R. Lopez de Heredia, Tondonia Tinto Gran Reserva, Rioja

My finest Tondonia GR yet, enjoyed it even more than my beloved 1995. One of the most old school wineries in the world. Made from a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo, fermented in up to 149 year old vats, aged for 13 years in old US oak barrels and 7 years in bottle. Medium ruby garnet colour. Explosive complex aroma of dried roses, strawberries, cherries, tobacco, earth, dried leaves, leather. Medium body, impeccable structure and …

2004 vintage

At Franzén, Stockholm.

2004 vintage

Good but not great, 4 hour decant. Sour cherry did show. Better in day two. Wait forever or skip? Bottle could be off but seems to fit with other reviews.

2004 vintage

Silky but not tremendous depth. Now thru2030+. I don't seeing this gaining depth

1995 vintage

Best wine i have tasted yet in my short wine career. Extremely long and the nose is beautiful. Its eligant and balanced, but I feel it lacks some power to give it a perfect experience.

2004 vintage

Tasting: The traditional rioja with a lot of dill is not my type of wine, but if you like the style you will probably love this.

2004 vintage

It seems we had a far different experience to everyone else judging from the TNs, below. Ours was muted, tight and sort of not giving its all. Decanting did some help but was not enough. Perplexed and we almost feel “the rest. Was no more than a 91 but could well be an off bottle. No obvious fault or flaw though.

2004 vintage

Im a big Tondonia fan and had my first red Gran Reserva at the beginning of this year. A 2001 which i loved! The 04 is simply amazing as well. The only thing I can say is that it could age a lot more. Glad I have more in the cellar! The 2004 is extremely classic and had a decent amount of acidity. It evolved nicely over the evening and paired amazing well with braised short rib. Medium garnet with …

2004 vintage

Note to self: take the advice from others here and give it hours to open. I only did a quick decant and did not get to enjoy all this wine has to offer.

2004 vintage

Spanish red wine from Rioja: Tempranillo 75 %, Garnacho 15 %, Mazuelo and Graciano 10 %. Aged in barrels for 10 years. TA 6 g/l. 13 % alcohol. Decanted and stored in the decanter during the evening. Slightly pale, ruby red color. Powerful, pure and elegant aromas of black currant, blueberries, dark chocolate, dill, oak, red fruit, earth and minerals. Powerful, intense and pure flavors of cherries, dark fruit, dark chocolate, dill, oak, tobacco, earth and minerals. Dry. Medium body. …

2004 vintage

Need 4-5 hour decant to finally boom! Right out of bottle, a little bit sour but after a few hours, I understand the hype!

2004 vintage

Pavlo's birthday (Wine Taste Gdansk) : Incredibly youthful and vibrant color. On the nose, a beautiful bouquet almost reminiscent of Brunello, with notes of aromatic herbs, earth, wet forest, and balsamic tones, along with hints of olive and crisp red fruit. The palate is vibrant and perfectly balanced even in its youth, with great finesse. Tannins are still a bit raw but approachable, and the finish is extremely long. 95+ points. A wine that recalls young Biondi Santi—difficult to fully …

2004 vintage

Had over a month ago and wanted to chime in....never really came around despite several hours in the decanter. Huge fan of this producer, however, this bottle was being oh so stubborn. Saying go away and come back later. Have a feeling could have used a week or 2 of slow ox to shed its outer layer.

1995 vintage

This is nearly perfect, a refined, graceful, elegant expression of winemaking art. Drink it slowly to experience its chameleon-like evolution over a period of hours in the glass. There is fruit, however light, and but one component of much deeper intricacies. I could identify wild herbs, rose petals, loam, truffles, mushrooms, rusty iron, and more as the wine developed. The supporting structure is saline, fresh and superbly integrated.

2004 vintage

Komplex, schöne dunkle Frucht, Tannine immer noch da, aber schon poliert, angenehme Säure, immer noch recht jung, in 5 - 10 Jahren die nächste Flasche probieren.

