Vanilla bean crème, unripe cherry, dill, earth/barnyard notes, herbal notes. Old school rioja, and dare I say this can go many years or needed more air. I probably underestimated the amount of air (2hrs) this could take.
Rioja aficionados will appreciate it for what it is…others, maybe not so much.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Charity Wine Pairings for Hospice House Auction winners; 4/6/2024-4/7/2024 (Bellingham): Our nightcap or digestif. One of our guests wanted to try a rioja. Tobacco, sour cherry and dark berries, smokey leather, moist earth. While I think it's a great wine, it probably suffered by following a glass of port. Still, I think its best days are ahead. I'll never turn down a LdH Tondonia or Bosconia, Reserva or GR.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
After 15 minutes this was singing. This has been sleeping for 15 years in my wine fridge and showed beautifully. That subtle spur cherry with earth tones and hints of tobacco make this a beautifully balanced wine
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Astonishingly for a 23 year old wine this was not even close to ready. Super sour and oaky. This dissipated into something resembling balance after eight, that’s right, EIGHT hours in the decanter. At which point it was really quite nice. Red fruit, tobacco, even a little dark chocolate. I know Tondonia can have significant bottle variation but I won’t be opening my next 2001 for several years at least.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Restrained aromas of dried red fruits, forest floor, leather and sweet oak tones give way to a refreshing, saline, dark berried, mushroom and lingering soaked wood flavors.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Despite the age, today it still feels like it was done yesterday. Still a bit tight, with tart acidity. I don't feel any results of the aging, and I'm not quite sure of the direction it's going or should be going. After 23 years the wine should be better and more memorable. Might be a bottle issue, so scoring the current average.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought now in the same time as gran reserva release so would guess it comes from winemakers own cellars. Surprised at how little development compared to new releases of 10 or 11. Except from more damp forest floor notes on nose it is pretty tight. Oak surprisingly still dominating with that toasted character. It’s a great wine but does not have the same vibrant and distinct push on mid palate as the 10. This holds for decades from here. Saving my other bottle for at least one.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
in Norton. I thought a 2020 bottle was entering drinking window, but this, while enjoyable, was still too young with two much American oak sticking out. Good balance, plenty of fruit. Next in another 2-3 years?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Riojathon (London SW11): Tasted in a flight of three 2001s. A slow and gentle starter this one. Less flashy than the other two, but as time ticks by, this keeps moving forward. Pale colour but a darker fruit profile. Some meatiness, leather and old wood. An a super fresh and long finish. Classy but still young.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bromley Wine Circle does Rioja - 16th November 2023: Some orange peel, bacon and mulberries on the nose. With air some suggestions of bloody steak. Of all the wines tonight this really benefits from some air. Palate has hints of Christmas spice. Long and more-ish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Riojathon (South West London): On serving - something funky, va? Then that started to blow off - a kind of earth sweetness, orange peel, good but not as good as the best bottles I’ve had.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Showing its age. Coffee/Toffee starting to take over and make the wine a bit unbalanced. Still a great experience but did not hold up as well as an 85 I had earlier in the tasting.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium garnet colour. Pronounced and developing nose with dried herbs, licorice, vanilla, cloves, cedar, charred wood, coffee beans, fig, leather, mushroom, tobacco, wet leaves, forest floor, caramel and cinnamon. Pronounced taste of licorice, vanilla, cloves, cedar, charred wood, chocolate, coffee beans, fig, leather, mushrooms, tobacco, wet leaves, forest floor and caramel. Long and dry finish. High acidity. Medium tannins. Medium body. An outstanding Rioja with wonderful structure that has matured beautifully. From a magnum bottle. Drink now or over the next twenty years. Goes well with beef or lamb.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Iberia Wimps July 2023 - Malhão de Estrela; 7/28/2023-7/30/2023 (La Trompette): Generously pulled from the reserves bench. No decanting poured straight from the bottle - and it shone. Real density here, salinity, this is drinking great just now. Clear wine of the flight for me - interestingly I also tasted it alongside the Ardanza a few years ago and on that occasion I preferred the Ardanza. Not sure if this is a case of a flawless bottle of the Tondo vs a slightly funky Ardanza but this was great.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/12. No formal note but this was an excellent bottle, dark fruited, tobacco with classic tondonia salinity, medium bodied, still with some grip, plenty of life in fact, good length finish. Excellent.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Some bricking around the rim, with aromatics of bitter cherry, forest floor and a slight balsamic note.
On the palate, waves of cherry fruit fading to mushroom, pine needles, and moist earth. Tannins well-resolved. Tondonia's mineral character was quite present in this bottle. A long, mineral-tinged aftertaste, redolent of balsam, orange, and a harvest-time cherry orchard.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
6/12, vg cork. Decanted 1/2 hr. Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Quite discreet on nose - dark fruit, smoke, hint of chocolate. Medium bodied, elegant, leather and tobacco, underlying dark fruit, saline notes, soft tannins, fresh/vibrant acidity, good length harmonious finish. Excellent, drinking well, no particular hurry.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This feels like it's in a pretty good place to drink now. All the tannin feels integrated and smoothed out (definitely this is the way it should be consumed when I compare with a 2010 vintage of the same wine I had recently).
I served this one slowly over about 3 hours after light decant into a carafe and used a Zalto burgundy glass at 12~20 degrees celcius (I let it warm up from cellar temperature slowly to see if there is a particularly good temperature - having gone through this, I would recommend slightly warmer than cellar temperature).
Acidity is sufficiently high to offset the weight of oak and tertiary flavors from the aging. The overall balance is decent thanks to such acidity, but I feel that the wine could have used a bit more concentration of fruit - if it did, I think this could have been a 95 point wine. I think this has some good dark fruit (I would say some dried fruit type of note) but the earthiness and chocolate/coffee/oak type of notes are powerful - they are good, but a bit too strong for the fruit in this one to balance.
Despite all this heaviness in aroma, the mouthfeel is quite light, perhaps because the tannin has calmed down. Good food pairing might be a bit limited to this one; I think something like dark meat with mole sauce might work well due to some coffee note in this one.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A treat. Out of mag and no decant the wine took a good hour or so to come alive. When it did it had some very nice slightly rustic red fruits. All at the table enjoyed as a 22 year old Rioja we rarely drink.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Freshly ripened red berries blend with rose water, citrus peel and gentle tannins. Hints of spice and a sprinkle of salt add some dimensionality to make this a nice food wine.
Drank with broiled tripe and garlic chips. The parts came together perfectly and I really enjoyed this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The red wines of this producer have a strong and unusual acidity that reminds me of a tomatillo or underripe tomato. It must be embraced to appreciate this wine. Then, there are sophisticated aromas of tobacco, sea salt, and citrus rind. This is one of those rare red wines that I’d have a good chance of guessing exactly right in a blind tasting. It is one of the most food-friendly of red wines — savory and light bodied with mouth-watering acidity.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very impressive that at 20+ years this continued to have nice zing and power. Mixed youthful elements like plum and sweet cinnamon with age-driven complex elements like tobacco leaf and roasted fruit.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Xmas 2022; 12/20/2022-12/27/2022 (Matt and Marta’s): From Matts cellar. Decanted for a couple of hours before serving. This is starting to come together now, the nose has some leather, spice and cherry but I feel it will unfurl further and improve with more time, the palate has style and class, built around the core of acidity and again will develop more complexity with patience, and you need a lot of that with this wine to experience it at its peak
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark toned meaty nose, on the palate sour cherries, mahogany, bergamot, hints of black pepper, savory character, attractively fragrant and floral flavors. Great refreshing acidity, smooth slightly gum drying tannins and fully integrated oak. Burgundian lightness, yet dense and elegantly forceful. Seamless from front to rear palate, all elements are in a perfect harmony. Everything about this is exceptionally noble and refined, a true representative of the holy trinity 1964-2001-2010 Rioja vintages. Not a flashy wine but genuinely special, in a perfect place now but will last. Coolest thing, however, is that the (lovely) next gen. has already delivered the convincing 2010, which is still developing but likely to reach the heights of the 2001.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A blend of Tempranillo (75%), Garnacha (15%), Graciano and Mazuelo (10%). Fermented spontaneously in old oak fermenters, aged in old American oak barriques for 6 years, bottled unfiltered and then aged for further 50 months in bottle. 13% alcohol.
Luminous and quite translucent cherry-red color with a slightly evolved hue; the wine's appearance seems very slightly more advanced than that of Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 2001 that was tasted alongside. The brooding nose feels quite big and dark-toned with slightly sweetish aromas of dark fruits, some old savory wood, a little bit of strawberry and dusty cherry, light earthy notes, a hint of old leather, a touch of dried figs and a whiff of dill. The wine feels quite ripe yet still dry on the palate with a medium body and quite intense flavors of tart cranberries and sour cherry bitterness, some crunchy notes of fresh red plums, a little bit of old leather and pouch tobacco, light evolved notes of meat stew with dill, a hint of wizened figs and a spicy, phenolic touch of cloves. The wine shows great depth of flavor and the high acidity contributes both to the intensity of the taste and to the sense of structure, which gets nicely backed up by the firm, moderately resolved medium tannins. The finish is ripe yet dry with a little bit of tannic grip and lengthy flavors of crunchy cranberries and some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of crunchy red plum, light earthy and leathery notes, a hint of wizened figs and a faint touch of dill.
A fine and harmonious Rioja Reserva (that could easily pass off as a Gran Reserva) that has evolved wonderfully over the past four years - that was when I tasted the wine and estimated that the wine will keep on evolving for another 5-10 years. It seems my estimate was pretty correct - the wine shows a bit more depth and the tannins seem to have resolved to some degree, contributing more to the general sense of firmness and texture rather than to the grip and structure. However, the wine seems to show developed qualities so much that I doubt this will going to be a super-long lived vintage. Most likely the wine will continue to develop and improve a little bit more over the next handful of years and then keep just fine for another decade, maybe even two, but that's about it. Tasting this wine side-by-side with Tondonia Gran Reserva 2001, I felt this was slightly better now, coming across as more harmonious and complete at the moment, but most likely that Gran Reserva will both outlive this wine and turn into a better wine in the process. However, the QPRs of these wines are from two different planets: at just 21€ this wine has been a screaming bargain.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and let sit for approximately 1 hour prior to tasting. The bouquet is amazing. Loads of tobacco leaf, black cherry, incense smoke, and warm dry oak. There's a compelling black pepper note that emerges with more air. On the palate it's integrated and balanced with silky tannins and tons of roasted plum, ripe tomato, oak, and baking spices meandering across your palate. The finish is clean with the beautiful tapering feeling that I so love.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Siggy's Annual BBQ (Chez Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Ok, well this was good, classic Lopez, maybe nit the absolute rock star you'd expect from '01, but dang good and it was great to drink after a 2010 this week that blew me away. Nice, David, thanks.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At Siggy and Jennie’s BBQ. I’ll defer detailed notes to rocknroller’s upcoming event notes but just say this was delicious, classic Rioja on both the nose and palate that was a total pleasure to enjoy and share. One left. At least five years more of good drinking left IMHO.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A great (last) bottle. Dark ruby with browning edges. Expressive old Rioja showing notes of old leather, sweet cinnamon, stewed plum, woody spices. Still fresh and vibrant, fleshy core and ample structure. Perhaps the odd hint of Port and going over the hill, but a joy to drink this in the twilight of its range.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic, restrained with a splash of strawberry and as it opened up, bright cherry leading to a structured, elegant at the same time powerful, lingering though not complex finish
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a beautiful wine! Decanted an hour, zalto universal glass. Wonderfully fragrant with leather, American oak, red earth and cherries, with great presence right out of the bottle. Serene and cool in the mouth, silky, mid-weight, with just the amount of tannin and acidity for perfect balance and food-friendliness. Long aftertaste with sweet fruit and savoury elements.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted, sipped over a few hours. This did develop with air, and really started flowering with a great paella. The nose was all about dried cherries, leather, notes of dust, very inviting. The palate was quite austere initially, with dried cherries and resolved tannins, more fruit came out with the food. A very nice Rioja!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind in week four of Blind.Faith’s blind-tasting competition: two reds from the same region. I was nowhere near getting this (nor were many people in the competition with only 3 from 26 going for Rioja). I went for Barbaresco and thought it was a very good one with some age. From my notes - it’s pale to medium ruby with a wide garnet rim. The nose is lovely with notes of leather, tomato juice and red fruits. For a wine that’s clearly got some age it’s still fresh and grippy with very fine dry tannins. There’s a little nutty note on the very long finish. Excellent wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
decanted 2 hours. maturing well & has remained constant in its classic expression, balanced & sure, cedar, fruit leather, leather leather, restrained; elegant & red fruit-cored, dry & slimly grainy, lengthy acids. distinctive.
4th/6, where I like it. not part of my regular regimen, rewarding tonight
Strawberry and prune on the nose. On the palate, tart cherry, raspberry, currant, and notes of prune, leather, and rose petal on the medium to long finish, with strong acidity. This was excellent, and although I was hoping for more complexity it may yet improve.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet color. There was a little sediment, but nothing that 10 minutes standing up and a gentle decant couldn't solve.
Even 30 minutes after opening, it's already super complex. Dried strawberries, prunes, mint, dill, tobacco, leather, old books, and a little bit of vanilla. There's the classic high Rioja acidity along with some very fine tannins. Everything is really well integrated.
I think this is an amazing wine, but it's definitely not for everyone. The fruit is nowhere near ripe or jammy. No one note overpowers the others—they all support each other in perfect harmony. But if this was my first bottle of Rioja, I probably wouldn't be able to appreciate it as much. I'm glad I got my palate accustomed to younger, fruitier Crianza before diving into the old-school stuff like Tondonia.
I got this from $39 before tax from a Last Bottle marathon last year. It's an absurd QPR for that price; I'd buy it at even twice that.
Nice strawberry aromas, floral, balanced on palate, tannins well resolved. On its own this is still drinking well, Had it opened 3-hours at least. Can open the night before in bottle, even better as the wine I was having after about 7-8 hours was drinking superb and had good 30-sec. length. A bottle to have in the cellar, regardless of vintage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My red tonight at Big Al' & Janelle's epic Spain inspired dinner. Felt like we dinned in Seville :) Opened 3hrs prior to leaving for Big Al & Janelles'. Finding this elegant & open simply slow oxed in btl. Removed cork again on arrival. Semi translucent ruby with bricking on the rim. Lovely forest floor & dried roses on the nose. The palate echos the nose w/ relaxed but still sweet red fruit along w/ more forest floor, cedar, mineral & spice. An elegant feather weight that will please any Burgundy lover like myself. Just a lovely 20yr old Lopez that seems fully resolved but likely has addl life left based on the producer.
