Tempranillo-dominant red blend from one of the worlds great wineries

Showing a deep ruby colour with shades of orange reflecting its glorious evolution. A full-bodied nose shows mature fruit with dried cherries, plums and figs. The palate is round and smooth with great depth. Complex notes of smoke, baking spices, vanilla and sandalwood are interwoven with softly stitched tannins and a persistant finish. Decant for min 1.5 hours

• 92pts Robert Parker (Tasted Jul 22)
• 94pts Tim Atkin (Tasted Sept 21)
• Aged 5 years in American Oak
  

Cellaring: Now to 2030

Food Pairing: Guinea fowl tagine, charcuterie board, dark orange chocolate tart

STORY BEHIND THIS WINE

After 140 years of production and managed by 4 generations of the López de Heredia family. “Tondonia” is now a byword for exceptional Rioja the world over. Now run by the friendly yet formidable Maria José, one of the keys to their success has been a winemaking philosophy firmly entrenched in traditional methods. Says Maria José, “We continue to cultivate the vineyards and indeed make our wines following the techniques and philosophies laid down over 140 years ago”. With this much success behind them, there may be a lesson here for us all.