There are few producers we return to with as much joy—and as much regularity—as Lopez de Heredia. These are wines that don’t chase trends or market demands. They’re made the same way they’ve been made for over a century: by hand, by instinct, and according to a timeline that belongs to no one but the winery itself.

While most Rioja producers have embraced modern methods—newer oak, shorter aging, earlier releases—Lopez still moves at its own, deliberate pace. The result? Wines that reach us fully mature, with layers of earthy complexity and structure already baked in. They don’t evolve in the bottle so much as arrive already evolved, like a letter from another era.

That’s why it still feels like a small miracle to open a bottle of Viña Cubillo Crianza 2016—a “young” wine in Lopez terms, but already aged for years in barrel and bottle before release. It’s vibrant and savory, with red cherry fruit, notes of cured meat, and a dusty, lifted finish. A textbook Rioja—and one of the best values anywhere in the wine world.

And then there’s Viña Tondonia Reserva 2012, a deeper, more brooding expression from the estate’s most iconic vineyard. Aged for six years in barrel and another six in bottle, it’s hauntingly complex: dried herbs, tea, old leather, and that unmistakable oxidative shimmer that makes Tondonia so singular. There's nothing else quite like it, in Rioja or beyond.

We’ve carried these wines for years—often offering them vintage after vintage—and they never lose their charm. They’re part of Flatiron’s DNA at this point. Enjoy:

Lopez de Heredia Rioja Crianza Vina Cubillo 2016 -  $29.99
" The 2016 Crianza Viña Cubillo, from Haro in Rioja Alta, underwent a three-year aging process in used oak barrels. Garnet in color, the wine reveals enticing notes of cherry marmalade, complemented by herbal, mint-like hints. Dry, intense and fairly grippy, the 2016 also features a mild chalky texture. Firm and juicy with a vibrant core, it presents itself as a flavorful red in its primary state. I anticipate that further bottle-aging will unlock deeper complexities, and I look forward to revisiting it in the years to come. 94pts. " - Joaquín Hidalgo (Vinous)

Lopez de Heredia Rioja Reserva Vina Tondonia 2012 - $65.99
" The 2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva comes from a very dry year, with 25% less rain than the average (at the time), resulting in lower yields of very healthy grapes that delivered wines with nice balance between alcohol and polyphenols, making it very apt for the aging in barrel. It had a slightly longer élevage in barrel, six years. The wine is aromatic with a developed profile, spicy and tertiary (forest floor, a touch of brick dust and iodine), complex and nuanced. The palate is full and round, with polished tannins and a long, dry finish. It has a textbook Tondonia nose and profile. 250,000 bottles produced. RP 95. " Luis Gutiérrez (Robert Parker)