This wine is drinking beautifully. Tannins soft and refined; fruit still full and strong but with beautiful secondary notes of earth, leather coming through. No hurry to drink this has years ahead of itself.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 75cl, finally a bottle of this vintage of LdH Tondonia reserva with a truly perfect, almost unstained, still-elastic cork. Yes, it is possible and no, this definitely isn’t the same batch of cork that any of my previous bottle was closed with (yes, I do keep all "my" corks in a succession of drawers, which I guess does make me a certified wine nerd). Decanted 30 minutes, after which the wine was still a mess of unappealing American oak. But at about 90 minutes the miracle happened: The volatile oak vanished, the deep, succulent dark-red fruit, that sexy Rioja Alta acidity came singing through and the tannins purred and purred. Yes, this became the dreamy traditional Rioja I had hoped for. No, it isn't Castillo Ygay, and for more bottle-to-bottle consistency (and value for money) in a similar style I'd recommend La Rioja Alta Ardanza, but believe me, it wasn't just the wine's tannins or the cat purring this evening as we came to the end of the bottle. 91P
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet color. Intense aromas of sweet cherries, prune, leather, tobacco, sweet spices. High acidity, medium bodied, cherry taste, soft tannins. Has long life ahead, but also very good right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
BWC X1 Dinner - Hawksmoor: Lovely wine, a little brooding, but less forthcoming with its delights than the Ardanza that sat beside it. This definitely deserved more attention than I was ready to give it - equally, I suspect that it will benefit from a few more years in bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was so excited for this, yet so disappointed. My first bottle for about 5 years, having bought a case back in December 2013. I found this quite sweet, showing a lot of age, and almost tired. Both the oak and vanilla was very prominent without the fruit or structure to support. I really hope this was an off bottle.
*As an update, I just double decanted this, and then consumed over a couple of hours. With hindsight, I think more air would have been beneficial.
A classic rioja. Dark fruits on both the nose and palate. Slightly overoaked if being hyper critical but the fruit is still keeping it at bay creating a well balanced wine that offers good value. In my opinion nowhere near its downward slope if anything yet to hit its peak.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Actually a bit disappointed. Still lots of great acidity but didn't seem particularly complex nor much fruit. Maybe my own fault for not giving it enough time to open up / reach room temperature.
Well, there’s no doubting what this is! Brick red, the nose screams saddle leather, raisins, sawdust, chocolate, mint, bay leaf - luxurious and liqueur like. The palate continues in a like fashion, perhaps there are some wobbles on the finish, which is at times spicy in an unattractive American oak vomit and coconut way, at times a bit ferrous and acidic. Nowhere near expired though, a good decade left in it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is beautiful wine. An elegant glass of dark cherries, so smooth, with a tart twang and a hint of dusty sandalwood. Juicy but not bracing, looong finish. A wine for food! A glass of wine doesn’t need or deserve to better than this one. Drink it now, or have patience and be rewarded further. A classic.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 75cl, good cork, decanted 1 hour. All I have to add to my cri de coeur TN of 14.10.2020 is: The last drop was the best, probably best to try a really extended decant. 89P
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needed a bit of air before opening up to sweet morello cherries, sweet oak and nice tangy acidity on the palate with similar replays from the nose. Long succulent finish. Yes will get better for the next 5-8 years but with a bit of a decant, it is showing its charms.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this side by side with a 2001 LRA 904. This was a bit reticent and needed some coaxing. Tart red cherries, great acid, and amazing length. Soft tannins. Noticeably older school in style and probably is a decade from peak. Will definitely get better. Can't wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I haven't opened one in a while. I liked them a lot a few years ago, and time has been very kind to these. Tobacco, sour cherry and dark berries, a little earthy, smokey leather. I love LdH wines, usually preferring the Bosconia, but I'm very happy I went deep on this wine. Perfect pairing with tacos tonight. Plenty of upside potential, but there's no harm in opening now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A legend of a wine, leans hard on the savory side but so elegant and with great depth. Great acidity too. Not to be tasted, to be drunk with food next time. From magnum and I expect it will go 80 years.
Drunk at Noble Rot Soho during an extended pre-lockdown business meeting this was just delicious. Just textbook Rioja in the most traditional style from a bodega that never fails. Lovely and leathery but with tons of fruit even at nearly 20 years old.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Schön zu trinken nach 19 Jahren. Tannine sind gut eingebunden, gute Säurestruktur, mittlerer Körper und mittlerer Abgang. Rote Beeren. Noch nicht altersmüde.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mahogany color with bricking at the rim; smell of bee's wax and wood polish in a refined way. Beguiling bouquet, ethereal and enticing. On the palate there are some dusty tannins; quite intense, smooth, deep and long finish. A very attractive wine even though I am not quite sure about the QPR with a purchase price of EUR 250.- per bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork had dried and broke off in removal from bottle. Slight vinegaring - probably because of the dry cork. Nonetheless good flavor profile as the wine opened up.
From 75cl, good cork, decanted 30 minutes. As so many others have noted, there's major bottle variation with this wine. This particular example wasn't in any way spoiled, but tasted so heavy, sweet and dark-fruitedly Grenache-like in a way I can't remember from any of my 11 previous bottles (2 of which were seriously flawed, the others ranging from 90-93P). The bright tangy acid verve I expected (and have recorded here on many occasions in the past) was sorely missing. Nothing wrong or unpleasant to record tonight, but if you're trying to pick a wine to go well with food, or cook appropriately to enhance enjoyment of the evening's chosen wine, such wild differences between sharp morello one day and dark brambles the next, not to mention the intensity of evident oak, are pretty irritating. 89P(?)
As I gradually approach my sixth decade, I find myself wanting to have some idea what the wine in a bottle I have been cellaring for a decade or more might actually taste like. In this respect I have had consistent luck with Ygay (now, unfortunately, out of my price range), La Rioja Alta and Muga, but less fortune with LdH. I don't exactly regret buying 18 bottles of this vintage of Tondonia, but do notice my loyalty shifting away from LdH to other Haro producers I used to consider less exciting.
Replacement for a mildly corked bottle. This also starts off very nicely, but with noticeably brighter and denser mid to dark red fruit and an attractive richness alongside the trademark acidity. Very finely velvet plushness. Long and rich, this is in a lovely place now, and while young is drinking very well. Lots of ageing potential. A lovely wine. ****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Starts off very nicely with mid to dark red fruit and an attractive richness alongside the trademark acidity. Really very good until after an hour or so some very minor TCA comes through on the nose, and the attack. **** quality.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mature looking brick red colour. Nose is rich and warm, mature red fruit hinting at that old rioja christmas cake richness. It's not there yet but is certainly heading that way, there's a hint of citrus already. There's also a touch of roasted almost pruney fruit but not stewed. So much better than my experience last year. Acidity lower than previous bottles, still a nice tartness on the finish. There's certainly bottle variation in this wine and in this vintage. This is one of the good ones. This has the potental to increase a lot if this develops like wines such as the '70.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted, although very little sediment, left to breathe for 3 hours. Potentially this was too long as the wine seemed to fade a little whilst drinking over the next hour or so. Very interesting old Rioja with smacks of fresh blood orange, some wafts of mint and a lovely acidity. Enjoyed greatly, shame it was my only bottle of the 01 left but have some 05 to look forward to. 90pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mildly corked, dammit, but despite that quite a lovely wine: pencil lead, tobacco, leather and fruit in a high-acid package. The cork taint precluded much consumption of the wine, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Served against Rioja Alfa’s 2001 904, and the style is a little more austere and dusty. Suffered by the comparison but was still quite brilliant. It needs food to show it off.
4/12, OK cork (c50% evenly soaked). #075416. Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows dark fruit including blackcurrants, tobacco, touch of brine. Medium bodied, quite rich for a tondonia, tobaccoey dark fruit, spice, soft tannins, fresh/vibrant acidity, some spice on a very good length finish. Starting to fire.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Watching Football as I was chugging this down, so didn’t really pay attention - but this was lovely. Very balanced and very good. Wish I had bought more than the 12 bottles...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was sligtly corked, though the cork taint at times seemed to disappear so that the beautiful dark-toned mellow and acid-structured wine beneath was visible. Glad to have one more bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had a bottle of this 4 years ago that showed as oxidized or heat damaged, or over the hill. This second bottle was another poor showing, but this bottle felt more over the hill than flawed. Rusty flavours. Acid out of joint and too high. Fruit fading and buried. Not pleasant. I bought 4 bottles of this on release and stored perfectly since. It is possible that all my bottles were damaged during shipment, but the retail source is not known to be problematic. This wine just tastes way sub-par to me for a wine of excellent repute from a great vintage. A big disappointment. Other two bottles...hmmm...expensive Sangria?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pinsefeirng 19 år. Spent på denne, etter svak flaske i fjor, forsmak i skyggen: Rik moden lukt, fruktig anslag med nype-ekstrakt, god syre men litt vandig avslutning. Noen timer i åpen flaske: Bedre balanse og lenge, svært god syre. Mye bedre enn forrige flaske. 1 dag i åpen flaske: Nydelig rognebær juice. Knall syre . Opp ett poeng fra i går.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium garnet in color. Visible sediment. Nose of red fruits, rusted iron, very mineral, a bit of kirsch as well. Dry on the palate, acid is high, medium tannins with a pillowy texture. Alcohol is medium. It feels younger in the palate than the nose. It may need some air. Decant next time. Finish is fairly long, already 45 seconds. A bit of heat on retro-nasal. Definitely good pairing with Gambas con chorizo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 75cl, perfect cork. Another outstanding bottle as previously noted on 10.09.2019. I seem to be having more luck with LdH Reservas than with Gran Reservas; recent experiences with the 1994 GR tinto and the 1991 GR blanco were less than thrilling, but this superb Reserva was the real deal. 92P
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic leather with hints of cherry expression. Acidic. Still fairly dense and showing lots of color. Very Old Worldy and showing as young as more recent examples of this bottling. Not real complex though. Very good. No rush.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was delicious, still fairly young really. Oak still sticks out a touch, but otherwise it is pure classic Rioja. Red berry fruits, a hint of VA, spice, leather, earth, a whiff of dill. The palate is silky and bright. Will be better in another 5 years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Checked in on this one from a 375. This is going to be a really nice wine in a several more years. The oak is still not quite fully integrated yet. The fruit and acid are doing great. There is a pretty nice finesse evident in the wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Oh man, this one is past its prime. Still drinkable, but barely. Baryard, currants, gooseberry on the nose. Slightly brownish coloring. Medium dry. Drik up!
Next bottle of this Reserva, a very crumbly cork, the opening at last saved by my Durant, having read about some bottle variation in other TNs from the CT crowd I am curious about the topical showing, for me the bottles from LdH always need some or better a lot of bottle age and right after opening air, decent decant or slow ox over some more hours, same with this bottle, a little savoury fruit at first, earthy tones, some tar, forest floor, herbs, with some aeration very well structured bottle, the pure elegance, midbodied, smoky, cigar box, some ripe plums, very good grip, ending long with still lively acidity, great pairing with self made pizza, the last drop of this bottle is pure Rioja harmony after 7 hours, can be enjoyed from now on but the acid indicates life ahead up to a decade(++), **(*-****), around 90,91(+) potential
By far the best bottle of this wine in a number of years. Mature, silky and full of sweet fruit. The nose has earth, leather and oak elements to complement the just on the right side of ripeness notes. Finish could last a bit longer - maybe starting to crack. Drink up as I think it could start declining soon. (92)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet with a thin orange rim. This is entering its plateau of maturity I guess. Of course this cuvée can be drunk by release, but some bottle age is useful. From the start great nose of currants, mulberries, mint, cherries and smoky vanilla notes. Imho vastly underrated here, it is going to evolve gracefully for another decade minimum if stored at perfect conditions since release. 5/13/18/10. 95 points from the WA in 2012 and Suckling in 2015.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chosen to match simply prepared veal chop, and did so. A little more wood in the nose than palate but this is already an elegant wine. All about balance and refinement.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
drunk with a friend who loves Spanish wines and this was solid and consistent with prior tasting. For me, still doesn't move me, but buddy enjoyed a great deal.
Christmas dinner with roast pork loin. Slightly earthy and woody nose. Perfect tart cherry, leather and Smokey taste. Really in a great drinking place now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pnp at restaurant. First bottle in 6 years and it was excellent compared to bottle of 6 years ago which seemed tired. This had an enticing earthy bouquet, with lively, balanced and fruity palate. Like LdH wines, it evolves in the glass with each sip making for a superb drinking experience. Imo, this will continue to drink beautifully for a few more decades.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Leather, clove, dark fruit on the nose, but isn't heavy at all on the palate, lively, a touch of roses, some nice cherry acidity, really drinking well and, to my taste, still many years to go.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking well right now but in classic Rioja style could still go for many years. Minerally red fruit with a dose of cured meat and a medium finish with good acid. Nary a tannin to be felt.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/12, good cork, decanted 1/2 hour. Medium garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows leather, smoke, tobacco, - underlying dark fruit - quite ripe. Complex. palate is medium bodied, with leathery dark fruit to the fore, perhaps a touch of raisin every now and then but there's plenty here to like as well with tobacco, smoke, fine but firm tannins' excellent depth of fruit and fresh acidity carrying an impressively long finish with a tickle of tannin at the tail end. This is drinking for me but will certainly hold/improve and there's nothing to suggest it won't go for many more years. Excellent.
Purchased some bottles by auction recently, so I have to try one, the very last Rioja bodega with very classic, oldschool Rioja in its portfolio, sometimes I am dreaming of their "cementerio", visited in march 2016, thousands of bottles ,unlabled in their iron-barred boxes, from 1928, 34, 35, 42, 48, 52, 55, 55, 58, 64.... to be continued, very herbal, maybe some dark savioury fruit in the background, the tannin a little adstringend still, but with about one hour of aeration this blows away, very tight, dense, but on the other hand the pure elegant flow, ending long with some mouthwatering acid, can be enjoyed from now on but will benefit from more cellartime to get much more silky harmony, great! **(*-****?), 91, 92(+) potential
From 75cl, perfect cork, opened but not decanted 1 hour. OMG, this is a perfect bottle. Thanks to Tubulus (CT TN 05.08.2019) for describing it so well. Everything is in balance, the oak, the bright, plum-morello fruit, the sweetness, the acidity, the luscious, caressing tannins. Of 8 bottles so far, this is the joint best (according to my TN =10.09.2017) 92-93P
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 75cl, perfect cork, decanted 1 hour. A very different creature from the La Rioja Alta Ardanza Reserva 2001 tasted yesterday. Much darker fruit on the entry; smoother, more polished mid-palate not unlike an excellent Cru Bourgeois from the Médoc, generally riper, more concentrated and more voluptuous. Which makes me wonder about some of my previous TNs. Either I am unusually inconsistent about this specific wine, or there is considerable bottle variation. This bottle could have held and perhaps improved for another decade, so let's say 90-91P I suspect some of my remaining bottles will be brighter and more red-fruited.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very lovely bottle. Everything has fallen into place. Leather, the faintest bit of plum, a tiny bit of dill hidden in the corner...but only a touch Well into the secondary flavors, tannins are fully integrated. Will hang on for decades likely but will it be better?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for one hour, re-bottled and brought to restaurant. Clear deep garnet-ruby-blood red color. Wonderful bouquet of red cherries, raspberries and their liqueurs, rhubarb, leather, tobacco, stony soil, hints of tomato, balsamic and soy. Similar on the palate, full body, seamless, excellent balance, pleasant tannins and acidity.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ah Ben...pas juste moi qui qualifie ce domaine de Légendaire et Mythique...c`est rendu que même Alfred Expert le vin le clame haut et fort...faut croire que j`étais précurseur depuis déjà plusieurs années!!! Beau nez sur le café et les feuilles. En bouche, du tabac et du chocolat, encore en forme, les tanins sont assez fins et la finale de longueur moyenne. Bien aimé cette bouteille.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Interesting bottle. Neither as good as the best or a disappointing as some. This bottle shows good balance with a bit of the over-cooked raisin aspect present in the less desirable bottles. Some freshness on the finish. Good but no more. Incredible bottle variation here. (89)
Pnp at Peruvian restaurant. Bricking noted. Earthy w/ lots of secondaries present. Medium bodied. Mild fruit, fine but appreciable tannins. Good to go tonight! Great food wine, yummy!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted over 2 hrs, from 375mL from secondary market -dark red -morello cherry tobacco lightly oxidized pruney element faint oak -med acidity, med weight moderately sappy black cherry tar menthol mild oxidized note, med/med- tannins -good complexity early on mature plateau even in this format, perhaps may not have seen perfect storage
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A tidy Rioja that is still young. Oddly has coconut as a key flavour. Seriously WTF. Oak is unsubtle at times and not quite smooth as a baby’s bum. Tastes indestructible. Try again in 2021.
