R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva 1981
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva 1981
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R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva 1981

Lopez de Heredia
$500.00

Grape: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano
Vintage: 1981
Type: Red

Sourced from the historic Viña Tondonia vineyard situated along the banks of the Ebro River in Haro, this flagship Gran Reserva represents the pinnacle of traditional, long-aged Rioja. Hand-harvested from ancient vines rooted in alluvial clay and limestone soils, the fruit ferments with native yeasts in century-old oak vats. The wine undergoes an extraordinary 10 years of aging in neutral American oak barrels—racked manually twice per year—followed by decades of quiet bottle maturation in the estate's subterranean cellars. Bottled unfined after clarification with fresh egg whites, this release embodies an unhurried, highly classical philosophy of winemaking.

A pale, translucent garnet-brick hue with mahogany edges opens to a deeply complex nose of dried sour cherry, leather, cedar box, dried tobacco leaf, and orange peel. On the palate, focused flavors of tart cranberry, dried plum, sandalwood, and ground clove are supported by seamless, fully resolved tannins and a remarkably persistent line of natural acidity. The mouthfeel is weightless, silky, and energetic, balancing delicate dried-fruit intensity with deep savory earthiness. It concludes on an extraordinarily long, dry finish marked by lingering notes of crushed stone, tea leaf, and dried citrus.

This family-owned winery makes highly individual wines in a style essentially unchanged since its inception in 1877. They grow all their grapes using organic methods, ferment using only natural yeasts and do not filter their wines.

López de Heredia reputation as the ultimate Rioja traditionalist is undisputable: craft, farming, winemaking are all here and have been for a long, long time. Another remarkable feat is they also pioneered the single vineyard model in Rioja. Gravonia, Tondonia, Bosconia and Cubillo are all individual vineyards which have been in the family for generations.

Patience is a family watchword, as this bodega thinks nothing of waiting twenty years before releasing a wine. Their “Crianzas” are aged like others’ “Reservas” and “Gran Reservas”; the “Reservas” as long as others’ top “Gran Reservas”. And the ultimate accolade of “Gran Reserva” is accorded to only the very greatest vintages. Rarely are there more than three of these in a decade. These are uniquely traditional Riojas of massive, boundary-crossing repute. Both red and white are capable of staggering longevity.

Tondonia is the estate's top vineyard. Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta planted Viña Tondonia in 1913. The gorgeous 170 hectare Tondonia vineyard is situated in on the right bank of the Ebro river, which flows through the Rioja region.