2004 vintage

Españathon : 20 years younger than the other LdHs in the flight, this represents a significantly different point in the aging curve of this wine. Still shows quite primary, with a strong core of black fruit and leathery structure. Firm and relatively unyielding, best to forget about these for the other 20 more years necessary for it to reach the heights of the aged versions; of that I am quite confident given the overall quality of the material here, but …

1995 vintage

I had high hopes for this bottle reading reviews here and from other sources, but this was a little bit of a let down. I know you guys are going to tell me I opened this too soon... so I will let the other bottles rest for a while longer. The nose was fine, smelled of dill and smoke, not much fruit. But the mid-palate was almost non-existent. It's like someone removed the fruit and there was nothing in its …

2004 vintage

Unik och komplex, det första intrycket bestod av en jordgubbskompott, med hallon och en tydlig klassisk Rioja dill touch. Paletten över hela perioden bevarades balanserad och silkeslen. Allt var integrerat och de tertiära tonerna finns genom doften av läder, ceder, svamp och mossa började träda fram mer och mer. Soja började även återfinnas i slutet av drickfönstret. Vinet fick vistas i karaff cirka 4 timmar och övergick med tiden och utvecklades och förändrades. Var fantastisk till ost, samtidigt som vinet …

2004 vintage

Drank a bottle over 5 hours and had a different experience with each sip. The complexity and balance are only to be experienced. It drinks extremely young with a core of precision and elegance. Quality oak that brings spice and finesse. With that said, it felt a little like this bottle hadn't unleashed all its potential yet; the 2 extra points that I bet this deserves will be saved for my remaining bottles and 20 years in the future.

2004 vintage

Translucent brick red with the faintest tinge of purple betraying a hint of garnacha. Unfiltered, but somehow when light strikes it in the glass it casts a searingly brilliant ruby gemstone ray of light which is something to behold. Chose not to decant but instead experience the change in the glass. Three hours in, it hasn’t stopped changing. Complexly layered and multifaceted on the nose with no one component dominating - there’s sour balaton cherry, dried cherry, black plums and …

2004 vintage

Opened on New Years, decanted half a bottle for 4 hours and drank the remaining half over 5 days (had remaining wine in the bottle with a existing kork). In the beginning still quite closed and with lots of freshness - Probably reaches its prime in 10-15 years After decanting it, beautiful cherry notes, hint of vanilla and leather. On the palate nice acidity and lots of secondary and tertiary flavors. Overall very well balanced!

2004 vintage

2004 is the most recent release of the Tondonia Gran Reserva, and even knowing these can age for decades wanted to test one out post release. Decanted for two hours before tasting, and aromas of cherries filled the air as the wine was decanted. On the palate other fruits were plum and raspberry. Color was dark purple and nose aromatic and perfumed. Enjoyed so much purchased another bottle a few days later, but plan on aging this one another 5+ …

2004 vintage

Spain - Monthly tasting group : Purchased locally and recently, this was decanted 2 hours. I'm not sure if that was the problem, but this seemed sherried and quite advanced. I've only had the gran reserva's a couple of times and regrettably this did not measure up.

2004 vintage

Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (BLVD Kitchen & Bar, Wayzata, MN) : Dark red color. This had a 2 hours decant. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. Black cherry, lacquer, balsamic, minerality, orange peel, dried wood, medium bodied. Very good, but an underwhelming showing relative to expectations. Going to assume this just needs more time.

2004 vintage

Per Mr. Galewski, this wine received a 2 hour decant. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine, and did not get the sherry or lacquer that others noted. I thought this wine was in a great place with nicely integrated fruit and tertiary goodness. I did get a nice mixture of red tart cherry and sweet dark cherry, coupled with hints of cocoa, graphite, earth and a slight anise flavor, all wrapped in toasty oak and silky smooth on the palate. Maybe …

