Tasting Notes
"99 points - The 2005 Gran Reserva Blanco Viña Tondonia spent ten years in American oak, giving it remarkable depth. Composed of Viura with 10% Malvasía and bottled in November 2019, it layers acacia, dried flowers, lime zest and herbs on the nose, with toffee, bakery tones and gentle toast. On the palate, it is dry and enveloping, carrying vibrant, integrated freshness and a wafer-like savory nuance. Exceptionally long and refined, the 2005 stands out as a great vintage here." Drink 2026-2040, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous.com
More Info
To step back inside the López de Heredia winery is to step back in time. Founded in 1877, and little changed since, López de Heredia might not be quite the oldest winery in Rioja, but they are certainly the most tradition bound and least changed. You read a lot of marketing fluff about ‘family winemaking tradition’, but at López de Heredia, it’s real. Maria José López de Heredia and her winemaker sister, Mercedes, couldn’t care less about wine fashions. They've been producing wines in the style their great grandfather did, where their wines slumber in their deep cellars for many years before release. The quest for perfection is of utmost importance, and no wine is released until it is ready.