Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Pillars on which the 5 founding families erected a winery in 1890 built a way of living, feeling and producing wines of the highest quality that continue to evolve. Bright Ruby, complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano, 48 mos on American oak. Ripe Berry fruits, powerful yet elegant, with spice & smoky notes on full tannins. Lingering finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip!! Tasting great, has more aging potential, try in 10+ years! Great Value! — 3 days ago

Severn Goodwin

9.3

Nose has spicy cherry, tanned leather, juiced raspberry-blackberry, cigar box, cocoa nibs, exceptional.

Palate has blackberry reduction, ripe cherry mash, moist leather, cedar shavings, light mocha, nice acidity and dissipating tannins are gentle, long finish.

We've been enjoying these Heredia crianzas for many years, but they do need time to settle in and we're still drinking these too young, but damn they are guilty pleasures.

Decanted 2+hrs, drink now or enjoy over the next 4-6 years without concern.

$22, yes I know that reads like a crazy price, because it is, only patience is required! — 10 days ago

Byron Hewett

9.1

Aged in French oak. Will be better in 10 years. A little woody for me. — 3 days ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.4

Always à point. Sour cherry, oak, softening tannins. Lovely now, hold for 10 and see what it brings. — 12 days ago

with Alsu

Severn Goodwin

9.3

Nose has oxidized honey, green herbs, hazelnut, apricot, faint-light petrol, eucalyptus, gardenia blossom, all powerful, concentrating and invigorating.

Palate has honey tea with oak sawdust, cedar plank, beautiful saline minerality, candlewax, great acidity bite that comes in late, such extravagance.

We've been enjoying these Heredia crianzas for many years, but they do need time to settle in and we're still drinking these too young, but damn they are guilty pleasures. We really fell in love with the Blanc many years ago, drinking young then patiently waiting several years, wow what an evolution!

Decanted 2+hrs, drink now or enjoy over the next 3-5 years without concern.

$22, yes I know that reads like a crazy price, because it is, only patience is required! — 10 days ago

Paul Jakubowski

9.1

Holy oak!! Massive oak and vanilla on the nose and throughout the palate. Was balanced at times but also had some heat, which was surprising as it’s listed at 13.5% OH. I enjoyed it @ £26! — 12 days ago

with Brooke

"Odedi"

9.2

This is a delicious 10 year old Rioja Reserva. Showing a beautiful nose with lots of flowers.

On the palate, red and black fruits with chocolates, cedar, leather, vanilla, cloves, spices, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs. Dry and spicy.

Long tangy finish with soft tannins.

Needs 60 minutes of airtime to open up properly.

Robert Parker 93 points. Wine Spectator 90 points.

Not fully balanced anymore, but very enjoyable by itself or with food.

A blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. Aged separately for 36 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$39. — 19 days ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.5

The mythical unicorn #rosewine from @lopezdeherediaoficial: Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Rosado 2008.

A friendly wine retailer I am close with sold me a few bottles at regular price thankfully as I gave him the heads up it was coming.  (He also sold his others at regular price!) This wine used to be easily available during its last release, the 2000 vintage back around 2005, not to mention super reasonable in price.  An unfortunate victim of fashion, the secondary market pricing on this starts around $200 and goes up to $300.

Pale copper and deep pink in color, the hue here is as it looks here turning more orange at the rim.  The nose showed as it should for an extended barrel aged wine, showing clear notes the toll oxidation has taken with time in wood.  Though, the wood aromas are well-integrated and intermingle well with dried red fruits, ginger and spice, and a clear sense of minerality which is all laid well into the thick and pungent nose.  The palate shows more precision and tension in the densely textured and flavored med/med+ body of the wine.  Finishes long and fans out wide over the palate.  For sure about as unique a rose as there is out there.   — 13 days ago

Peter Sultan

8.9

Like a hit song I’ve heard over & over again, not sure I know what this tastes like anymore-but it is delicious. Give it air to fill out the tomato soup notes (actually a good tomato soup). Double dare on finding a better & more consistent value under 18$. — 14 days ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

For a nearly 40 yro Rioja so fresh & vibrant. High pitch notes of mixed red fruit and vanilla on palate. Still snap of acidity to close out finish. Interesting to compare to the younger Lopez Tondonia from night before-not as deep? Drank by the river Jan Kill at the end of a good hike. — 18 days ago

with Paul and Owen