2006 Vina Tondonia Tinto Reserva, Bodegas R. Lopez de Heredia, Rioja, Spain

"The red flagship 2006 Viña Tondonia Reserva was inspired by the vineyards of the Médoc but produced with local grapes, 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, which achieved 13% alcohol in 2006. It always matures in used American oak barriques for some six years. The oldest of all the reds I tasted, it was also the one with more freshness, which speaks to the quality of the vineyard. Here, the surprise is 2006, which in some parts of Rioja could be a bit warm but here is a lot fresher, and the wines are superb. They compared it with 2015, a year they like very much and think will have to be aged in barriques for a very long time.” Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, (February 2018)

Bodegas López de Heredia will once again enchant its loyal followers with the release of the 2006 Tondonia Tinto Reserva. This is the third successive, seriously impressive release of Tondonia, yet there is a touch of magic about the 2006 that suggests it is most aligned stylistically to the amazing 2001. It is notable that the 2006 has received 95 points from Wine Advocate – the same score as the 2001 (2004 – 94pts, 2005 – 93pts). Nevertheless, the wine still offers incredible value when considering its lineage and the fact that it has been aged for well over a decade in the unique, mushroomy cellars of this fabulous bodega.