers of complexity that will arrive with further bottle age. The supremely refined nose delivers scents of black cherries, black raspberries, cigar smoke, a lovely array of Rioja spice tones, a touch of meatiness, a complex base of soil and a lovely foundation of oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with lovely soil signature and grip, suave, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex and tangy finish. To my palate, this beautiful wine deserves at least another six to eight years in the cellar before drinking, as there is still a lot to unfold here with the fullness of time. But, it is so perfectly balanced today that I fully expect to see a significant percentage of the bottles not make it that long!"
