Ericsson

9.6

If you know, you know.

Just eying the bottle evokes a sense of mysticism—these are increasingly rare sightings, relics of a winemaking philosophy nearly lost to time. Opening it after a recent visit to the winery feels familiar, almost fated.

The color holds strong despite its 20+ years, with a core of garnet that defies its age. On the nose, memory takes over: the scent of the underground cellar, the mold-covered walls, the rustic perfume of wood and brick. Then come the classics notes—dried rose petals, red berries, and a whisper of spice.

The palate surprises with more volume than the bottle’s vintage muster’s. Lively red fruit mingles with savory earth and warm spice, carried by silken tannins. The finish lingers with a trace of wet oak, grounding the experience in place and time.

This is a wine of lineage, character, and quiet perseverance—a style too uncommon today. Most importantly, it was opened, shared, and deeply enjoyed. — 22 days ago

Samantha Italiano

8.9

Best from Argentinian wine night — 15 days ago

Lev Lavrichtchev

8.9

Apr 2025: fruit bomb, raisins and black plum, nice nose. Lucks acidity and little body, one dimensional — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

100% Malbec crafted by the Catena Zapata family, which established with their first Malbec vineyard planted in Mendoza, Argentina in the beginning of 1900’s.
This is sensational mid-range in the Zapata portfolio, highly perfumed wine, on nose it welcomes you with a blend of medley berries, ripen plums and baked blueberries. On the palate shows highly and deep flavors of dark chocolate, some hint of herbaceous and violet flowers as well.
The mouthfeel is denoted by the creamy and rounded tannins with a execptional depth and complexity. Decant it for 45-60 mins, pour and cheers! — 19 days ago

Karyn Fricke

9.0

Berry fruit nose with cinnamon and nutmeg spices. Medium tannins, well balanced great paella — 11 days ago

James Burge

9.2

2004 tondonia - maybe the best rioja i’ve ever had — a month ago

Michelle

9.2

Had in València. We really like this Rioja. Dry and smooth. A definite buy. — 18 days ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.1

Beautiful Rioja. Layers of red fruit and nice acidity. Super mellow tannins at this age. Doesn’t need much to open up. — 22 days ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.4

Incredible bottle of LRA — 21 days ago

Zach D

9.5

A unique wine. Vibrant golden hue, reductive aroma combined with a variety of ripe orchard fruits, saline breeze, pineapple, wet stone. Palate with high acidity, a lingering tannic grip, stony minerality, apple, pear, fresh almonds. I drink the current vintage (which happens to be 2012 this year) with my wife once per year, and have for the last 5 years. Nostalgic. — 2 months ago