2012 López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva

López de Heredia is one of the most traditional wineries in all of Rioja, and the 2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva is a perfect example of why extended barrel aging still matters. This wine is a blend of Tempranillo with small amounts of Garnacho, Graciano, and Mazuelo, aged six years in oak before release—a timeline that would be considered extreme nearly anywhere outside this historic Lincoln Park cellar's radar. The 2012 vintage was exceptionally dry across Rioja, yielding lower crop loads and grapes with concentrated balance, and critics widely regard it as one of the stronger recent Tondonia releases. The López de Heredia family has farmed their four estate vineyards around Haro since 1877, and they have never abandoned the old methods. Fermentation happens in massive wooden vats, and every wine spends years in large, neutral oak casks that shape texture without adding sweetness. Viña Tondonia is the estate's largest and coolest vineyard, sitting along the Ebro River on alluvial soils that slow ripening and preserve acidity even in warm years like 2012. The winery's insistence on extended aging before release means every bottle has already done most of its evolution in barrel, arriving ready to drink but built to cellar. The color is a clear ruby with a hint of bricking at the rim—that amber edge is the signature of bottle age and traditional winemaking. On the nose you get red raspberry, dried cranberry, and plum layered with cedar, fresh leather, and cigar box. The palate is full and round with polished tannins and a long, dry finish, but there's a brightness and freshness that keeps the wine from feeling heavy. The savory, earthy quality might surprise you if you've only tasted modern, fruit-forward Rioja—that contrast is the point. Pair this with roasted lamb, aged Manchego, or mushroom risotto, or open it an hour early and drink it with conversation. Available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.