Lopez de Heredia Mixed Case Red Rioja, 6 bottles

Vina Tondonia is the top single-vineyard wine of Lopez de Heredia, one of Rioja's most traditional producers. The wine has spent six years in American oak casks, followed by several years in bottle, released to the market when it is semi-mature.

Tondonia is a blend of four varieties: Tempranillo, Garnacha (or Garnacho, as they call it), Graciano, and Mazuelo. 

This wine is the most complex of all their reds, not quite as concentrated as Vina Bosconia, but easily the most age-worthy. I have had many old bottles of Tondonia; they seem to live forever. 2010 is an excellent vintage for this wine. It has more concentration and mid-palate weight than usual but retains its usual finesse and complexity. The highly aromatic notes include Spanish leather, undergrowth, spices, dried herbs, and the merest hint of black cherry.

R. Lopez de Heredia, also known as Tondonia, is the greatest producer in Rioja. Founded in 1877, their winemaking style has barely changed, holding fast to the traditions of their founder Rafael Lopez de Heredia. 

Vina Bosconia is the first of the two Reserves made at the Bodega. The wine typically spends five years in cask, and the rest in bottle. The recently released 2011 is 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha (or Garnacho as they call it), with the balance of Mazuelo and Graciano. 

The name Bosconia is a corruption of the Spanish word for Burgundy. Unlike their other wines, the wine is bottled in a Burgundy-shaped bottle to signify its Burgundian qualities. Mistakenly, in the 19th century, the winery believed that alluding to Burgundy meant being richer than a Claret: the style that most Rioja Bodegas of the time were intent on recreating.

Bosconia is a highly complex wine: a little more concentrated than Vina Cubillo, but not remarkably. The nose is open and broad with the beautiful balsamy, mature notes we expect from this outstanding wine.

If you are seeking out the ultimate expression of Rioja, then you have found it.

R. Lopez de Heredia, also known as Tondonia, is the greatest producer in Rioja. Founded in 1877, their winemaking style has mostly stayed the same, holding fast to the traditions of their founder Rafael Lopez de Heredia. 

The red wine range starts with Vina Cubillo. Although it is marketed as a Crianza, the wine is aged significantly longer than the minimum requires, more akin to a Reserva or Gran Reserva. The wine is concentrated, but more than anything, it is defined by its complexity and typicity of the traditionalist style of Rioja.

The wine spends three years in American oak cask, all from their own cooperage, then the rest in bottle. Typically the wine is 65% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha (or Garnacho, as they call it), with the remainder made. Up of Mazuelo and Graciano.

If you are seeking out the ultimate expression of Rioja, then you have found it.