2004 vintage

Large group Rioja / Spain tasting tonight at BLVD Kitchen in Minnetonka MN. Wasn't expecting this peacock to show up at our large group! Thankyou Dan! A delight to taste and smell! This is quite refined yet very old school Lopez with its' earth, faint saddle, mushroom, forest floor & pristine but restrained fruit. Wish I had a few of these in my cellar. Lopez has been off my radar but every time I drink one I wonder why I …

2004 vintage

Drank with the wine maker in Zürich. Honestly, I'm not sure how a wine can get much better than this. It is so utterly intoxicating and unique. Complex, refined, ethereal. Basically, as close to a perfect wine as you can get, I would say. Had the 2001 Bosconia GR recently and this is in a completely different league. Compared to the Tondonia reserva, this is several dimensions more in terms of depth and intrigue.

2004 vintage

Overly oaky at this point. Fruit is muted. Tertiary notes are minimal. Give this wine another 5 years minimum.

2004 vintage

Nose is super complex, with notes of clay, forest floor, cellar must, black fruit. On the palate it is really elegant, with fine tannins and restrained black plums. Very good length too.

1995 vintage

Lopez de Heredia Gran Reserva tasting, 1947-2010 (Canela, SF) : This shows the most American oak on the nose, with dill, sour cherry, and a hint of balsamic. Once you get past the oak, it is quite refined, with a velvety texture, sour cherry, and orange peel. Medium bodied with excellent depth - seems to be a universal trait of these Tondonia GRs. May be an exceptional wine with time and perhaps among the best of the vintages, but to …

1995 vintage

Lopez de Heredia Gran Reservas (1947-2010) (Canela - SF) : There’s a hint of green dill on the palate (I’m guessing from the oak) with unresolved, very drying tannins. Awkward and ponderous early in the evening, this is clearly not 100% ready yet. However, it does steadily integrate and improve over the course of the evening, with the green note receding and the complexity on the palate becoming more prominent. I’m guessing this will be very lovely in 10 years.

1995 vintage

Lopez de Heredia Gran Reserva (Canela, San Francisco) : Quite fragrant nose with notes of iron, violets, cherries, and forest floor. Good acidity with red fruit and tart berries, blood orange, and orange zest flavors on the palate that give it a nice lift. Nice and lingering finish. A beautiful wine that kept improving and opening up with air. This should continue to age gracefully. 95+

1995 vintage

Tondonia Gran Reserva (Big Wine Freaks) : 95 started off strong, with a tart cherry nose, the coconut peeking through, and strong methol notes. Acidity was a bit sharp, and fruits were definitely fresher than its older peers. Unfortunately it withered in the glass after 2 hours, the nose shut down and palate became flatter.

1995 vintage

Tondonia Gran Reservas at Big Wine Freaks : Better than my last bottle in London in 2022, this didn't have any plummy, raisined notes. More overt, attractive fruit with some savoury bacon fat compared to the older wines. Acidity and VA were on the high side which needs more time to integrate.

1995 vintage

Tempranillo (75%), Garnacho (15%), Mazuelo and Graciano (10%)로 이루어진 와인. 내가 지금까지 마셨던 템프라니요 중심의 스페인 와인의 느낌을 바꿔버린 와인. 스페인 와인은 굳이 따지면 보르도 와인처럼 강렬할 것이라고 생각했는데 의외로 부르고뉴처럼 부드러운 매력도 있구나. 노즈에서는 가죽향과 체리 계열의 과실향이 동시에 느껴진다. 물론 세월이 흘러서인지 과실향은 생과일을 딴 느낌이라기보단 어딘가에 담근 효소에 가깝다. 가죽향 역시 조금 더 지나서인지 약간 이상한 향이 느껴지는데 절인 고기향이라고도 표현할 수 있겠다. 팔렛에서는 부드러움과 강력함이 공존하는 느낌이다. 마우스 필 자체는 부드럽게 잘 넘어가는데 아직도 탄닌이 살아있어 …

