R. López de Heredia Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia 2004

Two decades of López de Heredia's patient work, ten years in barrel, ten in bottle, have shaped this Tondonia Gran Reserva into something deeply composed. Tempranillo leads the blend alongside Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, drawn from the famous vineyard loop on the Ebro. The color has shifted to bricked amber at the rim, and the nose offers dried black fruit, licorice, cedar resin, hazelnut and a faint cola note underpinned by garrigue. Dry and chalky on entry, with a faintly juicy, silky texture that carries through to a long, thyme-dusted finish. Uncompromising old-school Rioja Alta at its finest, terroir and time in a bottle.