Planted 110 years ago, the Tondonia vineyard lies on the right bank of the River Ebro and the entire area belongs to López de Heredia. Viña Tondonia wines are always complex, spicy and lively, and 2012 was a vintage of healthy grapes and balance in Rioja. The ripeness is obvious even by its appearance when poured into a glass, the pomegranate colour turns amber, and then the wine slowly opens up with the winery’s trademark musty, smoky, balsamic vinegar aromas that you simply can't get tired of. Dried berries and vanilla also emerge alongside. The palate has a balsamic structure, yet it is bone dry and refreshing. Even though opening it now wouldn’t be a mistake, it's good to know that every Tondonia Reserva has at least 30-40 years of ageing potential.

The selection comes exclusively from their own vineyard, the 110-hectare Tondonia, where the youngest areas are 50 years old and the oldest are over 100. Seventy percent of the grapes are Tempranillo, 20% are Graciano and 10% are Mazuelo. After the hand harvest, the bunches are transferred to an old destemmer, and fermentation starts spontaneously in wooden vats. During the 5 years of ageing in barrels, the wines are moved twice a year, in which case they are traditionally fined with homemade egg whites. The unfiltered bottling is followed by a further 5-6 years of bottle ageing before being released on the market.