1995 vintage

Vinminnen 21

1995 vintage

Stunning nose, fresh rose petals and smokey leather. Palate very much the same with lots of spicy cinnamon, black pepper bite, deliciously elegant pure lightweight mouthfeel. Old slightly smokey post-rain Haro earth. Some tart red sour cherry, great lively acidity. Red plumb skin. Fruit in its softened mature stage, everything really integrated together seamlessly. Great length evolving through a minute long finish. Maybe 5-10 years left given bottle variation and where you like your tertiary fruit/acid balance to be. With …

1995 vintage

Lorne Rangers 2024 (Lorne) : Discernibly elegant just from its pale ruby appearance in the glass, and smelled fantastic from the moment it was poured, with soft leather, hot earth and that delightful sense that the fruit is poised to complete its transformation into something gamey, but hasn't quite finished doing so. A touch of truffle on the saline, savoury palate, and plenty of spry red fruit. Delicious, and so food-friendly.

1995 vintage

Lorne Rangers 2024 - Rioja (Lorne Restaurant, London) : Bell pepper, bridle and cepe stock on pouring. Something gamey too. Palate has a hint of caper, is beautifully savoury and has flawless balancing acidity. Love the way each time you go back to this there are subtle changes around the edges, a hint of Worcester Sauce umami, a little sweet chestnut, a touch of clove and that hint of high class leather. Lovely mature GR Rioja in a great place.

1995 vintage

Rich and elegant, with no appreciable oak notes. Complex nose of dark cherries and red berry Tempranillo fruit with a touch of leather, camphor, and wet leaves. Long finish and still some dustiness of the tannins. This was excellent and will go for decades. 30 minutes of air helped.

1995 vintage

Jim and Michelene for their 40th wedding anniversary w/ chef Don Saunders. Dave D's btl flighted w/ Matt L's 95 Bosconia. What a flt!!! Tonight I slightly preferred the fruit and intensity of this Tondonia. This is totally in the pocket now but, I'd be delighted if I owned at least 3 of them as this still may have some upside, if that's possible? This is/was stunning! 97+ And, I think of myself as more of Bosconia guy. As Dave …

1995 vintage

Gorgeous nose with complex notes of mushrooms, dried berries, leather, and red fruit. Good acidity with a velvety mouthfeel, notes of old leather, underwood, and red berries on the palate. Long finish. Excellent wine that felt quite mature and drinking close to peak right now. It will probably last for decades, but I don't think it get much better than this.

1995 vintage

[Tasted Double Blind] This pours light garnet in the glass with light bricking. The nose shows sour cherry, green leaf, rose petals, peony, cranberry, cigar ash, and dry soil. The palate is lean and light with cranberry on entry turning to medium minus, almost low tannin, and high acid that is tinged with cranberry and grapefruit pith. The finish is dominated by the sour red fruit, only lightly showing some cigar ash character. A lovely bottle which I expect has …

1995 vintage

Magnifique bouteille, parfum enivrant, excellent

1995 vintage

Lopez di Heredia BYO (@MichaelsPlace) : Lovely refined small red berry fruit with a touch of licorice, coffee and chicken stock. The wine feels resolved and open with a lovely depth combined with a lovely acidity and solid length. Loved the expression and refinement!

1995 vintage

Apres une bouteille deviante, celle ci est top!

1995 vintage

Tondonia Tasting (Utregs Wijnhuis, Utrecht, NL) : Tasted side by side with the Bosconia GR 2001. This was clearly more developed with much more tertiary notes. Savoury, mushrooms, leather, red fruit, blackberry, vanilla, mocha, coffee. Medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins, long finish Great wine, delicious

1995 vintage

DOA Brett bomb

1995 vintage

A bit disappointed by this bottle. Robe shows clear signs of oxidation. Nose is a bit shy showing dried prunes and raisins. Mouth is a bit watery and not very complex with a rather short aftertaste. Probably past it’s peak, at least this bottle which clearly lacks intensity and persistence.

1995 vintage

Leather and lead pencil and cedar; lean; light sei-sweet cherry-raspberry; balanced; long elegant finish.

1995 vintage

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R. Lopez de Heredia, Tondonia Tinto Gran Reserva, Rioja

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