I opened a 2001 Tondonia Reserva today to check its progress. On opening all I got from the nose was a wet mouldy wood note. Not corked I think, more mouldy and dirty. Like I'd fallen while running in the woods in December. (I'm really selling it here!) Palate was also quite muted. With time open some red fruit flavours appeared but accompanied by a sour cherry acidic flavour. Not unexpected in a traditional Rioja. The issue is there isn't anything else. None of the complexity I'd expect. No real evolution. I'm leaving the remainder for a while. The wonderful history of this bodega suggests this will improve considerably. Point rating relates to how it tasted today.
2/12, very good cork. Decanted 1 hour. Bottle #075318.
Medium/deep ruby/garnet core, pale garnet rim. Initially I though this maybe corked, but on returning to it later I found it was fine. It had a dark fruited, leathery nose, with smoke and plenty of vanilla. Surprisingly sweet and ripe. Medium bodied on the palate, with dark, leathery fruit, smoke and again, quite a lot of vanilla. This has attractive vibrant acidity and good depth with a very good length if still quite firm finish. I think it will be better in 2-3 years time and last quite a few more after that - next bottle 2 years. Much better than the last bottle I had.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Similar notes to 2015. Still quite young, ripping acidity, crisp red fruits, loving the earthy, spicy, savory elements. Enjoyed with good friends so it was fun, but sort of wish I had held off for three more or so.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted against a 2001 Prado Enea. Dill, red strawberry like fruit. Lovely freshness both on the nose and on the palate from the rather high acidity. Almost burgundian in style. Great fruit and acdity rather than tannin to give it spine. Sleek and elegant with personality. I really like this! Will keep for much longer but drinks very nicely now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Signs of evolution around the rim. Great nose - spices, leather, dried fruit, vanilla. On the palate a little thin, not much fruit, a little drying, good acidity. Drink up. 87-89
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas dominated by coconut and toast. Not the well integrated oak that was the case with a bottle a year ago. Hm! wine tasting is difficult! Light weighted and vivid. Good concentration.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not as tired as expected, but wouldn't hold much longer. Nose of toated marshmallow and tobacco. Still some fruit notes on the pallet, like fig or sweet plum. The tannin structure is still faintly evident.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I love reading tasting note in French; surely worth an extra point or two! Cherries, graphite, thyme and whatever Spanish underbrush might be. Clean, good acidity with nice tannins at the finish. Seems to be getting into full stride. Needs an hour in the air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bu avec la paella de Carol. Beau nez sur le café, la terre, les mures et les herbes. En bouche, satiné et velouté, vraiment bien équilibré. De belles saveurs de cerises avec du thym et du chocolat, du graphite et une pointe montholée vers la fin. Les tannins sont bien enrobés et la finale assez longue et tout en souplesse et délicatesse. Belle longueur et tout à fait digeste. Impeccable celle-ci.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine has improved immensely over the last 5 years and is now at its peak. Old fashioned Rioja with the Vanilla and anise American oak to the fore but plenty of morello cherry fruit and leathery complexity. Very long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 75cl, good cork. Needed 1 hour in the decanter to settle down and release initial old oak volatility. Thereafter pure, slender, sharp morello pleasure, a wine for Burgundy lovers, perfect with rich lamb stew. 91P
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Assez tuilée comme robe. Beau nez sur le tabac, le cuir et les fruits noirs. En bouche, assez souple, encore du boisé, profile moins tertiaire que mes précédentes, du cassis, du poivre, du tabac et de la fumée. Tannins assez fins sur une finale de longueur moyenne assez soutenue. Bien
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Visible age on the rim. Nose shoes caramel, vanilla, dried herbs, sweet tobacco, dried cherries, anise, coconut, dill, leather. This wine has all the major markers that a good and true to style Rioja should show. Palate of caramel / Madeira, tart cranberry, dill, dried herbs. Medium acid, body, tannin, and ABV. Very harmonious wine and simply wonderful!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby color. Fresh nose. Classic Rioja fruit benefits by a one-hour decant that brings all in balance with still-mouth-watering acidity. Showing no wear with age, drinking well, with a cellaring window that remains wide open.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Winner of our best bottle contest. Showing maturity with good balance between engaging fruit, judicious oak and good acid backbone. A touch oxidative as you’d expect given the producer and the age of the bottle, but actually shows younger than 17 years from vintage, with some notes of earth, dried leaves and spice adding to the complexity. Lovely. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A blend of Tempranillo (75%), Garnacha (15%), Graciano and Mazuelo (10%). Fermented spontaneously in old oak fermenters, aged in old American oak barriques for 6 years, bottled unfiltered and then aged for further 50 months in bottle. 13% alcohol.
Slightly translucent cherry red color with somewhat developed mahogany hue and a mature, partly orange and partly fully clear rim. Attractive and somewhat developed nose with aromas of wizened dark fruits, some gamey tones, a little bit of crunchy cranberry character, light savory wood tones, a hint of sweet raisiny fruit, a lifted touch of spicy VA and a whiff of smoke. The wine is medium-bodied, smooth yet pretty high in acidity and enjoyably firm on the palate with layered, savory flavors of ripe dark fruits, some sour cherries, a little bit of woody bitterness, light raisiny notes, a hint of tart lingonberries and a subtle touch of game. The structure relies both on the acidity and on the medium-to-moderately high tannins that slowly grow in grip. The finish is lively and pretty acid-driven with remarkably long flavors of sour cherries, some dried dark cherries, a little bit of woody bitterness, a lifted hint of sweet VA character and a touch of leather.
A very sophisticated, harmonious and thoroughly elegant Rioja in the most classic old-school style possible. Some people claimed that at some point the wine started to taste "metallic" but I didn't notice anything like that at any point. To me this was a great example how well Heredia fared in this remarkable vintage. What surprised me, though, was how relatively light and delicate this wine was - I was expecting something a bit bigger and riper, but this wasn't a far cry from the vintage 2002. Only the difference in quality and complexity was evident - this was far superior to 2002. A beautiful Rioja Reserva (that could easily pass as a Gran Reserva) that is starting to show the first signs of age and drinking wonderfully now, but which will easily continue to improve for the next 5-10 years. Stunning value at only 20€.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brown in color with a garnet background. This is rather lean at first. Needs an hour with a brisk decant to gain some weight. Still a light to medium bodied wine, nicely balanced, but the Madeira is never far. Drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
So much better a bottle. Fine garnet colour, plenty aromatics. Spices, wood smoke, saddlery. Bitter cherry, warm spices, dried meats, great acidity. Swirling and changing constantly. Good length. Seems to be considerable bottle variability but good ones are lovely, and getting into there stride.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still dullish red in colour, bit of garnet around the edges. Elegant and soft earthiness, mulled fruits, roses. Medium weight , smooth wine, supple tannins. Red fruits/cranberry/cherry. Excellent
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Un peu plus sur le tertiaire, assez fruité encore avec de beaux tannins et une belle acidité...c'est assez classique, faut aimé le style qui ne plait pas à tous.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From magnum. Quite evolved in colour, tawny around the rim. Lots of mustiness on the nose at first which took quite a while to blow off. Leather, spices, tobacco on the nose. Lots of acidity on the palate, very bright and a bit unbalanced and angular. Good length. 88-90
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is starting to show some bottle variability, some more faded, some more youthful. This faded bottle still is profound, and the tertiary characters coming in are spot on beautiful. I love this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From memory. Garnet to tawny edges, interesting nose of lovely fresh red flowers and questionable funk. The palate seemed thin for the first 30 or so minutes, then opened as distinctly oldish Brodeaux in profile. We enjoyed this wine but certainly this bottle was not the most charming of Tondonias, drank with sous vide flatiron steak chimichurri.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clean appearance, tawny red color, medium to light hues. On the nose this gave of sensation of wet wood, it made you feel like you were in the forest. The palate is clean, light body yet plentiful of structure, focused acidity with nose of cranberries and dark cherries, there is something about this wine that spells old school, there is this old library leather scent that lingered all around. An hour later the acidity softened giving way to some raisins notes. This feels old traditional Rioja.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over 3 days. Dark cherries with medium acidity and medium tannins. An enjoyable wine in its own right that was best on the second day, but cannot hold a candle to some aged tondonia riservas (the 1987 immediately comes to mind) which were amazing. too young or did they change the winemaking such that these are meant to be enjoyed younger?
Dark cherry, browning to edge. A bit lacking in depth or concentration though better after 24hrs. Plenty of black cherry, redcurrant and cranberry fruit. Some light spices and cured meats. High acidity, not quite balanced by the fruit. Not terribly long either. Just would have looked for greater depth and interest.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
After the poor showing last week, decided to open again to see what’s going on. Totally different wine that is more complex, more integrated and more enjoyable. Been through a bunch of this Wine and have experienced wide variation. When it’s good like tonight, offers excellent old world QPR. (90)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of the best buys possible. The Grand Riserva is a better wine, but the Riserva is unbeatable at the price point to my palate. Shows the red forest fruit with a bit of a stewed and nutty character and leather. The tannins are so soft and integrated with a lush yet clean finish that works with so many dishes from tomato-based to fatty meats. It has mature elements, but never tastes old to me. Good from release and for 10-15 years after in my experience.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First bottle in a few years and not my favorite to be honest. I can’t imagine that it’s getting old but this bottle lacks flesh, is a bit raisin dominated and seems a bit short. This was pnp’ed so maybe not at its best. (87)
Flows through you like Legolas walked over the snow in Lord of the Rings. So smooth and soft with a good flavor profile of red fruit, some earth and mint aromas. Interesting but too light-footed and boring to deserve a higher score.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dekantert 2 t. Noe vanilje i nesen som blåste vekk med luft. Ellers tobakk, plomme og lær. Bra struktur og flott syre. Fruktig, men nærmer seg modning. God avslutning med medium tanniner. Ypperlig med mat til. Min siste flaske. Vil fint holde 10 år til.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely, deep and concentrated aromas of cherry and well integrated oak. Light footed, velvety and balanced on the palate. Has taken on weight and concentration since the previous tasting a couple of years ago.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravin taste about a year earlier and thought it was off, maybe corked. Finally got around to opening it and not corked but somewhat mute, but improved with time in the decanter. Traditional Rioja, so plenty of acidity and still some tannin but balanced and enjoyable with paella mixto.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tempranillo 75% Garnacho 15% Graciano 5% Mazuelo 5% Nose is alive straight out of the bottle. The word Fuzzy comes to mind. Lift, freshness. Hard cherry candy, reduced cranberry, macerated wood, hints of black dirt and raw meat. Deeper red garnet, orange rimming. Poured a glass and Audouzed 60 minutes, Mouthwatering acidity. Sour cherry, Tart cranberry, darker, deeper edged fruit profile and wood dominate the palate. Crushed gravel with hints of tar. Medium body with gentle tannic structure, underlying acidity brings Burgundy to mind. There is a slight Green herbal note on the finish. Don’t think this will offer more intrigue by holding further. Definitely needs food, lamb, sausage, fatty beef. Purchased upon release, stored accordingly and enjoyed 65-75 with grilled beef. Drink Now… Na zdrowie
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 75cl, perfect cork, decanted 1 hour. Superbly pure, ripe bright-red fruit, amazing depth and resonance, long finish. From the start barely a hint of volatility, American oak beautifully integrated; no sign of mould or cellar funk. My best bottle yet. Exceptional now, no hurry. 92-93P
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Showed a bit more oxidative than I expected even considering the producer, but not a flawed bottle. Dill from the American oak quite apparent on the nose, palate is balanced with plummy red fruit flavors. Not the most complex LdH wine I've had, but solid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was showing very well and seemed quite youthful still (compared to many notes I've read about its current development). Complex, seamless, memorable. For $35, those are strong words, and definitely merited.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed over a period of 2-3 hours with 2-3 hours decanted prior to tasting. This was nice, but not worth the price of admission. Like others mentioned in other notes there is a hint of raisins, fig, and other sun-dried fruit notes on the nose that cause this to seem a little less than fresh. Medium body, med acidity, med- fruit, and all in all a Very Good wine. It's a bit disappointing given the vintage quality.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/12. Good cork. Decanted 1/2 an hour. Medium garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose initially slightly mute, showing dark, leathery fruit, a touch pruney, smoke, hint of tobacco. Medium bodied, quite dark fruited, leather, again a touch of pruniness to the fruit, tannins quite soft, savoury dark fruit on the good length finish. Not sure about this, not a great bottle perhaps. 85?
