1942 R. López de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva

The mature 1942 Vina Tondonia is savory, still structured, and vibrant. This fully intact offering should drink well for at least another decade. At the end of the tasting I was asked if I would like to taste a “young” wine. A visit to the venerable Bodega Lopez de Heredia, located in the Rioja Alta capital of Haro, is akin to entering a time machine taking you back 100 years. Construction of the Bodega began in 1877 and continues without any apparent changes to the present day. The winery is operated by the voluble Maria Jose Lopez de Heredia, her sister Mercedes, and their father Pedro, still active into his 80s. All of the wines are produced from estate grown bush vines. Tondonia and Bosconia are two different vineyards; Bosconia has a larger percentage of Tempranillo and a different orientation. For an excellent overview of the estate, read Eric Asimov’s blog in the New York Times dated August 11, 2009. Importers: Think Global, Santa Barbara, CA and Polaner Selections, Mt. Kisco, NY; tel. (914) 244-0404