Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend

Poured into a decanter maybe an hour prior to service. The 1970 Tondonia Gran Reserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core, moving towards a slightly orange rim. Medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and absolutely brilliant with a mix of desiccated and ripe fruits: dried Morello and Montmorency cherry, cocoa powder, mushrooms, old leather bound books, an entire cabinet full of dried herbs and spices, a memory of barnyard and a deciduous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is dry with good structure still: medium tannin (fully integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and makes me believe there is something bigger than us in this life. This bottle, on this afternoon, gives the confidence to embrace the mystery. Drink now with an hour of air but I get the sense this is one of those Energizer Bunny wines…

The 2012 vintage really showcases the brilliance of López de Heredia in a challenging, dry year. Deep garnet with brick hues at the rim; lovely aromas of red cherries and red currants, coffee, spiced cedar, leather, and light oak on the nose; great red and black fruit on the palate, plus earthy notes, dried herbs, and silky and well integrated tannins; and a long, elegant finish with a perfect balance of fruit and acids.

Enjoyed with spanish charcuteries and danish cheeses - and Tchaikovsky’s 6th with Teodor Currentzis.

A classic that doesn’t get old

Sempre interessante. Indovinato alla cieca 😁

A fantastic vintage of tondonia. Still showing American oak on the palate but some secondary mushrooms/earth tones emerging. Will hold a while longer and fortunately have several more

What an absolute treat. Medium ruby in the glass with just a hint of garnet. Fruit and tannin almost completely resolved. The purity of the acidity is stunning but the most impressive part of the wine is the texture and mouthfeel. Silky and elegant. Earth and mushroom. Burgundian.

Dark berry and dried wood. Garrigue and mocha. Drying at the edges. Good fruit

Dark blue fruit. Intense and savory. Gnarly underbrush. Plums and salinity. Really delicious and deep

Sultry and perfumed. Seductive earthiness, combined with pure pure red fruit and mint on the nose. Amazing density and liveliness on the palate, it buzzes with energy. Iron, mineral and bloody. So soulful. Has some real life ahead of it still.

Popped and poured; consumed over two days. My second time enjoying the 1995 Gran Reserva (the most recent release from LdH). The wine pours garnet with a translucent core accompanied by some fine sediment and a slightly watery rim. Medium viscosity. On the nose, high intensity and seems to have some VA. There’s also a little bit of the funk too. Highly perfumed with cherry, red rope licorice, balsamic, cumin, horse saddle, dill, and iron rich earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium++ acid. Tart cherries and again with the red rope licorice. Also, there are blackberries and plums, buzz buttons, iron, tomato, leather, olives and exotic spices. Long, savory finish. Despite being 26 years from vintage, the wine comes across super bright and fresh. Just lovely.