"As with many wines this time, I had two vintages to taste of the Reserva from the Tondonia vineyard, 2009 and 2008, two very different, almost opposite vintages. The 2009 Viña Tondonia Reserva, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Mazuelo and Graciano, matured in used American oak barrels for six years. It has some toasted character, with ripe fruit, black rather than red, denoting a warm year but more restrained than the Bosconia Reserva from the same vintage. 2009 is a year of ripeness, concentration and tannin; the wines are powerful, but here you see the finesse of Tondonia in comparison to the more rustic Viña Bosconia. 220,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2017." 

"From the López de Heredia family’s prime vineyard on a meander of the Ebro just outside of Haro, Tondonia is a blend of tempranillo with 20 percent garnacha along with small amounts of graciano and mazuelo. It’s a little volatile when first released from its long rest in bottle, then it turns silken and mouthwatering with air, a bright, lively and refreshing take on traditional Rioja. Brisk cherry and delicate orange zest notes make this an easy pleasure, fully mature with ample tannins to carry it further, equally at home with a plate of hake cheeks or a rabbit stew."