2012 R Lopez de Heredia "Vina Tondonia" Rioja Reserva

"Vina Tondonia" is the vineyard that made R. Lopez de Heredia's name: more than 100 hectares of alluvial clay and limestone in a shell-shaped loop on the right bank of the Ebro, planted in 1913 and 1914 by the founder, Rafael Lopez de Heredia y Landeta. The bodega he began building in Haro in 1877 is still owned and run by his family, four generations on, and it keeps the methods that most of Rioja abandoned, including native-yeast fermentation in old wooden vats and ageing in barrels from its own cooperage. The 2012 Reserva comes from a very dry year, with about a quarter less rain than average, which gave low yields of very healthy fruit. It is about 70% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha with Graciano and Mazuelo, spent six years in 225 liter American oak barrels and was bottled in January 2022, unfiltered after egg white fining. Released close to a decade after harvest, it is ready to drink and will keep for many years.