New Arrivals from Lopez de Heredia

4/15/20 -

These wines need very little introduction: Lopez de Heredia has rightfully been recognized as one of the great producers of traditional Rioja. The wines on offer today come directly from the winery, where they've been aging until full maturity. 

The wines on offer today come from three vineyards:

The Viña Tondonia, a more than 100 hectare assemblage of vineyards acquired by the estate in 1913, is situated on a large meander of the river Ebro. This is the largest vineyard owned and worked by the Lopez estate, and the grapes are used in the production of both white and red Reserva wines, and in exceptional years a small number of Gran Reserva bottles. 

The Viña Cubillas vineyard is situated on 40 hectares along the Ebro roughly four kilometers from Haro, at a slightly lower elevation than the El Bosque vineyard. The vineyard consists of two plots: "La Encina" and "La Monja." Both vineyards are planted exclusively with red grapes, and the wines produced are classified as crianza.

And the Viña Zaconia, which is uniquely planted with exclusively Viura and lies on steep south facing slopes along the Ebro. The 24 hectares are on poor, stony white soils that yield balanced and concentrated white wines. The grapes from Zaconia are destined for the Viña Gravonia.

While these wine are mature enough for the winery to release them for current drinking, the Tondonia wines are exceedingly long-lived and would certainly reward further aging; 1995 was, in particular, a very good year in Rioja. Ben Fletcher