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Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 2001 | López de Heredia | Rioja
229.90 €
R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia, DOCa Rioja. 110 ha of vineyards planted 1913–1914 on the right bank of the Ebro, at 438–489 metres altitude. Soils range from alluvial to clay-calcareous. 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano.
Destemmed and fermented with the skins in 240-hectolitre oak vats. Aged 10 years in barrel with two rackings per year. Fined. Unfiltered.
Wine Identification
This profile concerns the Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 2001, produced by R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia in La Rioja, Spain. It is a red wine classified under the DOCa Rioja appellation.
Origin and Winemaking
The estate features approximately 110 hectares of vineyards planted between 1913 and 1914 along the banks of the Ebro River. The vines are situated at altitudes ranging from 438 to 489 meters above sea level, growing in soils that vary from alluvial to clay-limestone compositions. The blend consists of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo.
Vinification begins with destemming, followed by fermentation with skins in 240-hectoliter oak vats using indigenous yeasts. The wine undergoes a lengthy aging process of ten years in barrels, with two racking operations performed annually. Following this extended maturation, the wine is clarified but left unfiltered before bottling.
Tasting Notes and Structure
The 2001 vintage presents a profile characterized by harmony, elegance, nuance, and subtlety. It shows great balance. The wine has an alcohol content of 13%, a pH of 3.4, and total acidity of 6.4 grams (tartaric).
The nose comes across as young; when tasted blind, the aromatics suggest a much younger wine, approximately ten years old, rather than one that has undergone two decades of aging. The palate reflects the proper ripening of the grapes, resulting in a structured yet refined expression typical of this historic Gran Reserva.
Critical Reception
The Wine Advocate (Parker) awarded this wine a score of 98. James Suckling rated it 97. The Wine Advocate noted that while comparison with the Bosconia is inevitable, this vintage distinguishes itself through its specific sense of harmony and subtlety not found in the other bottling. The review highlighted the favorable weather during harvest, which allowed for thorough ripening from October 15 to October 29.
Overall Character
The Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 2001 stands as a testament to traditional winemaking, combining old vines with extended barrel aging. Its youthful nose and refined elegance define its character.
PARKER: 98
The 2001 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva is the follow-up of the 1995. There is a sense of harmony and elegance, of nuance and subtleness that wasn't quite the same in the Bosconia, as comparing both wines is inevitable. They started picking the red grapes the 15th of October, and the last grapes were picked the 29th of October with good weather. The grapes ripened properly and thoroughly, and the wine has great balance for a long aging in bottle. This is 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in their 153-year-old oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in used barrels for 10 years. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.4 grams of acidity (tartaric). The nose shows young (tasting it blind, you'd guess a 10-year old wine, not a 20-year-old wine!). It has a nose of sweet spices, underbrush and cigar ash, somewhat balsamic, bramble fruit with perfect ripeness, integrated and young but starting to show some tertiary complexity. The palate is velvety and medium-bodied, with fine-grained, chalky tannins denoting a limestone soil that brings finesse and texture and a sapid, tasty, almost salty finish. This is going to make a beautiful bottle of old Rioja in 30 years' time! 25,000 bottles produced. It was bottled after being fined with egg whites in July 2012.
James Suckling: 97
Wow. This is really something on the nose, offering ripe plums that are highlighted with old and used leather, walnut and cedar, reminiscent of the interior of a fine vintage sports car. Full-bodied with very fine tannins and delicious, ripe fruit that continues on for minutes. Tile and dark berry at the end. Still tight and fresh for the vintage. A great wine. Drink or hold.
Learn more about R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia
R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia was founded in 1877, in Haro, by Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, when French merchants came to Rioja looking for grapes because of phylloxera. It is the oldest winery in Haro and one of the first three in Rioja, and it is still in the family's hands: today it is run by the fourth generation, with María José López de Heredia and her sister Mercedes.
The cellar was dug between 1890 and 1892: 3,433 square metres of underground galleries up to 200 metres long and more than 10 metres deep, holding 12,900 barrels.
The vineyards total 170 hectares in four estates: Tondonia, over 100 hectares planted in 1913-1914 on the right bank of the Ebro, between 438 and 489 metres, and Cubillo, Bosconia and Zaconia. The soils range from alluvial to clay-limestone, with gravel and river cobbles.
The wines ferment with skins in 240-hectolitre oak vats and age in oak barrels, racked twice a year, fined with egg whites and bottled unfiltered. The Reserva 2010 spends 6 years in barrel and the Gran Reserva 2001, 10. The house makes Viña Tondonia (red, white and rosé), Viña Bosconia, Viña Cubillo and Viña Gravonia.
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