Bricking around the edges. Aromatic nose with orange peel, cinnamon, spice, tart cherries, light funk. Tastes of orange peel & pith, sour cherry, hint of vanilla. A bit on the tart side, and thinner on the palate than on the nose, but with a lingering finish and residual tannins. Hard to say how much longer this has.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tawny garnet in appearance. Open and expressive nose, with oodles of orange peel, cinnamon, clove and old leather. Good representation on the palate, with plenty of acidity and structure, albeit the ripeness of the fruit is starting to fade. Lots of bottle variation on these in the past year: either total duds or perfumed and expressive.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet w/bricking rim displaying aromas of dusty red fruits (red cherry/cranberry) with tertiary notes of, earth, tobacco, leather and vanilla. Muted red fruit flavors are accompanied by distinctive earthen undertones. Nimble presence on the palate; tannins are fully integrated and silky smooth at this juncture. Sufficient acidity remains to provide adequate lift however my sense is this has rounded the curve and is tracking downward. That said, this is a wonderful representation of aged Rioja. Drink now!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really good showing. Sweet ripe fruit - dark cherries and something like persimmons, shot through with earthy notes. Harmonious, essentially, but for the vanilla and coconut tones from the oak. Although it's not true to say this detracts from the wines harmony or balance. It's just a noticeable flavor. Delicious wine and entirely demonstrative of real Rioja.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just love! This wine may be a couple of years beyond how I like them. Fruit is faded, but this wine has an amazing weightlessness. Orange edges and a beautifully easy drink. Nose is rose and warm brioche. Palate has spice and balance and beauty. Finish is gentle and very very long. Love!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From memory: Best bottle to date! Sweet red fruit, leather, tobacco, spices and vanilla on the nose and palate. Both generous and well balanced. Very enjoyable with this Easter’s compulsory leg of lamb.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very good shape. Very clean. Paler colour than the 2001 Baron de Chirel alongside. More red fruit and delicacy. Savoury. Refreshingly acidic in the best sense. Yum. No hurry, of course.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Traditional Rioja (RSJ, London): Dark red fruit. Good acidity. Mid palate richness. Still some tannin in the finish. All there for the future, and this has really come on in the past six years since last tasting. Needs a few more years to develop an extra layer of complexity and nuance. ****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear ruby. As before, prominent acidity and finishing tannins give an edge to the wine. Fruit is very fresh and pure. Excellent balance. After a day in a half bottle the fruit expanded in intensity and density to become much more forward and fragrant. An excellent value and a very good wine. Has more time to go.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the nose, progressive aromas of cigar box, campfire, spice and later on, some cool meatiness and game. The initial palate was tart cherry and a bit straightforward for the first couple of glasses, but by glass #3, this was picking up weight. Typical Lopez class and elegance. By the 4th glass, the palate also picked up some meatiness of its own. Finishing the bottle the next night, the red fruit had rounded more to strawberry. This still has upside potential. 91+
PnP. Initially the nose and palate seemed old with some barnyard, bt then levelled out with a good degree of acidity but not unpleasant. Approachable now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Half bottle I was given by my dad 4 years ago. It showed well, though it still has some time ahead of it, which is why I am leaving my full bottle for another year or more. A little funky on the nose to start with, then tart red fruits mixed with balsamic. Very elegant as always and just a delight to drink.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Much better than our last bottle, which tells me that one was flawed to some degree. Candied cherries, red roses, and potpori on the nose. The palate still has a firm frame and juicy core, with subtle streaks of coffee and blue fruit beneath the tangy red fruit. The finish is refined, elegant, and near perfect. Paired nicely with a savory winter stew. If you get a good bottle, it should go another 3-5 years in a nice window.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drunk after the 2002. The colour seems a bit more black and there is more mature aromas with greater depth to the nose. I was perhaps less convinced that the slightly acidic taste was actually better than that of the 2002 on this occasion. Overall a wonderful wine though.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet with some browning. This opens completely mute, with hardly any aromatic expression. The palate has a reasonable structure, being medium bodied with soft tannins and modest acidity. Last tried this about two years ago, where it showed completely differently: expressive bouquet and bright acidity. After about two hours, suddenly some character and expression, showing orange peel, clove and leather. Attractive if delicate, though missing some support on the palate. This then held for the better part of two days. Perplexed. This is not dead, but can't be in a dumb phase after 15 years. And where is the acidity that was so prevalent two years ago? Tried this with two bottles; same result.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful, maturing garnet color. Lots of plum and red berry fruit on the nose mixed with spice and saw dust. The real winner here is the palate. Plump red fruit, an oak frame and tobacco. At the height of maturity. Good fruit, good verve and just a great impression. (92)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine needs about 15 minutes to open up and settle down and to let some of the acerbic qualities of Tempranillo quite down. Then for the next hour or so, the wine is more in balance with a moderate bandwidth of flavors typical of this varietal.
Ullage was good and cork was strong. Color was good but with some signs of tawniness. Nose and palate of leather, cherry, and some subtle licorice notes; all within the restrained bandwidth as noted above.
At about an hour+ the wine began to loose a bit of its charm as the acidity began to re-emerge.
Nice for a 15 year old bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice clear ruby showing very little age,nose has earth, clove, vanilla, medium body with high acid, long sour cherry finish. This wine should continue to age and develop.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2001 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA RESERVA RIOJA- 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo and Graciano; I`m a big fan of this producer and this bottling as well; our bottle showed beautifully giving bright spicy red cherry aromas which continued on and were joined by cranberry and black cherry notes; it was delivered in a silky smooth texture which served to perpetuate the length of the finish; underlying tannins were evident enough to suggest support for aging; although this is really showing well now, it will morph into even greater things.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 4 hours in advance. Nose has tinned strawberries and forest floor. On the palate some blueberries and tinned strawberries, well resolved tannins and strong but well balanced acidity. Drinking well now, with a decent decant, please don't rush, as it should improve further with a bit more time.
Un classique encore une fois, très old school et fidèle au goût depuis le début. Fruit rouge, tabac, herbes et menthol, belle finesse et équilibre. Assez long et vaporeux en finale, encore très bon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Personally think think this is in a good spot right now, though will get better, sweet pipe tobacco,, some dried dark fruit on the nose, palate has nice fruit on the attack, there are still unresolved tannins that the mid palate struggles with but it still finishes well medium plus length
In view of some recent tasting notes I opened this to try. No disappointment, still on the young side and slightly austere; IMO this needs more time. Will open out later for sure, either a long decant or another few years cellartime is required..
I am really not getting this wine. I have popped and poured, decanted, opened and left, and I can't get anything more than an acidic palate. My bottles have been stored IB until very recently so I can't believe that is the problem, is it just too far gone? Very disappointing.
This wine seemed past its prime. The cork was in wonderful shape. Starting to get a bit flabby. I have 1 more bottle and based on others similar comments, I will drink it up sooner rather than later.
From 75cl, v. good cork. This was great straight after opening and just as enjoyable after 2 hours in the decanter. I expected the fresh red-fruit strawberry/rasperry/morello tang, but this bottle has much less volatility on the nose than I remember from previous ones, and a gorgeously round, ripe mid-palate. Obvious, but perfectly integrated old oak treatment. Gentle raw leather-tannins on the finish make it mouth watering and moreish. Perfectly mature tonight, but no hurry at all. 92P
Wine seems long in the tooth compared to a few years ago. Still a phenomenal nose of candied red fruit, savory herbs, dried leather, and rose floral arrangements. However, the palate is thin and tired. Could be an off bottle but more likely hit peak around 2014. Still, this is an enjoyable mature Rioja. Drink now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From memory: Significant notes of prunes and port indicating fairly advanced oxidation, though not completely shot. A lot richer than the bottle consumed three years ago, which in turn helps to balance out the high acidity. Obviously not the best this wine has to offer, but still enjoyable “in an interesting sort of way”. 15 years should be no problem for good bottles – lets hope I’ll get lucky with at least one of my last two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Predominant nail polish nose. Very smooth palate with delicate dried plum flavour. Overall quite harmonized integration. Very drinkable. Bottle finished quickly. Just hope more complex elements developed with further aging for another bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The dill is strong in this one! Has almost a saline/salt water note as well. Went really well with proscuitto-wrapped cod with spanish beans. Not the best bottle I've had, but still very tasty, and it's peculiarities actually helped with the food pairing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seems fully fleshed out & mature with red/dark fruits, spices, hint of earth/barnyard. Very elegant style as usual. In its peak right now and no need to store longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprisingly mature flavour profile. Fruit very much stewed flavours. Nice complexity and tannins still present. I question how much longer this will live.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2001 Rioja wines tasting (Yagil's home): dark translucent red-purple with brown tones present nose of rich dark mature fruits (plums) with earthy and tobacco-spicy notes firm tannins on the palate, good acidity level, fairly structured and complexed, intense cherries, plums, some jammy tones, earthy-dusty character, savoury and light spicy association, cedar aroma, leathery and chewy aftertaste. Bottom line: very classic Rioja-for-food wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent wine that has nice fruit to complement some secondary development. Not as interesting as the Ardanza but should get there with time. Great value. (92+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Merger of TTTG &FTTG - Blind (DB): Tricky Mr. B served two halves of a magnum in two separate flights paired with Burgundy. Happily, I had nearly identical (tepid) notes for both, with the two ending up my 7th and 8th wines of the night. Medium-plus tawny color. Brooding nose of dark (stewed?) fruit, surprisingly advanced on the nose; a bit heady, ripe. Some sourness on the palate. Meh.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Served from magnum, but in 2 parts. Each half of the mag was decanted into a clean 750 ml bottle. One half was decanted an hour to the other half. The two bottles were then served blind to my tasting group as part of two separate flights of wines.
Both halves of the magnum showed pretty well, and the group was quite close on the average result. The later decanted half scored slightly higher than the earlier one. Both bottles showed chalky tannins on the finish, with the later half being more astringent, but also with richer fruit. Overall I would prefer to leave my other magnum for several more years to allow the tannins to soften, and for more aged character to develop. The wine currently seems to be in a bit of a grumpy teenager phase.
You can never go wrong with this wine. Always elegant and terroir driven. Red fruit, spice leather and earthiness. Tonight overshadowed by some stellar BDXs and would likely shine more in a Rioja lineup.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In a very good place. Zippy acidity, sweet fruit, flowers and spices on the palate. A bit of leather notes and spices and flowers on the nose. Clean medium length finish. A fun wine to drink with food or alone, has personality.
2001 Rioja (Maryland): Deep nose of rich plums and earth, with time all sorts of spicy tobacco and floral notes come out with a real sense of elegance. On the palate the tannins are firm and the acid is ravenous. Almost abrasive at first but settles down and shows all sorts of elegance. Fleshy red cherries, plums, some currant jam notes, full of dusty earth, tobacco and spiced coffee complexity. Opens up with air and develops all sorts of nuanced spice and deep floral tones. Plenty of time to go in the cellar, so I’ll hold onto my sole bottle for four or five years.
It is essential to decant this wine for 1-2 hours. Having bought a case and now consumed half over the last few years, on every occasion it has been almost undrinkable when opened - horribly thin and acidic. But after decanting, it blossoms into a very characterful Rioja - tonnes of dried fruit, cedar dust, sweat, and "horsey" notes. Still on the lean side, I can't say it's a huge favourite of mine, but it does have the virtue of being distinctive.
Decanted, and enjoyed after about an hour of air time. Good now, but still tight. Classy red fruits and earth. Has that Rioja dust and sanguine thing going on which is nice. Nicely balanced, good food wine. No rush to open.
Another 5-15 more years, but very enjoyable now with foods that match. Maui Beef Ribs with soya sauce sweetness work with the acid balance of the wine.
Dropped into a decanter. Served with a light dinner and shared with friends. Sour cherry, earthy core, slight amount of dustiness and herbalness to it. It is always a good time to pop a LdH.
Six-hour decant - some tannin giving good balance; vanilla (not much); some earth and leather; fruit not prominent, contrary to some other notes this tasted young and vibrant to me still, a long life ahead..very good.
Clear ruby. Prominent acidity and finishing tannins give an edge to the wine. Fruit is very fresh and pure. Balance is the byword. Good aging potential but quite enjoyable now.
Took a while to come around. Last couple of glasses were best. Old style Rioja, red fruited with old oak and spice aromas and flavours. Still quite drying on the finish with slightly tart cherry flavour. I'm tempted to keep my remaining bottles for some time yet.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Saved a couple glasses for second night. The wine is showing more traditional secondary notes with nice dusty cherry, dried herb, plum skin, desert earth - certainly the garnacha is evident. So old world it begs for an aged manchengo. Buzzzzoff thanks for your note. Additional age we'll definitely help draw out these secondary notes and I can see the aging potential. I just question the need to sit on a simple reserva for so long . . .
The third time we try this wine in as many years and we consistently like this and rate it 91. Much like the last two times this delivered the goods and was a pretty nice bottle to enjoy. Full character and elegance, very ice fruit, light sweet core very much classic well made Rioja . 91 and at a great place ( generally 2001 Rioja is drinking very nicely now ) 91
Light ruby color. Classic sour cherry, stewed prune, some port notes, touch of dusty earth and wood . On the palate medium acid, orange peel, prunes, raisin, followed by earth and dry spice box. Not overly complex and short on structure, nothing to right home about and better value can be found. I do not believe age will enhance.
With Sandy. Once the volatile acidity is out of the way this is a well balanced very traditional Rioja. It needs decanting in good time. Black cherry and oaky vanilla with a touch of bitterness on the finish. Has improved a huge amount over the last two years.
At a restaurant. The color has lost some of the brilliance but was still quite young looking. The nose was not very expressive and had a little bit of mustiness which took a while to dissipate, but was also subtle and fine. I took the glass to the open air and there it showed its best: together with some forest floor, it still had fruit and some subtle floral nuances. The palate was lovely, smooth, silky, with tannins completely integrated. It had a special flavor on the finish, which I could not quite nail down (some sort of noble and refined earthiness, perhaps close to herb liqueur). I have almost no experience with aged Rioja. This was not earth-shaking, but definitely fine.
Purchased at Eroski Córdoba early July 2015. Cork like crumbly cheese, coming out in several lots, leaving remainder in neck. Eventually accessed wine, or what should have been. Concentrated vinegar. Very disappointing.
I should have read others' notes on this before opening. Brought to a restaurant and decanted for only about 30 minutes before drinking over the course of an hour or so. Really nice fruit aromas with just a hint of vanilla. But the acidity just wouldn't calm down without more air. With some fairly aggressive spins in the glass you could get nice integration with some slight earthy flavors mixed in with the fruit--tantalizing with the promise of what this wine has in it. I recommend much longer decanting (a couple hours at least) if you're not holding this for a few more years. No rating as I feel I mistreated this wine. Lesson learned.
From 75cl, good cork stained half-way back. Sorely needed 2 hours in the decanter, started tasting really good after 3. (Initially the intense American oak and volatile acidity made it all-too redolent of a used plastic-lined airline barf bag.) At 4 hours: American oak, dark spices and dried fruit on the nose; sweet entry with nice tannic grip and an exciting acidic crescendo onto the dry, slightly dusty finish, which –at least in the case of my mouth – coaxes major saliva flow. i.e. a great food wine for tender red meat or game. 90-91P, mature now, but no hurry.
Subtle scents of rose and cherry-skin tannin. Everything about the wine is gentle while remarkably long. Combine old vines, traditional winemaking and the stunning 2001 season.
