R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia 2012

Tondonia from the Ebro meander, Tempranillo-led, with Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano in support, and every bit as austere and unhurried as López de Heredia intends. Dried plum, woodsmoke and cedar on the nose, with a quiet herbal current running beneath. Lean and chalky on the tongue, with firm tannins that pull tight toward a compact, focused finish. This is not a wine that flatters early; it asks for time and gives back complexity. A classically built 2012 that does exactly what this house has always done.