Winery: Bodegas R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia           

Region: D.O.C. Rioja

Vintage: 2004

Bottle: 75 cl.

Grape Varieties: 90% Viura and 10% MalvasÍa

Type: White Wine Reserva

Alcohol Content: 12.5% vol.

Serving Temperature: 14° - 16°

Viña Tondonia White Gran Reserva is a classic Rioja, made in a very traditional style. This complex, elegant, long-aged wine is a benchmark in the Rioja DO and has excellent ageing potential.

It is part of the "Grandes Reservas" range of wines that the winery has been reserving since 1877. Wines made from grapes of exceptional quality, which give them a greater capacity for ageing over time. These "Grandes Reservas" or "Grandes Vinos" always come from a special selection, made only in extraordinary years that meet the special conditions.

The 2004 vintage was considered excellent in La Rioja, and the wine was awarded 100 Parker points by the prestigious American publication "The Wine Advocate".

The bottles come sealed. The sealing wax is the ideal product to protect the cork in those bottles that have spent many years in the darkness of a cave, cellar, or warehouse. This prevents the cork from being attacked by mould or insects in dry environments. The use of sealing wax on the heads of bottles not only preserves the integrity of the bottles but also avoids having to replace the cork. This "seal" adds the guarantee of authenticity and origin of the wine contained in the bottle.

How to open the bottle with sealing wax?

There are two ways of removing the sealing wax from a cork. The first method involves hitting the sealing wax with the back of the corkscrew and then wiping off the remains with a clean cloth. The second method, the most advisable, is to insert the corkscrew directly without removing the sealing wax and to gently hold the remains of the sealing wax that come out naturally when the cork is pulled with your hand as the cork comes out. It is important to open the bottle slowly and carefully to prevent the sealing wax from falling inside. Afterwards, the neck of the bottle should be wiped with a clean cloth, carefully and from the inside out.

Production: 

Made in a very traditional winemaking style, hand-harvested grapes are selected from very low-yielding old vines sourced from their own vineyards. Vines planted between 1913 and 1914 and located on the banks of the Ebro River at an altitude of 450 metres above sea level.

Naturally fermented in old foudres. Aged for 10 years in well-seasoned, neutral American oak barrels; raked twice a year and fined with egg whites; bottled unfiltered; and followed by some ageing in bottle.

Tasting Notes: 

Old gold to amber colours. Persistent, perfumed, honeyed nose. Good complexity with white fruits, pear, and honeysuckle; mineral notes and hints of oak and honey. On the palate, the wine is round, consistent, full-bodied, and smooth with finesse and elegance. Velvety, dry texture with butterscotch and honeyed notes and a slight salty finish.

How to enjoy it:

It is recommended to decant the wine and let it settle for at least one hour prior to drinking and serve it very carefully. If you decide not to decant, it is recommended to let the bottle stand vertically for an hour so that the sediment remains at the bottom.

Open the bottle carefully, as the cork may lose its adhesion over the years. Serve the wine with care, ensuring as little movement as possible. Consume between 18 and 20 º.

Due to their age, it is possible that some bottles may contain sediments. This will not affect the complexity of the aroma or its taste and enjoyment.

Due to the fact that these bottles have been filled by hand and have been ageing for many years, the height of the wine in the neck is always uneven. The wines have been bottled, sealed, and labelled exclusively by hand.

After receiving the wine, it should be left to rest for at least one week, ideally in a quiet, dark, and cool place.

THE WINERY

The family-owned bodega López Heredia, one of Rioja’s oldest and most traditional establishments, was founded in 1913 by Rafael López de Heredia. Three generations later, the family Lopez de Heredia continue to devote themselves to producing exceptional and unique wines. Located in the heart of the Rioja Alta region, Viña Tondonia is a beautiful vineyard and one of the most spectacular in Haro, with over 100 hectares situated in a shell-like depression on the right bank of the river Ebro. The soil is alluvial clay with a high proportion of limestone. The grapes from Viña Tondonia are always used in making their highest quality wine.