Lopez de Heredia Tondonia Vina Bosconia Reserva 2012

Lopez de Heredia’s Viña Bosconia Reserva 2012 is a textbook example of traditional Rioja at its most characterful—structured, savory, and built to age. Sourced from the historic Bosconia vineyards in Rioja Alta, this classic Tempranillo-based blend offers depth, tension, and the distinctive chalky grip of limestone soils. While already compelling, it’s a wine that rewards patience, promising even greater harmony with a few more years in the cellar.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2012 Viña Bosconia Reserva shows a deep, garnet-tinged ruby core with subtle brick hues beginning to form at the rim—an early sign of its traditional, long-aging style. The nose is complex and evolving: red and dark cherries, dried plum, and wild strawberries mingle with notes of leather, tobacco leaf, and dried herbs, framed by hints of cedar, vanilla, and sweet spice from long maturation in old American oak. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with a firm, chalk-dusted tannic structure that reflects its limestone origins. Flavors of sour cherry, red currant, and stewed raspberry are layered with savory nuances of cured meat, spice box, forest floor, and a faint balsamic edge. The acidity is bright and refreshing, keeping the wine lifted and food-friendly, while the finish is long, dry, and elegantly bitter with notes of cocoa, tea leaf, and earthy spice. Still youthful and a touch strict, the 2012 has clear aging potential: drink now with a generous decant, or cellar for another 5–10 years (and likely longer) for softer tannins and more tertiary complexity.

Production
Viña Bosconia Reserva 2012 is sourced primarily from the Bosconia vineyards in Rioja Alta, an area prized for its relatively cool climate and limestone- and clay-rich soils that give wines their signature freshness and fine, chalky tannins. The blend is predominantly Tempranillo, supported by around 15% Garnacho and approximately 5% combined Graciano and Mazuelo, all from mature, low-yielding vines traditionally trained and hand-harvested at optimal ripeness. True to Lopez de Heredia’s unwaveringly classic approach, the must is fermented in large, old wooden vats using indigenous yeasts, followed by extended aging in well-seasoned American oak barrels for five years. The wine undergoes natural clarification through traditional racking and is bottled without aggressive filtration, preserving its character and ability to age. Bottling took place in May 2019, after which the wine rested further in bottle before release.

Food & Serving
This is a quintessential food wine, best matched with savory, substantial dishes that can stand up to its structure and earthiness. Think roasted lamb with herbs, slow-braised beef, suckling pig, game birds, charcuterie, and aged Manchego or other firm sheep’s cheeses. Classic Spanish dishes such as lamb chops a la plancha, chorizo stew, or mushroom and jamón tapas are particularly harmonious. Serve at 16–18°C (about 60–65°F) in large Bordeaux-style glasses. Given its youthful tannic backbone and traditional élevage, a decant of 1–2 hours is recommended to let the wine open and soften, especially if enjoyed in the next few years.

Producer
Lopez de Heredia, founded in 1877 in Haro, is one of Rioja’s most revered and staunchly traditional bodegas—often cited as a living museum of classic winemaking. Still family-owned and now led by María José López de Heredia, the estate has become synonymous with long-aged, terroir-driven Riojas that defy modern fashion in favor of authenticity and patience. Their flagship vineyards, including Tondonia and Bosconia, are among the most historic in Rioja Alta, and the winery is known for releasing wines only when they feel they are ready, often after remarkably extended barrel and bottle aging. Lopez de Heredia’s steadfast commitment to old-vine fruit, lengthy maturation in used American oak, and time-honored cellar techniques has earned them iconic status in the region and a devoted following among serious Rioja enthusiasts worldwide.