Sur-søt bålrøyk. Overraskende moden frukt; lær og tobakk, touch fjøs. Bløt og tertiær. Tanninene og syren kommer i finish. Undres veldig over lagringspotensialet her. Var bedre i 2012
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I decent offering but a little uninspiring given 2001 was an excellent vintage for Rioja. Pnp'ed (but would probably decant if I had it to do again). A reasonable bouquet of mature fruits. Minerally and highly acidic. Just didn't have the depth or balance of peers from this vintage, imho.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At a very nice time to approach this. We decanted and served. Still quite dark, light cocoa feel on the nose, dark fruits, light smoky feel still. Still primary and on the fruit, good rich core. The sweetness of youth is now well integrated and just feels the money. Good wine. 90-92 and drinks well now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From memory: Lovely classic wine with dark cherries, red earth and a little wet dog. Elegant and smooth -- a food wine more due to acidity than tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Significant bottle variation as this one was considerably more evolved than our last, six months ago. Wide open right off the cork pull. Dried cherries and butterscotch/toffee, slight vanilla and tobacco on the effusive nose. Palate similiar. Somewhat drying tannins. Acid is nicely integrated. Lovely bottle of wine. Have 9 left but don't think that will be enough.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby. Decanted 30 minutes. Fragrant tempranillo but firm underlying tannic structure. Not flabby; precise. Has a freshness that allows for current drinking, but really needs another 10+ years. Great potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The rating may be unfair. This wine requires at minimum 2-3 decant. I popped and poured and after 1.5 hours at the restaurant it really started showing its aromatics of cherries, dark chocolate, etc. Well balanced but starts our with high acidity. After time the acidity fades to a silky smooth mouth feel. Good wine but want to open and handle properly before casting any real judgement.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Easter dinner was Leg of lamb with potato and asparagus gratin. So what wine to serve other than tondonia :) And I only have 2001 reserva. On opening it was lacking flavour. sawdust and leather. Decanting, and having it with the lamb it came out to sing with dark cherry, almost toffee character. gritting tannins that I love, leather and cigar instead of sawdust. lingering finish. Got one left, need more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Påskeaften med lammelår og mor og broderen i Erfjord. Overraskende moden, deilig klassisk moden Rioja. Det er bare lyngen igjen av alle blåbæra som var her sist. :-D
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking very well. After a one hour decant, had a nice nose with some leather, earth and smoke. Dark tart cherry and more leather on a light palate that works really well with tapas type food. Nice alone too. Not sure if this will continue to improve, this was its best showing to date and well worth opening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
30 min. i karaffel. Rubinrød. En attraktiv nese bestående av treverk, sviske, plomme, lær og noe tobakk. En saftig og konsentrert fruktfølelse av mørke bær i munn. En lang og syrlig finish. Høyst tilstedeværende, men tilgjengelige tanniner. Passet ypperlig til lammesteika.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light brownish red. Clean tempranillo aromas with just a touch of wood. Light and feminin in the mouth, almost airy. Maybe it lacks some concentration. Wait and see. I guess it has more to show in the future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Multiple bottles over last 12 months. Bit of variation (touches of VA, some a bit more masculine, others more delicate) but all lovely. Sweet cherry, American oak, leather, smoke and earth on the nose; the palate adds extra nuances as the wine develops. Will be fine across another 10+ years but too tempting to open now. Hard not to love Lopez Heredia. ***1/2-****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Distinctive nose - funk, oak, sour cherry, dill. Masculine but graceful medium-weight body. Soft mouth-feel with a bright fruit, leather, and earth palate, finishing with a good dose of acidity. BYO at Copper Onion in SLC.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A 2003 Bosconia Riserva that showed well piqued my interest and I decided to try one of these. i found this wine to be more feminine and based on finesse. It's aged dusty quality was less prominent than the Bosconia. In fact, everything was playing at a lower volume in this wine. Perhaps the wine is in a shy phase or it's just how it is. Tannins are well integrated and this has entered its drinking plateau.
Våt stein, modne kirsebær, kjøttkraft, lær, estragon, mynte, kaffe og lett balsamico. Saftig anslag, flott syre og driv. Nydelig kirsebærfrukt, moden og konsentrert, med innslag av lær og røyk. Runde, så vidt tørrende tanniner. Trodde kanskje jeg hadde vokst litt fra denne, smaksmessig, siden forrige flaske, i 2012, men nei. Knallvin! På et bra sted nå, men med mange gode år foran seg. 91p.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
However good this wine was a few years ago, after lengthy slumber at the winery, it's on fire now. Earthy, slightly dank aroma on initial pour but explodes on the palate with sweet, spicy,long and complete classic old school tempranillo fruit. Just a glorious rendition of traditional Rioja the way it should be made!!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 2 hours and the aroma started to flourish. Nice briking color as the vintage. Nose of fresh red fruit. Soft and silky tannin. Med (+) acidity >> sweetness. Med finish. Can cellar for another 5-10 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really lovely classically styled Rioja. The nose has tart cherry, cranberry, green tobacco, mushroom, earth, leather, and hints of vanilla. The palate is filled with vibrant red fruit and lots of earthy, gamey notes. The acidity is definitely high and this absolutely requires food to show well. With food it is outstanding. Very good with beef tenderloin and a mushroom red wine reduction. Without food its a touch thin due to the acidity. Very good.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spanish (Kevin's house): Decanted 2.5 hours and followed a small pour over about 2 hours. This wine earned its points on the nose, which is a wonderful complex assortment of tar, leather, earth, bramble, some spice and red fruit. The palate, especially mid-palate, is rather thin and dry, but the finish is halfway decent. I wonder if this wine is in an in-between phase at the moment.
A very good bottle. No sign of oxidation--but I said that last time and two days later the unfinished half had turned into prune juice. Dang, I don't know what to make of these.
Minneapolis Wine Club - Spain (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark red color. 2.5hr decant, drank 1 glass over 2 hours. The intriguing nose offers dried herbs, rosebuds, dried fruits, caramel, briary, dry earth. The palate is light with very drying tannins, a little heat, funky, mushroom, dark red fruits, spicy, medium body, thin in the middle and somewhat austere overall. I'm hoping that this just needs more cellar time to evolve. I'd sit on these for several years, as I'm not loving it where its at. 88-89(+?)pts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still primary at this stage. Got better in the glass but not ready to drink. Rustic with leather, floral and mushrooms. Medium finish. Decanted a few hours but needs a decade in the cellar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375. Poured a glass out & let breathe an hour before serving. Oaky, vanilla aromatics mixed with dill & tart cherry. As always, amazing bouquet on these. The palate offers a creamy texture showing cherry, tobacco, cinnamon & more vanilla hints. One of the things I love about LdH wines is watching & tasting the integration of the oak. This is beautifully rich, but light as a feather on the palate. Supple tannins & bright acid. One of my benchmark wineries worldwide.
Cargado en nariz, poderoso, expresivo, dotado de mucha personalidad aunque con un exceso de potencia que le resta detalles de mayor finura. Viene embutido de aromas de frutos en licor, escaramujos infusionados, té de hibiscus y un fondo a caramelo de cola y vainilla que cimbra, aún despegado y por integrarse, a ras de maderas añejas. Maduro, amplio, haciéndose espacio sin contemplaciones en copa al ir respirando. Va sacando apuntes de hierbas aromáticas, hebras de tabaco, melaza, clavo... No para!!! Cuesta creer que estemos ante un vino de López de Heredia. Diferente al resto de reservas probado hasta día de hoy.
En boca es gordote, espeso, con un deje de dulcedumbre inicial que fulmina su implacable acidez. Sabroso, amplio, relleno de especias, cremosos. No hay dudas de que se conduce por caminos lejanos a los habituales pero no por ello resulta menos atractivo. Un tinto que comienza a ofrecer las primeras alegrías después de una larga travesía. Apenas ha llegado a su primer puerto y parece que va a tener que seguir en tránsito durante una larga temporada. Este Tondonia tiene la personalidad de su cosecha marcada al rojo vivo. Habrá que seguirlo de cerca para ver si cumple nuestros buenos augurios. Botellas no faltarán!!
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 75% tempranillo, 15% garnacho, 10% mazuelo y graciano - 12.5% vol. Uva vendimiada a mano. Fermentación en viejas tinas de roble de 60 hectolitros sin control de temperatura. Seis años de crianza en barricas usadas de roble americano de 225 litros. Sometido a 2 trasiegas nanuales cada año. Clarificación con claras de huevos frescos. Embotellado sin filtrar. 250.000 botellas elaboradas. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Nose: A typical "old world nose" with bright aroma spectrum of dried red berries, a bit of underbrush, leather, tangerine peel, cedar box, clove and a bit of vanilla. Palate: The oak is nicely integrated, medium-bodied. Very nice to drink, not to heavy with a moderate alcohol level. Good food wine. Will definitely benefit from another decade in the cellar.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
There was something off about this bottle. From the start I could hardly get the screw into the cork. The wine, while drinkable, seemed clearly to have an oxidized, raisin element. No score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2004 Rioja Tasting Nov-14: very light nose. tart plum and cherry. Light dry flavours, modest complexity, very subtle, light body but medium length. A long decant, possibly drink the next day improves the flavour. It is good, but its very different from bigger bodied colleagues especially the 2004s. Feel it may be moving past itr prime, but perhaps just evolving and is destined to be very light and subtle, requiring lots of decanting to pull out its full character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely, round, integrated palate, very smooth, great texture. This seems to show its 13 years texturally, but it's not as advanced in terms of palate complexity. There are notes of dried spice (clove), dried cherry, fig paste, cedar and musky incense. This seems to be just out of primary and into secondary. I found the oak to be integrating nicely. There are some sweet dried spices and cedar, which are likely attributes of oak, but they add complexity. None of that creamy dill that I often get (and detest) in young Rioja. Ever-so-slight coconut notes emerge after this wine sees a few hours of air. Overall, this is far from the oaky wine I had been expecting. Tannins are surprisingly supple. This is really pliant and smooth and easy, already, but it is not especially complex . . . yet. With David and Lindsey in Scarsdale.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Every time I drink this wine I wish I am a little sad because it means I have one less bottle. Just fantastic balance between bright fruits, sweet oak, and lots and lots of acid.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This light, balanced red delivers mature flavors of dried cherry, medicinal cherry, and leather. Fresh and lively boosted by zesty minerality. Classic Rioja but a bit uninteresting. I would drink up.
Tappo integro anche se non di gran qualità Naso = marsala. Prima boccata = marsala. Gli do fiducia, lo lascio respirare. Migliora. Il sapore di Marsala se ne va. Meno male. Decanter. Dopo 2 ore vino molto "stretto". Si percepisce un po' di tabacco. Acido, alcolico. Non va giù. 24 h dopo, il vino è cotto. bevibile, ma cotto. O la mia bottiglia era fallato (ma non credo) o chi ce l'ha lo apra subito e incroci le dita.
Pulled a bottle from my stash after tasting a rather oxidated bottle at a friend's house. PnP. Verdict? No ox. Splendid wine but needs more time. We didn't finish the bottle: two days later, however, it had turned pruney and we were unable to finish it. Make of that what you will!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2014 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/14/2014-10/21/2014 (New York City, NY): This wine (a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo) is now 13-years-old but still has a youthful, medium-to-deep ruby/red appearance. Red currants, orange peel, clove and loamy earth are found on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied and with well-integrated alcohol (listed as 13.5%), it is crisp yet supple on the palate as a result of its fresh acidity and resolved tannins. Solid in the middle, it concludes with a lengthy finish. This wine is drinking beautifully at this point and should continue to provide pleasure for 5-7 more years. Drink now-2021.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Someone else's bottle. Concerning level of oxidative flavor--I sat there thinking "I hope my bottles aren't like this", though next day DC said he hadn't found it oxidative at all. Strange. I'm putting this down as flawed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rioja - Small flight at home with friends: 13% alc; mid garnet to mahogany Deep penetrating aromas of exotic spices, black olive, rhubarb, liquorice, tar, tinned cherries and plenty of forest fruits. A firm entry with a vein of bracing acidity, slightly metallic texture slowly yields a more juicy feel. Traditional style, the wine has a medium body with a mineral note, lovely poise and feels pristine and weightless. Liquorice, pressed red flowers and cherry fill out the mid-palate. Intense wine with lots of complexity and that backbone of acidity finishes long with fine, velvety tannins. Become more intriguing in the Decanter. Quite an intellectual wine. 91+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the second night, this was great. The overwhelming acidity of the first night (despite a two hour decant) backed way off. This allowed the complex mix of dark red fruit, meaty balsamic savoriness, slight vanilla/coconut to play in the foreground. This is really going to be special in a few years.
Not decanted, poured out ~1/2 hour before drinking, consumed over ~2 hours. This took about half an hour to open up aromatically and about another half-hour before the palate caught up. Light-to-medium in weight, with tart, tangy acidity backing up dried cherry/red berry fruit, slightly-sweet oak (in balance), and a little roast-beefiness. Delightful lingering finish. We shared this with friends over fajita burritos, and it worked as well as I'd hoped it would...seems like it would match well with many different types of food.
It seems like it's really just entering its window, but this bottle drank well last night. There's structure to allow for years of development, so no rush.
Sweet oak, red fruit, acid on the nose. Similar on the palate with medium alcohol. The sweetness of the oak is a tad different but a good one nonetheless
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Silky, rich, well-rounded, very well structured. Acidity is still massive and this needed 2/3 hours of airtime in bottle to fully blossom. Then lifted aromas of balsam, vanilla pod, bright red cherries, a touch of ginger. The palate is rich and full bodied; tanins are sweet and very fine. Some real elegance here.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
For a 13 year old wine, this Tondonia is remarkably youthful. Medium red brick color with a hint of brown on the rim. Delightful subtle bouquet of vanillin oak and sous-bois. The youthfulness is primarily evident on the palate: a great backbone of acidity that gives the wine structure and style. Tannins aril present, although softening. Nice, tangy finish. Not a great deal of complexity, but I expect this to emerge over time. After all, it's only 13 yrs old!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
coming along nicely. Really racy acidity. Well balanced though with nice development and the freshness really makes this a lovely food wine. Some nice tobacco and red fruits coming through too.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
(Tasted alongside an Ontanon Gran Reserva from 2001 - Rioja Baja) Ruby with brick edge, firm fruit structure and supporting tannins. Has good aging potential for further development. Firmer structure and darker fruit than the Ontanon, but both are more similar than different. Both very high quality. The Lopez has a firmer structure while the Ontanon is a bit rounder and more forward/approachable now, but I would prefer to age both at least another 5+ years. To me the Lopez de Heredia had a slightly longer finish. Bravo to both.
Also tasted an Ontanon library wine at the same time... 1995 Ontanon Gran Reserva; more round fruit with supporting tannins and acids. Shows what more aging can achieve in these wines... and not about to go down hill.
The Lopez de Heredia was from a 1/2 bottle, Coravin'd a week earlier so only 1/2 of the 1/2 was remaining; not enough time lapsed to tell, but did not notice any decline in quality.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
(Coravin'd from a half bottle; testing for current drinking vs. aging potential.) Bright ruby with light edge. Smooth, deep, red fruit with fine tannic structure boding well for long life. Nice lean Rioja, not flabby or overblown. Very drinkable now, but I will be waiting several years to approach the full bottles. Will improve further.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red. Very light style rioja, easy drinking. Smooth tannins, tastes of meat broth and flowers. Time ahead of it, will get better. But drinks well now. I won't drink any more for several years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perfumed nose. Medium body. Dark purple color. Acidic with restrained dark fruit. Earthy. Traditional Rioja. A bit austere. Needs a lot of time to open up; minimum an hour. Could use a few more years in the bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 75cl, fine cork. Decanted 2 hours, during which the wine smoothed out and opened up. Vanilla oak, pencil shavings and strawberry aroma; caressing, silky entry, slender yet supple with bright acidity like a very fine Côtes de Beaune; some raw leather on the mid-palate; very long red-fruit/acidic finish with some residual open-grained tannins. Wonderful now, will surely hold and perhaps improve for at least a decade. 91(+)P
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful multi-faceted wine. Needed 2 hrs in the decanter. Went well with steak rubbed turkey burgers with grilled portobellos. Nose of smoked meat, rose petal, dried herbs and leather. On the palate smoked cherries, some pomegranate, dried sausage, leather and a dark thread of soil. This is just getting started and will last years. If you like Rioja pick up a few. Glad I have more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my second last bottle and I fear it is in a closed period, or I have difficulty adjusting to this type of light wine after a summer of big napa cabs and chocolaty supertuscans. When I opened it , it was basically flavourless. red water. 12 hours later I poured and it started to have some bark and bitterness. Started cooking. Lamb marinated in smoked paprika, rosemary, lemon, garlic and oil, with sauteed asparagus and onions and mashed potatoes. as I cooked, the cherries and leather started to emerge, especially after tasting some of my food as it went along, but a bit too much acid. With the food it was amazing. It really worked well with the food - that's the time Im giving the points for. After food it is fine, but still only a shadow of the greatness of Tondonia Grand Reserva, which was an adventure. I'll see tomorrow if some more time helped a bit.
