2009 Vina Tondonia Rioja Reserva

Offer published: 09/04/2021

Lopez de Heredia releases Vina Tondonia's Rioja Reserva 2009

It is difficult to see how Bodegas López de Heredia could possibly put a foot wrong at the moment. With a non-stop succession of superb vintages since the 2004, it is simply human nature to expect that one must surely come along that is not quite so appealing. Not so with the 2009 Tondonia Tinto Reserva! This is a fabulously open and attractive wine with wonderful depth of fruit and long-lasting flavour. The best recent-vintage comparison for this would be the 2005, not quite matching that vintage’s concentration but definitely echoing its generosity and immediately rewarding character. Given that the most recent vintage of 2008 is still very tight at present and the 2010 (as yet untasted) is expected to be very structured (knowing the conditions of the vintage and the profile of the 2010 Rosado from last year), this 2009 is the wine to enjoy whilst the others come round. Do not be deceived though – this is no lightweight and is a fabulous wine on its own. It is a wine that is already utterly enjoyable and one that will easily make up for the patience required over the next decade or so whilst the 2008 and 2010 come into their own. 

In Bond Ex VAT, Payment on invoice, Shipping June 2021.

2009 Vina Tondonia Reserva

Halves £162 /12 

Bottles £144 /6 

Magnums £312 /6 

"Gorgeous aromas soar out of the glass of this wine. It is not reticent at all – quite the opposite in fact, being very open and generous at this stage. Aromas of sweet strawberries and raspberries mingle with that classic fresh leather note, so typical of this wine. Autumn leaves and wild sage appear but underneath all these classic tertiary aromas lies a concentrated ball of fruit.

The open, generous feel continues on the palate yet there is still a tightness here within the mineral structure, suggesting that this might need another year or two fully to open up. It is very fresh with classic ‘Tondonia’ layers of complexity enveloping the palate along with that gentle, yet concentrated, redcurrant fruit. Savoury characters come to the fore and tannins are very fine, drifting yet present, whilst the savoury, ‘coated’ finish is mouth-wateringly long. This is a gorgeous Tondonia for drinking soon whilst you wait for your 2008 to come round – and bearing in mind 2010 is likely to be extremely structured, you should plan on getting enough of this to drink for a few years whilst the rest stays in your cellar."

Drink 2022 (decanted) to 2036.

Catriona Felstead MW, April 2021 

"The 2009 Viña Tondonia Reserva, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Mazuelo and Graciano, matured in used American oak barrels for six years. It has some toasted character, with ripe fruit, black rather than red, denoting a warm year but more restrained than the Bosconia Reserva from the same vintage. 2009 is a year of ripeness, concentration and tannin; the wines are powerful, but here you see the finesse of Tondonia in comparison to the more rustic Viña Bosconia. Drink 2020-2029." 

93/100 the Wine Advocate