On the glorious and fortunate occasion when one pulls the cork from a bottle of wine made by Lopez de Heredia, there is no risk of suffering from the illusion that there is anything ubiquitous about the extraordinary nectar that spills forth with each glass. Vina Tondonia is the flagship bottling from a storied producer; a wine of exceptional pedigree and privileged terroir.

Our two cents? These are amongst the best BBQ wines made anywhere on the planet. The density of fruit and richness of these wines gives them the stuffing to match up well with boldly flavoured grilled meats as well as the strong flavours often found in the spices and sauces adorning them.

If you’ve been following our newsletters for any period of time, you’ll know that I’ve got a bit of a thing for old vines – and the impact they can have on wine quality: low yields, stunning complexity and breathtaking concentration.