Had the rest of it. and it became more balanced and also worked as a sipping wine as well as a food wine. It had a meaty character and darker cherry, and a nice textured finish. So I'll go against many of the tasting notes, by saying it can take some more aging to be really good.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent. The producer is so canonically established that they do not need the approval of this consumer, but still. Just ask yourself which wines of this vintage at this price point are still so vigorous and energized (-izing), and you'll agree that this is one of the better bottles in your cellar. Stock up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great food wine. Goes beautifully with tapas type food, cherry fruit with a leather and bramble underpinning. Soft red color, light palate, nice balance. Has time left, drinks well now after a two hour decant.
A well balanced example of what to look for in slightly aged Rioja. Scents of tobacco, earth, leather, and dried red fruits with a palate that's got a nice balance with medium acidity, med fruit, and med tannin. This should do well for several years with good storage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I thought this was kind of weak and thin this time around and it didn't match up with grilled rib-eye, so I vacu-vinned it and pulled a 2007 Cali-Cab for dinner. Had a glass after dinner and again it was just okay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A lovely, classic Rioja. Nose is complex and really pleasant with saddle leather, dusty earth, dried cherry, vanilla hints, a touch of cranberry and anise. The palate is still fresh with red fruit, well integrated tannins, hints of vanilla and a tasty finish. Classic style of Rioja and quite delicious.
Clear, garnet color exhibiting developing aromas of lavender, musty red fruits (red cherry/cranberry) savory/meaty component and vanilla. Dry with medium levels of alcohol and acidity presenting bright flavors of aforementioned fruit profiles. Medium bodied, round on the palate and delicately structured with fine well integrated tannins. Long evenly distributed finish. Progressively more expressive with extended air exposure, fully hitting its stride after several hours. Lovely now but should drink well for at least a decade.
Ruby with garnet shades. Compelling nose with telltale aromas of an aged Rioja as vanilla and sweet spice lead the way to a mix of red and black berries. Mid-weight, crisp and racy with red berry flavours showing some evolution. Crisp, caressing and very well balanced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really funky nose of animal fur, earth and sweet tobacco. Lovely on the palate with tangy red fruits along with flavors of damp earth, green tobacco and woodsmoke. Silky, weightless texture but also rustic in style which made it perfect with barbeque and the finish is intense enough to pair well with charred and flavorful food.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fourth bottle in a year I think. I love this wine. This had a slight bit of heat I felt, but altogether very classic. Light-medium body. Cherry. Leather. A little funk. Superior to the 2002. I think I have a couple bottles of 2001 left. Yay.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Jolie rioja d'une maison très traditionnelle, qui vise la finesse davantage que la puissance. Le vin est arrivé à maturité, avec des notes d'évolutions nobles et un équilibre exemplaire. Me semble plus riche et moins évolué que d'autres bouteilles bues. 91-92
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not quite ready. Nose is still muted but showing faint dusty cherry, smoke, asphalt, scorched earth. Savory cherry, slightly tart but very coiled up. With some time in the decanter, the tannins softened a little. Not much fun to drink yet.
CORKED - bummer. This 1/2 bottle was purchased at the winery. I had a magnum (that came through normal distribution channels) of the same wine that was corked a month ago and a 750ml bottle that was corked a year ago. I know these wines and the difference between funk and TCA... this was TCA... all three times. Anyone else have cork taint issues with the 2001 Reserva?
Oak and red fruit on the nose. The red fruit continues on the medium palate with hi-middle and lower treble vibe. There is a remarkable acidity, and the tannins are well integrated, but do pile up. Old-school Rioja at its best (or worst, depending on your preferences).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened a few hours before drinking. Showing some maderized notes along with smokey red fruit, sun-dried tomato, savory meats, and nicely integrated tannins. After being open about 5 hours, it started to fall apart and turn even more oxidized. I liked this wine a lot but it just didn't have that extra quality that other bottles have had. Still, a fun one to taste.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slow ox'd three hours and it continued to improve. This smells like someone filled a cedar cigar box with fresh damp earth, dark cherries, a small amount of decomposing leaves, and gave it a light drizzle of strawberry balsamic reduction. In the mouth, it's dark red fruits, irony bull blood, and cherry stones. The tannins are pretty well-integrated at this point but build through the finish. Let this rest for a few more years or at least decant for a few hours. 91+
I like this quite a bit and look forward to trying my last two bottles over the coming years. Reminds me of my time living in Madrid during the fall and winter of 2001.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lighter in body than I expected, but not as much so as the 04 Viña Ardanza Reserva. Firm but mellowing tannins with a dry medium-short finish that turned very slightly astringent at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Built to last, this red fruit dominated beauty takes a while to open up. Suggest decanting if drinking now but better still, suggest sitting on it for a few more years. A class act in the making.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needs time to open up. Drinks a lot better after about 4 hours of decanting. Cherry and strawberry on the nose and on the palate. Leather and a metallic taste. High on acidity and still very tanic. Really like it but I think its still too young.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Todo un Riojano. Madera, cuero, cerezas maduras. En nariz notas de chocolate. En boca un largo final. Es un vino que bien puede evolucionar más en los próximos años, sus taninos todavía están muy presentes. Ideal para acompañar carnes al carbón o guisos condimentados
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice ruby colour, just starting to brick at the edges, nose is oak with a medicinal edge. First taste was bitter cherry and orange, medium body, slightly out of balance. Medicinal edge began to disappear after an hour or so and the nose and balance greatly improved. Open this wine hour prior to drinking or let it lay in the cellar for 5 to 10 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not sure I get some of the hype here. Very straight forward and singular - hard edges of cherry, pit, lead and earth, very acidic. Little on the nose thru palate, perhaps age will improve the structure and give more depth.
Pour le prix, super bon encore une fois. Un peu de notes de cuir et animal avec un beau fruit rouge au nez. En bouche, super équilibré, fruité avec une belle texture satinée, assez long en finale. Très bon encore une fois.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Granato non molto intenso. Al naso deciso incipit di macchia mediterranea, erbe aromatiche, mora, mirtillo, noce di cola, chiodo di garofano, lievi sentori balsamici, carne cruda. Bocca rispondente, giovanile, elegantissima ed in mirabile equilibrio fresco-sapido
Consumed over three days; the wine remained remarkably consistent across all three.
Nose of massive oak treatment, attempting to integrate, that partially comes off like deciduous forest floor, certain fungi (including fine mushrooms), damp haystack, and nuttiness; tart red fruits also stand out. The palate is intensely acidic at all phases. Some tannic grip, a good part of it oak imparted, comes through at the back. Acid and oak elements make balance an issue. The finish is also acidic. This is not a layered wine, particularly if the prominent wood elements are not considered layers. Fruit wise, this wine is about tart red fruits only. The oak treatment drowns out all latent terroir elements and minerality.
Stylistically, this wine is an enigma. As a light-bodied acidic red with prominent oak treatment, Burgundy is better; for highly acidic wines that feature red fruits and modest oak treatment, Valençay blends based on Gamay, Cru Beaujolais, and wines by Domaine Les Pallières from Gigondas are more approachable or terroir driven respectively; for light to medium body whispy wines, Mourvèdre heavy CdP blends feature a more distinct sense of place. This wine is always going to be potently acidic, and I am not sure it's the type of acidity that softens and integrates with age. In that way, this wine drinks like an offering from a great appellation in a cool climate year, and I don't think that will change.
This is a correctly made wine. However, there is nothing charming here, no clincher, just numerous oak elements, tart red fruits, and acid. I could not identify any flaws though, and therefore the 91 point rating. I have generally stayed away from Rioja and will continue to do so; the woody and acidic style does not appeal to me.
Not dissimilar to the Ardanza 2004: a nose of black cherries, plum, Christmas cake, ginger and fennel seed. Very perfumed and aromatic. However, a bit more smoke and vanilla than the Ardanza, and not so much leather. The palate is also immediately richer and the finish a touch longer. Ample acidity and tanins, which are still slightly dusty. Very enjoyable and should continue to age well. Good stuff.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm surprised at all the positive notes. I was promised great things for this and this bottle was very disappointing. Thin, sharply acidic, not a lot of fruit and no length. Vinegary strawberries with a farmyard element. Unpleasant. I tasted it when opened, decanted and kept struggling on tasting at intervals for 5 hours with no improvement.
decanted 45 min, essentially no sediment. dark ruby red; cedar, woodsmoke, leather, pomegranate on the nose; mid weight; predominately red-fruited & notably dry w/pomegranate & dried tart cherry, mineral, some leather again on the moderately tannic & slightly woody finish. seemed a little constrained, but all the parts are there. first of six.
Breathe 1hr, very close nose with with dried red fruits, vanilla, dry leaf. Refined tannin, balanced acidity, with some palate of dried herbs, red fruits, some minerals, finish is medium
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needed some time to open up, but was drinking well at the 1 hour mark. Dried red fruit and spices. Great acidity and fine tannins. Would give this 5 more years ideally.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very old fashioned Rioja, slightly brown colour. On first tasting two hours after opening was tannic and unforgiving. Improved by the next day but was still a little dark. Interesting to drink but for me perhaps not as hedonistic as I like.
Was a little concerned based on a few notes suggesting this was tannic and/or needed time, but I found this to be pretty open for business right out of the gate. Popped and poured a taste, and then slo-o'd in bottle for about an hour while our Christmas Eve "7 fishes" cioppino came together. Perfect pairing. Crimson coloring with slight bricking. Aromas and flavors of red fruit, dry leaves, leather, vanilla, and cinnamon, with good acidity and medium+ length. Traditional style with a lovely mouthfeel. Found this very smooth and not tannic or highly structured. This was a treat and I'm glad I've at least got one more.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very good as is always the case with LdH. Smooth and elegant, but with the structure and intensity of the wintage. Drinking well already, but will keep for many years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
MYTHIQUE! Toujours aussi bon et satisfaisant, super beau pour le prix. Beau nez sur le tabac, le cuir et les petites cerises. En bouche, fumée, cerises, sous-bois et menthol avec des tannins fondus, belle acidité et belle longueur. Je ne me lasse pas de ce vin, ma première caisse achève d`ailleurs...la 2ième sera entamée en 2014!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over a lovely roast lamb dinner which was a great pairing. Consistent experience with my note of 5/11/2013 - this is still very young and needs a good few years to harmonise. At the moment the acidity is predominant and the fruit is hiding in the back room. Actually, the acidity worked well with the slightly fatty lamb. Quite short on length at the moment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A beautiful wine, full of rustic leather and cigar flavors and just a hint of the Rioja fruit coming through the mid-palate. Tannins like silk. Overall, a very elegant Rioja that drinks nearly like a Pinot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Two bottles went superbly well with loin of Iberian pork. Decanted for one hour the two bottles were noticeably different but both highly enjoyable. The first was comparatively soft but the red berry fruit was mixed with cherry cola, spices and cedar and held a long finish. The second bottle was sharper and had a dsfinite tannic dryness on the finish but again the complexity was very good with tobacco and almost a vinegary edge but in a really good way. What did really surprise me was that it did not immediately make me think of Rioja - no sweet vanilla from new oak here!
This is just a fantastic wine, and my half-bottle was drinking really well already. There is such superb depth of flavor (dried red and black fruits) with notes of autumn leaves, yet the wine is lithe, and as Tanzer says (and I agree), almost weightless. I will hang onto my second bottle for a good while to see the difference some extra years of aging make — but may pick up a full-sized bottle too as I liked it so much. One of the best stories, and estates, in wine for sure.
No decant. Drank in a hotel in nyc out of plastic cups hahaha. U do what u gotta do. This was my second tasting of this wine. Hasnt changed much in last year. Bricking around the edges. Cherry. Cedar. Leather. Tobacco. All the regular reserva rioja aromas n flavors. Really a steal for $40 and will be better every year for quite awhile. My only complaint is that the $30 2001 vina ardanza beats it hands down, but then that's the qpr king.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tasting Group LTB; Rioja: This is a classical old school Rioja. In the bouquet at first organic, oxidized and caramel impressions. On the palate also oxidized, celery, cold tea, chocolate, figs and oak. Firm acidity. This is Tondonia style and you can learn to love it. It is special and I can appreciate it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needed a couple hours to open up and is quite youthful. Smokey nose with some cherry. Palate is still quite bright and tart, with plenty of cherry fruit and a touch of cassis. Moderate pipe tobacco and herbal finish, turning a bit sweet. This still needs some time but is approachable with air.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At The Witchery in Edinburgh. Fastastic value. Exhilarating nose of flowers, sun-dried raisins, mulled fruits, spices and leather. Great palate to boot. A lovely wine, drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Très beau vin de cette MYTHIQUE maison! Un nez dans la pure tradition des Rioja...des odeurs de cuir neuf et de pain grillé avec des notes de café et de cerises noires....SUPERBE! En bouche, des épices avec des tannins charnus mais bien enrobés de fruit et une superbe acidité...un très bel équilibre. Finale longue sur des relents salins!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 3+ hours prior to dinner. Deep, dark violet color with slight bricking around the edges. Concentrated nose of spring flowers, sun-dried raisins, peppermint, spicy chocolate, herbs, and leather. Medium-bodied palate follows with dried cranberries, chocolate raspberries, mocha, more leather, tobacco, cinnamon, baking spices, and fresh cherry pie. Finish is smooth, much better with food, leaving delicate yet pronounced tannins that bodes will for aging. Paired with garlic BBQ chicken, wild rice, and mixed salad. Drink now-2031.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dense spicy nose with spicy black fruits and a little floral character. Still very, very young and completely primary, full of dark sweet fruit and really zingy acidity. Real intensity of flavour, a touch of grip and a long Christmas cake finish. Good but has so much potential.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is all good and a phenomenal value. I have many notes so will keep this short. I am a believer and hope the recent WS doesn't focus too much attention on Rioja. I like the QPR! (91)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Paella Dinner (Home): Mild nose with just a touch of oak and earthiness. Cherry and cedar on the palate. Good acidity and light-to-medium body. Not a standout, but good classic aged Rioja at a reasonable price.
Garnet in colour. Aromas of candied fruits, earthiness, mulled fruits, roses. Overall a juicy, medium weight , smooth wine. Red fruits/cranberry/cherry ...... drying finnish (medium tannins, smooth/silky tannins). Earthy finish. Touch of saline on the finish. Excellent wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Intense nose with vanilla, chocolate and red berries. Very oaky feeling. After an hour it opened and revealed some nice structure with smooth tannins and decent length. Nice complexity and was very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a good example of the greatness of Lopez de Heredia. The current release of this wine is 2001 and it costs around $35-$40. It's consistently one of the better high-end buys for this price.
