Lopez de Heredia - Vina Tondonia Reserva - Magnum 2005
López de Heredia is located in Haro, La Rioja , Spain . Its history began in the mid-19th century when French merchants visited the Rioja region to find alternative sources of quality grapes to turn into wine, as the phylloxera epidemic had decimated their vineyards. The founder, Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta , a knowledgeable and enthusiastic student of the art of winemaking, closely followed in their footsteps. Around 1877, he began the design and construction of the complex that is known today as the López de Heredia Bodega, the oldest in Haro and one of the first three bodegas in the Rioja region. The estate produces 4 main vintages; the famous Viña Tondonia (100 hectares), Viña Cubillo (from the vineyard called Viña Cubillas of 24 hectares with plots named “La Encina” and “La Monja”), Viña Bosconia (15 hectares from the El Bosque vineyard) and Viña Gravonia (from the Viña Zaconia vineyard of 24 hectares).
The grapes are harvested by hand with a curved knife called a “Corquete”, to ensure that the skin of the grape does not crack. The red grapes are destemmed before going into the fermentation tanks, while the white grapes are crushed, immediately releasing their juice. For rosés, the process is mixed: the skins remain in contact with the must during a period of maceration so that some of the color can be absorbed, but are then removed before fermentation begins. The must is fermented in large oak vats: the largest (with a capacity of 240 hectoliters) are intended for red wine, while the smallest (capacity of 60 hectoliters) are intended for whites. A second fermentation takes place in Bordeaux-type oak barrels, and can last up to five or six months. Once the wines have undergone both fermentation processes and any sediment or lees have been removed, the wine is then ready to be aged in 225 liter Bordeaux sized barrels. The wines then spend a minimum of 6 months aging in the cellar before being put on sale.
The Tondonia Reserva 2005 is a blend of Tempranillo (75%), Garnacha (15%), Mazuelo with a little Graciano in the blend, and is aged for 6 years in oak barrels . The 2005 vintage is a vintage classified as excellent by the DOC Rioja board of directors. The growing season began with a cold winter with some snow. A mild but very dry spring allowed for early and successful budbreak and flowering, while a few showers provided welcome relief. The start of summer brought significant storms which helped to reinforce the dry soils before a particularly arid July. Despite the drought conditions, most of the vines remained in excellent health and the grapes ripened slowly until harvest.
Grape varieties: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo and Graciano
