R. López De Heredia, Viña Bosconia Reserva, Rioja, Spain, 2008

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Overview of the Wine
It all started in the middle of the nineteenth century when French negociants visited the Rioja region to find alternative sources of quality grapes to transform into wine, since the phylloxera epidemic had decimated their vineyards. Our founder, Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic student in the art of wine making, followed closely in their footsteps.
Don Rafael fell in love with the region and especially the area around Haro, the mythical capital of the Rioja Alta region. He observed that there was a magical combination of soil and climate that would offer the perfect environment for producing wine that would eventually become world famous. Around 1877 he began the design and construction of the complex that is today known as the López de Heredia bodega (winery), the oldest in Haro and one of the first three houses in the Rioja region.

For over a century our emotions have been rooted in our love and passion for this land and its harvest. We cherish our heritage, and this combination of love and the rigorous quality standards we apply, have become our trademark and remains our maxim for today and the future.

Bodegas López de Heredia stands out as one of the few family-run bodegas regulated by the Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja - DOC (Appellation region).

A year officially rated as VERY GOOD. The year passed without severe climatological incidents, in lack of spring frost; but denoted with abundant spring precipitations and after the harvest. However, a mild and drier summer favoured the growth and health of the grapes; which led to a not very abundant, but lightly superior harvest than the previous one with similar quality. The weather conditions were exceptionally favourable during all the final phase of the vegetative cycle, something that is always decisive for the quality of the harvest. Our vineyard enjoyed the optimal conditions necessary to get a health state of the fruit almost perfect; and with balanced parameters of colour, acidity, degree of alcohol and balance during the maturation. All of these characteristics let us get a high quality harvest with a little inferior final volume compared to previous years.

Grape / Blend
80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo & Graciano

Origin
Rioja, Spain

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
In general, Viña Bosconia wines are elegant but full-bodied; have a deep color and good structure, and are wines with great complexity and expression.

96 Points - Tim Atkin
Bosconia faces south and has plenty of fruit sweetness, even in a very cool Atlantic vintage like 2008. Combining Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, it’s a delightfully subtle, traditional Rioja Reserva that's all about secondary and tertiary flavours and aromas rather than wood. Savoury, subtle and aromatic, with wild strawberry, tobacco and forest floor notes.

94 Points - James Suckling
Taking on a balsamic and high-toned wood character to the ripe fruit on the nose. Some dried cheese and ripe fruit, too. Medium-bodied with integrated tannins that are polished and fine. Goes on for minutes. A beautiful, traditional wine, as always. Drink or hold.

93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The profile of the 2008 Viña Bosconia Reserva is a lot less ripe than the 2009, and there are some herbal undertones; it's more reserved and austere, still undeveloped after five years in barrel and at least that much time in bottle. It's a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho and the rest Graciano and Mazuelo that matured in used American oak barrels for five years. It reveals a medium body and some dusty tannins. It's quite the opposite from the 2009, and I think a hypothetical blend of the two would be better than each. It's a cold and austere vintage of Bosconia.

Product size: 750ml