So the wine. There's deep earthy red fruit that is still fresh and crisp. The nose is delicate, giving away a hint of candided fruit, but not showing much of the complexity on the palate with a rich mix of fresh fruit, minerality, earth, spice cake that are all very well integrated.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very good wine with Bordeaux like qualities although the color was more pinot like. The nose was leather, fresh tobacco and maybe cigar box. The palate still had surprisingly bright red fruits. We later tasted the Gran Reserva from 1985 and it too was very good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Musky nose with a hint of medicinal smells as well. Softens as it opens longer. beautiful red color. Medium tannins with a smooth finish. Sour cherry and raspberry notes with a longer finish than most temperanillos.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rubis avec disque légèrement tuilé. Au nez, cuire, sous-bois, un peu de prunes. En bouches, fruits rouges, cerise sure, reglisse avec tanins biens intégré. Encore beaucoup de fraicheur marlgrés ses 12 ans.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light to med red with amber cast. Only a dusting of sediment. Light fragrance of flowers and cherries and oak. In the mouth it is a little sour, light body, light concentration of smoky fruit. The 6 years of oak has stripped out the colour and rendered this slightly oxidized. This is interesting and in an elegant, traditional style. Accompanied charcoal grilled steaks very nicely. 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo. I recommend reviewing this producer's fascinating website
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blend of 70% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha with the rest Mazuelo and Graciano. The wine spent 72 months in oak. Dark garnet colour with salmon highlights. Loads of rust and iodine run alongside lively sour cherry aromas along with vanilla and elegant floral scents. Silky mouthfeel, well poised and energetic. Lots of life packed inside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1 hour of air. NOSE: Lighter than expected. Raisins, black cherries, stewed dark fruits, and only very slight wood (if any). PALATE: Black pepper shows up, raisins, stewed fruits, a little stone, medium-plus acid, medium-plus tannins (fairly bitter tannins too), nice long length.
Overall, this is clearly a great wine. I'm not sure if it's going through a dead period, or if it's peaking to be honest. I don't know if another hour of air is going to open this up any more. I expected more out of this. If I had more bottles, I'd sit on them for another year or two and see where they stand then. It certainly won't decline any between now and then.
13% abv. Nariz complexo, que ainda denota juventude com suas notas de cerejas um tanto intensas, mas também já conta com boas notas da evolução, que remetem a especiarias exóticas, ervas secas, tendo também um toque de metal, mineral e discreta nota oxidativa. Boca excepcionalmente bem equilibrada e elegante, de médio corpo, com acidez marcante e um belo sabor agridoce. Ótimo hoje, mas sobra potencial, devendo evoluir lindamente, merecendo ainda uma guarda de médio a longo prazo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Way too young but tremendous potential. Started off closed and tannic, but opened up quite a bit after 30 min. Dark fruits, brooding, lots of tannin. Ordered off a restaurant wine list but if I was opening at home I would let it breathe for 10 hours.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2 hours decant. Nose - Baryard notes + Tempranilo fruit. Palate - Tempranillo fruit but still excess tannin (unbalanced). No particularly special or interesting flavours or notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not much going on as yet. You can tell it's traditional Rioja and that's about it. Revisit in a year or two. Sometimes these gain weight, especially in top vintages. But you can tell it's not a Gran Reserva. (If history is any guide -- and at Lopez it seems the only guide -- many of us won't live to see the release of the 2001 GRs. Don't be misled by the misfiled CT "reviews" of the 2001 GR Tondonia. Most bottles of the LRA 890 -- also unreleased and now ageing glacially -- will have been consumed long before then).
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
BBQ Brisket with Big Reds (Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Small pour. This seemed a bit on the austere side to me tonight. Don't know if this had any decant. Nose has red fruits, red cherry, berries, some earth. The palate is cherry, on the sour side, mineral, firm tannins, a bit rough around the edges, but shows promise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Almost a citrusy quality from the abundant, juicy acidity, along with the usual leathery scents. Typical LdH silk on the palate but undercut slightly by a sourness on the finish.
A bit shut down right now. Fruit is subdued, wood comes through. After an hour or so the wine opened up but it probably needs a bit more time.
Has a decent amount of acidity, some earthiness, good character of old world Rioja. Worth a buy but I'd let it breath quite a bit if you want to drink now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spain Tasting (The Good Wine Shop, Chiswick): Still very youthful, lovely fruit, interesting comparison with the 1994. This is a beautiful wine developing in the right direction and worth waiting for another 7 years or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 375. The nose is where its at for me. Meat, olive tapenade, earth. The palate is bright and acidic with some glyceriny feel up front but quickly swept by acid. Olive and pickling brine notes a bit of wood and bright tart berries. Sweeps itself clean with just a touch of gritty tannin. A food wine if there ever was one. Not my favored style but every so often I love a wine like this.
Nose of strawberries and dark cherry. Made the big mistake to not decant it in the beginning. Opened it, poured a glass and almost no fruit and big tannins at the finish. Startened to open up after about an hour in the decanter and got better and better. Very nicely rounded, nice fruit and a long long finish. Was at its best after about 4 hours of decanting. This has all the potential to get better within the next years. Great Rioja.
Still tight, this gradually opens up to reveal a classic Old School Rioja: raspberry, cranberry served up elegantly with a tobacco tinge. More body than previous Tondonias I have had; my guess is that 5 years from now the wow factor will kick in. Suggest a decent decant beforehand (we did not - mistake). www.advinetures.ca
Drank alongside the 2001 Bosconia Reserva. This bottle seemed to be very tired, with little happening on the palate and a very weak finish. A disappointing bottle.
The color is garnet and is clear and translucent to the edge and down the robe. The aromas are raspberry, dry leaves, dark cherry, smoke, red licorice, and eucalyptus. The tastes are dark and sour cherry, raspberries, sweet cedar wood notes, vanilla, sweet spice, and tobacco. The tannins and finish are very dry and the finish is nice but seems short and this is medium to light bodied. This is a nice complex wine that goes well with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color: Deep ruby red, tinged with orange and brown. This stuff is BLACK in the decanter
Nose: Blood, iodine, decayed fruit, and cherry cough syurp with a hint of rich earth.
Taste: dense and powerful, but sneakily so. Classic dusty Rioja/temperinllo tannins and wonderful soft acidity. At 13% alcohol, this is a perfect food wine as there is no alcohol heat.
Note: after an hour and a half in the decanter, the wine has chaged tremdously. The cough syurp smell is gone and replaced with wonderful earthy smells I don't have words for. As the wine breathes, the tannins are becoming more agressive.
I suspect this wine has years of evolution ahead of it. Fantastic!
Red-orange color. Tobacco, leather, earthy and woody notes on the nose. Silky texture but still expressing good tannins. The palate matches the nose notes, good Rioja, decent persistent finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner in Orlando (K Restaurant - Orlando, FL): Tasted blind. About the same as it was back in April. The nose took some coaxing to get going...had some light berries, tobacco, and tar. The nose made me think Nebbiolo at first, but when Robert said, "smells like Rioja" the light bulb popped on. Seems to be in a weird place, certainly young with some wooly tannins on the finish, there's no question to me that this has the raw material to "go the distance" (sorry, watching Field of Dreams...).
deep, murky purple full bodied A little ashy, dry with good tannins typical Rioja, lots of complexities medium+ finish Soft cedar hints, some metal hints on back end finish Very meaty
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fairly restrained nose, dried cherries and mulberries, hint of mouldy cigar notable. Silky texture and slick, entry of sweet cherry which transitions to a midpalate of cranberries, strawberry and preserved meats; moves after to a slight acid zing and firm medium tannins which extend to the finish. Medium+ bodied.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
nose a little closed, hints of cherries and nothing more. palate "clean" with cherries, red berries, some earth, hint of oak. great acid. Medium aftertaste.
good wine, but i think it should age for a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
WOW, superbe vin de qualité ici...du MYTHIQUE encore une fois! Un nez dans la pure tradition des Rioja Old School...des odeurs de terre brulée, de cuir neuf et de pain grillé avec des notes de café, de mures et de cerises noires....SUPERBE! En bouche, des épices avec un fruit croquant avec des tannins charnus mais bien enrobés de fruit et une superbe acidité...un très bel équilibre. Finale longue sur des relents salins! Encore d`une jeunesse qui laisse présager plusieurs belles années en cave, GRANDE qualité ici, on adore tous!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was very good with the Habanero Chicken Pasta I made but not as impressive with my neighbor's Rib eye. Very fruity and nice acidity to complement food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasting Notes from trip to Rioja; 7/5/2013-7/12/2013: After 30 mins slow ox. Prominent caramel smoky notes, strawberries, bright acidity, leather, with mouthcoating velvety tannins. Still feels youthful. Awesome pairing with baby lamb chops. The wine tames the gamyness, the lamb tames the acidity. Lacks, a bit of depth. Elegant, pinot like in body.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An interesting wine, for sure. Cloudy in the glass and cloudy on the palate, with some meaty, earthy, kind of decomposing vegetable flavors going on. I think in 4-6 years this will be pretty, but it's kind of awkward right now.
The major conclusion after drinking this wine is: aerate it at least 1 hour. In general, it is a refined wine with sophisticated aromas more evident after 1 hour opening. The weakness: it lacks a bit of strength. Maybe this bottle was in decline. Two days ago, I drank Bosconia Reserve 2003 and found it better.
(at Jaleo – Washington DC) I really dig this wine. I have a bunch in my cellar and I am pleased to see if on many restaurant lists at good prices. Beautiful fruit, nice balance and a warm and inviting finish. (93)
Much more reserved and restrained compared to the 2001 Alta Gran Reserva 904, this wine has a Nebbiolo character to it, the fruit is tight and dusty, one can smell roses from the glass and the tannins are pronounced. Not as obvious as the Alta, this is a wine that tells you there is more to come, be patient. I'm intrigued by the hidden potential. Something special in the making here.
Decanted all afternoon. Leftovers rebottled and recorked overnight, TN is on the leftovers the next morning. 13% ABV
Both last night and today I find the nose more expressive than the palate. Certainly seems to be getting mature in color, aromas and flavors. Hint of red fruit and plum, leather, tobacco, chocolate, something slightly green to me as well. Nice acid, and smooth tannins that still have some grip.
Deep garnet. Lively, sharp acidity. Red currants and stewed fruit with a touch of candy on the nose. Not as much tobacco or vanilla as I would've expected from other reviews. A slight salinity. Tannins still substantial on opening but mellow with air. This would be excellent opened a few hours before consumption but still needs some time. Would not open again for a few years. Still developing its finesse
Dried prunes and some spices on the nose. Also varnish and some paint notes. Quite a lot of tannins and oak, tart, cherry jam on palate. Greatly improves with air, aerate for at least 2 hours. Didn't go well with Spanish ham and chorizos, became too bitter on the finish. Needs some more aging.
loved this wine. plenty of fruit on the nose showing cherry, black cherry, leather and the slightest hint of vanilla. full mouth feel and a medium-long finish. really enjoyed it.
Very well balanced and solid elements playing together here, but, for me, way overshadowed by the blanco we had first, which was spectacular. Still very worthy though, would happily enjoy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On nose pronounced intensity; So many things behind this Medium Garnet coloured wine. it has lots of cooked and fresh red fruits, balanced with oak: cedar, vanilla, cloves, and many tertiary flavours such as mushroom, forest floor, tobacco, chocolate, toffee.
On palate again pronounced, M soft but not grained tannin, M+ acidity, M+ body and M+ alcohol. More fresher fruits compare to nose.
This is definitely a pleasurable wine you would like to drink again and again. Very good to Outstanding quality. A certain improvement is there waiting if you age it.
Wow, the joys (and despairs) of bottle variation. This bottle was nothing like my previous bottle (but also not clearly faulty in any way). Flavours of prunes, raisins and port overpowered the nose and palate. This was clearly more "oxidised" than my previous bottle, but it still wasn't completely past its prime - I had just expected this process to take closer to 20 years than 20 days.
The color is is densely hued but translucent and garnet in color with bricking to orange hints at the rim. The smells are tobacco, espresso, currants, blackberry, and vanilla. The tastes are tobacco leaves, currants, cedar, vanilla, sour cherry, hoisin, salinity, leather, and espresso. This is medium bodied with nice acidity and puckering, velvety tannins. The finish is lengthy and this is classically styled and complex.
Drank over 48 hours. The oak is present but well integrated and doesn't get in the way of the fruit. There is a nice acidity to the wine and the tanins are present but rather round (not dry). the nose is of prunes and cherries macerating in alcohol. Medium length. Quite good but lacking a bit of complexity.
This wine attracts quite a diversity of opinion. Having quietly contemplated several glasses over this evening, i think it is very good...but only if you accept that young fine Rioja appears to have an absence of fruit (it emerges with more age, which in the case of Rioja means many years).
Actually, tonight I couldn't improve on my previous tasting note, except that I was premature in using the word "harmonious".....I think the orchestra is still tuning up on this wine:
"Light, semi-transparent lambs' blood colour. Nose is lifted, perfumed high tones of red cherry, light tar and subtle oak. Palate is medium-light bodied, packed with wild strawberry fruit and acidity and a fairly subtle but noticeable oaky finish. Still some tannin to resolve but only in the same way as a good Burgundy that has just entered its drinking window. This is very harmonious and enjoyable wine....and great QPR. Will only improve but is already lovely lightweight drinking.....a tribute to the 2001 vintage."
quite a contrast to the 64` with more vibrant fresh ripe fruit including plum, blackberry and red currant topped with a hint of leather and spice with all continuing on through a long finish.
Light ruby colour is younger than what i expected. Upon opening it showed some nutty flavour which went away after half an hour. Candied and fruity aromas. On the palate it came with an initial sweetness and ended with an earthy and herbal finish. The acidity was not pronouced. A wine not of intensity but for comfortable, easy drinking. I like the style. I would give it 93-94 if the mid palate gives more elements.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slow-o for 4 hrs. Very light red and translucent. No bricking. Strong nose of strawberry jam and cherries. Had trouble defining the flavor - very light red berry and alive, some secondary notes of clove? Roses too? Great red fruit flavors continue on palate. Raspberries, strawberry, cherry, the whole gang. Tannins present, and I thought lowish acidity. Not yet in balance to me. Medium plus finish. Overall an excellent exciting wine. Did change very much from initial open.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
n - VA, spicy, lush, leather t. nuttiness lots of acidity, perfume - such freshness layers! cedar tobacco So complex, so intense just gorgeous - really good. Will get better i'm sure
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for close to three hours before tasting. Medium garnet core, rusty rim. Savoury red berries, autumn leaves, leather, tobacco, vanilla and spicy oak on the nose and palate. Medium bodied, elegantly styled, yet very structured. I personally find the high level of acidity a touch overpowering, and would have loved to see a slightly richer mid-palate to back it up. Points are also deducted for a shorter than average finish. Having said that, this is a good quality, food friendly and affordable wine. Still young – will keep for decades, and hopefully even improve during the next 5-10 years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
To me, this wine has the beauty, fragrance, middle-weight and high acidity (rather than tannin) in common with Montevertine's IgT; but the aromatic profile is different. This is slightly sweeter and of course more aged; it shows red earth, dark fruits and lots of old oak. Very harmonious and easy to drink an hour after opening in a Riedel Vinum Bordeaux glass, I am sure it will keep for a decade or two -- another quality it has in common with Montevertine. -- Four days later the second half from a recorked half-bottle seems darker and fuller and to be very sensitive to temperature; its smoky plum-like, saline aromatic qualities seem to work best slightly below room temperature, i.e. at 15-16 degrees celsius.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A somewhat muted, soft nose of dusty red fruits, some plum and smoke. The palate was really nice with great balance - a combination of violets, dark fruit, some lighter floral notes, and earth. Still super young, this should continue to improve for quite a while.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very austere and acidic, the only fruit showing through being sour cherry. After vigorous aeration in glass, it opened up enough to pair with homemade pizza, but was just too lean and acidic to enjoy on its own. Left the remaining third of the bottle with a friend, hoping he might enjoy its second-day drinking more than I. May pick up another bottle and try decanting for a couple hours before drinking.
