Tasting a wine from Lopez de Heredia is like tasting history. Little has changed at the winery since Don Rafael López de Heredia opened the doors 142 years ago. The grapes for Viña Bosconia comes from El Bosque vineyard. The 2012 contains 80%, Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha and 5% equal amounts of Graciano and Mazuelo. The wines were aged in American oak barrels, some as old as the winery. It is medium bodied and offers aromas and flavors of black plums and figs with notes of smoked leather, finishing with grainy tannins and a long, smooth finish. Serve it with grilled lamb chops or roasted quail.
R. Lopez Heredia Viña Tondonia, Rioja (Spain) 2012
By Rebecca Murphy