I should add that I suspect this wine is experiencing a good deal of bottle variation.
Much like other 01s this is perfumed and vibrant with aromas of ripe red berries. Pure and precise with zippy red fruits and lovely acidity. Gains a bit of richness in the class revealing more red berry fruit and a touch of tobacco and delicate vanilla on the finish. Lovely, but so very young and has decades ahead of it.
C: Light red, bricking on the edges. Surprisingly light for a Rioja, but presumably typical for this producer. N: Cherries, plums, warm forest berries. Some floral notes. Touch of tobacco, earth and leather. Beautiful nose. A slightest hint of vanilla and clove and a little alcohol on the end. P: Cherries and earth. Great concentration. Smooth and silky. Spices and leather through the mid palate, but always with those great (slightly sour) cherries. Wonderful acidity, this is a really savoury wine. The tannins are still alive, but they have definitely integrated well. No sign of over-oaking at all. A touch short on the end, but that just makes you want to drink more... O: Wonderful, perfectly balanced wine with good fruit concentration, structure, acidity and complexity. With a little less alcohol on the nose, a litte more fruit and a slightly longer finish, this would be approaching high 90s. Must buy more at this price!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitely needs a decant and we did do due to diligence. Moderate tannin, great fruit, nice slight musty soft spice (that wouldve blossomed has we treated this with air). Horrible pairing with scallop tapas dish as expected, but beautiful with anything harissa, chimichurri, etc. Has a decade at least left. Should've decanted...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was quite nice. Translucent dark garnet in the glass with some subtle bricking. Elegant aromas of black cherries, ripe plum, some stewed dark fruits, violets, and roasted meat. This is soft on the palate, with flavors of ripe strawberry, prune, iron, earth. Approachable tannins with real bright acidity. Great power with little weight to it. Lovely juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4 hour decant. Serious nose. This is not a fruit bomb. Subtle, mature, restrained but delightful. Beautiful delicate, ripe fruit with complex spices and a finish I just wasn't able to decipher but that was wonderfully balanced and long. Lovely acidity too. 92 may be an underscore.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We had a well decanted yet shut down specimen tonight. Structure was excellent, but the patterns on the tapestries were undiscernible. On the nose: chocolate, toffee, milk chocolate and dark fruits. Mellow yet M+ size. In the mouth, only structure and oomph lent themselves to definition: tasty acids M+, elegant tannins M, fresh fruit and very very promising. May not reach the stars, but will be great pleasure always. More plelasure to be expected from keeping. Provided by M.E. in a very fine evening in relaxed friendship and nice talks. Went exceptionally well w salami, hot pepper and garlic pizza. Yay!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Young Lopez de Heredia Whites and Reds (Arlequin Wine Merchant, San Francisco): Light center. Pretty nose with some strawberry and soil. Light weight, elegant feel, herbal, high acidity. Much too young, gripping tannins give this a resoundingly austere finish. I wonder how (and if) this will come together. Not very pleasant now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is still relatively young but already approaching greatness. Seamless, perfect balance of fruit, acid and old style funk. I'm not even going to try to describe this wine, it's beautiful and I don't have the words for it. If you're a fan of traditional styled Rioja, you know what to expect from LdH and this bottle has it all. I can't wait to try the gran reservas from 2001, this is such a great vintage that even the reserva wines are brilliant. An absolute steal at the retail price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quelque peu déçu de cette bouteille mais je crois qu'elle avait un léger bouchonement.... je vais lui laisser le bénéfice du doute et en essayer une autre prochainement.
C'est l'entrée en bouche qui laissait percevoir un petit goût de liège, par contre en bouche c'était bien, avec des touche de cuir, tabac et de prune.
J'ai bien hâte de revisiter
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Faint medium color with some brown on the edges. Bouquet is elegant and mystic with sweet cherries, vanilla, cedar, and dry herbs. Entry is bright with well integrated to low tannins. Body is thin with the fruit struggling to come through ending in a light cedar-kissed finish. The wine is a fine effort with a very evolving nose and palate as decanting occurs, however it feels as if the fruit didn't show up in full force and the wine stays uni-dimensional.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is truly a delicious, old schooled, thought provoking delight where subtlety is the name of the game. It is medium bodied and evolved beautifully over the course of 4 hours. It was showing its best at the very end of the last glass. The red fruit spectrum dominates the nose and palate with minty undertones of tobacco and asian spice. The finish is long and features a conglomeration of red fruit wrapped in zesty minerality. Wonderful stuff. Describing the specifically the taste and smell of this wine is difficult as it changed and evolved so much over the course of the evening. There is clearly a long life ahead of it and I can only imagine how well it will continue to improve - 93-95+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Edit: I received a comment "You realize this was just released right? It is far from over the hill, if anything it needed time to open up."
I have no axe to grind on this wine. I gave it approx 4 hours of decanting before drinking based on comments read on CT. Did not taste on opening but after 4 hours and 3 hours more of drinking the wine was old and tired, no fruit, little tannin really not that enjoyable. Had a 2005 Valduero along side that was much better. I am a moderately experienced wine taster. I like old and new workd wines. I like Riojas but am not an expert. I admit to having evolved my tastes to (usually) not liking really old wines and perhaps that's subjective. But I need some flavor.
interesting stuff, opened well over 6 hours (needs time) strawberry, cherry, leather, earth, salt, raw meat, well integrated oak, smoky! a well balanced and very fine complex old school wine made in classic rioja tradition easy to drink but take time to find its greatness in glass and you will be rewarded with a special and astonishing taste.
This needs time. 89 points day 1 and 91 points day 2 so I'll average it. It is nice and smokey and complex day 2. Day 1 I think it is a little closed. Still very very good old school example of Rioja. Smokey, cherries good wood balance and great structure
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby red at the edge of the glass. Nose starts with chewing gum, and fresh dark berries. 5 minutes later mineral flavor and fresh grass start to come out. Medium body on the palate, fresh berry taste consistent with nose. Balanced acid, and tannin with medium to long finish. Much fresh taste than 2000 vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The R. Lopez de Heredia Rioja Wines are Fantastic. Complex like a Cab, while easy drinking like most Spanish Red Wines. Worth keeping in the Wine Cellar. Also, aged is even better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Taste: Extremely well balanced and poised medium medium body with medium+ acidity and silky tannins. There is really nice depth to the tones of strawberries, fresh picked berries, floral tones, and some bits of leather
Overall: This is a well balanced and young Lopez Heredia. It is somewhat drinking and certainly needs time, but is extremely enjoyable right now as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Once again this is amazing stuff form this mythical winery! Probably will evolve to be better in time!!! Decanted for a few hours before serving with the lamb chops! Nose lots of black fruit and a bit of new leather & spices, pretty complex! Palate is silky smooth with nice chewy tannins, extremely long and lip smacking GOOD! A GREAT RIOJA from a classic producer, this is wine making that has been forgotten by many...the tradition continues!!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ripe and dense for a Tondonia Reserva this young. Sappy red raspberry fruit is buffered by ample acidity and polished tannins. Not used to such a stylish Heredia in youth. Curious to see how it ages.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Italian and Spanish tasting (Watson's, Hong Kong): Light colour with some tawny at edge: first bottle was off - tried second bottle. Bright garnet with pale edge - lively fruit and spice but still plenty of tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
WCC Rioja Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Decanted for about 30 minutes; back in bottle about 90 minutes before drinking.] Beautiful bright red fruit in a Grenache-like nose. Smooth and silky in the mouth with some dry tannin on the finish. Awkward with the Shrimp Cake. May improve with more time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is showing quite well presently but yet it can probably evolve to be better in time!!! Nose shows mostly black berries, cherries and some cassis with a bit of an animal or gamy component! Nice plush tannins with some minerals and nice clean acidity. Finish is quite long & persistant! Super classic RIOJA with mistyfying potential, this is winemaking that has been forgotten by many...kudos!!!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brought one of my magnums to a company dinner at a steakhouse, and it was just beautiful. Gorgeously complex, classic nose of hearth and spices, rusty red fruits, herbs, very delicate but works powerfully with food (in this case a 1st course of thick bacon), still young, it's entering its drinking phase for sure but isn't going anywhere. Made a stark contrast with the young, high-end napa cabs that everyone else brought (and it came out distinctly superior).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Adrianne served the first half of the bottle to her friends and put the remainder in the fridge. I drank that 1 week later. Beautiful dark fruit flavors with just enough sweet tannin to make a nice dry mouthfeel. Loved it with my rack of lamb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very light red with a copper tinge. Sweet nose of dried, red fruit with cherry, sandalwood, and tar that seemed rich, but very much in check. Definitely showing some age. Surprised not to see any American oak- would be curious of the treatment to this bottling. Tiny amounts of tannin and fresh cherry on the palate. A little simple. Thought it could have been a ripe, soft Barbaresco. Tasty.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Encore une fois superbe vin de cette maison "mythique"! Robe assez pâle encore une fois! Un nez sur des fruits rouges avec un peu de goudron et de l'élevage à peine perceptible. En bouche, c'est complexe et raffiné. Des petites cerises avec des tannins au grain fin, quel beau vin bien équlibré. Finale assez longue et fort persistante. Un très beau Rioja dans la plus pure tradition, encore bon et ce pour bine des années!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A wonderful mature Rioja that is a classy wine that you can serve to affiicionados and novices alike. Very pronounced nose of raspberries and a touch of oak even from the almost empty glass. A beguiling wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'd love to love this wine. I think what this producer does is awesome. They literally store ridiculous quantities of bottles in their own cellars until ready for release. I've been there. It is OLD SCHOOL with gigantic foudres aging wine, cobwebs and mold everywhere. But to me, the wines taste weedy and moldy. I may simply not get it. There is none of the beautiful upfront fruit of the more typical Rioja. I do give them credit though for the age worthiness of the wine, and I think this 2001 has many years left, with potential to develop many secondary aromas. And btw I paid $35 for this newly released 2001, was thinking it was good value (eg the 95 pt Neil Martin review). But no, I don't see it.
Btw these guys have some amazing older whites. Saw a new release of 96 In the store today! (But still, I think as much as I love their approach, none of the wineS will wow! (30 views)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've now followed this over 3 nights and can't say this one does much for me. Strong caramel oak influence and fruit not really up to the task. Admittedly not fair night 1 after 1990 Canon La Gafelliere, but wine never really opened to deliver more than traces of pleasure. Hopefully weak bottle or the proverbial "in a bad place right now"
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby with significant bricking. Pleasant nose after it opened up and better on day two. Cedar, spice and vanilla with earthy notes. Palate not as exciting as the nose, some bright cherry, oak. Soft tannin with a sour acidic finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 75cl, fine cork. Decanted 90 minutes before serving, a good idea as the wine was closed and crabby on drawing the cork. With sufficient air this is pretty much a model old-school Rioja Reserva, which brings it stylistically much closer to Beaune than to Bordeaux. If you wanted more excitement in this style, you'd need to look to a fully mature Gran Reserva from LdH or perhaps Ygay in a great vintage... Fragrant, light red-fruit aroma (redcurrant, underripe raspberry etc) and a decisively acidic entry, mid-palate and mouth-watering finish. Tannins fully resolved, utterly pure and linear from the first to the last taste impression in the mouth, from the first to the last drop in the decanter. A sterling value at 20 EUR retail, probably a lot less mortal in the cellar than I am on this earth. So (hopefully) no hurry at all. 91P
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have more experience with the older Gran Reservas so the comparison may not be fair but I found this to be disappointing. Slightly murky in color and the fruit was marred by a bit of sour acidity. Balanced out with food but not particularly memorable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drunk out of a half bottle, this was a surprisingly nice wine for 9 euros. Ruby coloured with nose of ripe cherries, raspberries, star anise and cinnamon and a hint of green peppers and meat at the end. Flavour was more on the punchy, ripe red berries, mixed spices and some oak. Nice wine to drink and has a good medium length to it, soft, rounded tannins which should carry this on for a few years. Drinkable now though!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful wine, which is really elegant and nicely made like the best LdH, but unfortunately not giving it all at this point. Still enjoyable today with no rough edges, but the fruit is tightly packed and hiding a lot of potential. 91+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over three hours without decanting. The nose reveals a range of smokey red fruits, eucalyptus, cedar and perhaps dill. The fruits dominate the palate followed by the oak induced components. Overall this is a nicely balanced wine that is predominantly showing primary flavors. Given its clear structure and moderate acidity, I anticipate this will only improve with age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of pepper, perfume and mixed dakr fruits. Flavors of berries, cherries and raspberries. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold. No rush.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful brick/garnet color. Red Fruits and caressing oak on the classic, but in no way stogy nose that shows good ripeness and elegance at the same time. Medium body with wonderful precision of flavor. Shows some maturity but also good concentration. I am just learning about these wines and am frankly amazed at their value. Serious, world class wine for those who like balanced intensity. Really like it. (93)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light, semi-transparent lambs' blood colour. Nose is lifted, perfumed high tones of red cherry, light tar and subtle oak. Palate is medium-light bodied, packed with wild strawberry fruit and acidity and a fairly subtle but noticeable oaky finish. Still some tannin to resolve but only in the same way as a good Burgundy that has just entered its drinking window. This is very harmonious and enjoyable wine....and great QPR. Will only improve but is already lovely lightweight drinking.....a tribute to the 2001 vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely wine that straddles the threshold between youth and maturity. The fruit is still very evident, but mellow and accessable. The complexities that come with age appear: cinnamin, leather, dried flowers. Not marred by coconut or too much dill, as some traditional Riojas can be. Burgundian texture and silky smooth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I could smell this wine all night!!! Nose of red fruits, cedar and herbal spices (another reviewer nailed this one). Tasted red fruits- plum and cherry, some slight oak and spice. Very tasty wine and a killer QPR. Very food friendly; however, can be over powered by stronger foods. Will definitely purchase more.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was the first bottle opened from two cases acquired over the last 18 months. It was decanted for two hours with minimal sediment. It was consumed several days ago with dinner but I did not take notes at that time. The descriptions proved in earlier notes by Flamengo and several others are consistent with my recollection so I will restrict comment to my overall impression. It was beautifully balanced, elegant, and nuanced hitting all the high notes I look for. The last bottle to give this much enjoyment was a 1999 Musar. That said, it clearly hinted at even more potential. It will be a challenge to keep my hands off this for another 5+ years. Patience presumed, I can then look forward to another 15+ years of extraordinary drinking pleasure. I eagerly await release of the 2001 Gran Reserva.
Bu avec Denis en même temps que le Baron de Ley 2001. Voilà un beau Rioja de style traditionnel de cette maison "mythique"...pour quelques dollars de plus très bien investi, y'a pas photo, nous avons apprécié ce vin, a beaucoup mieux paru que le Baron de Ley bu en parralel!!! Robe assez pâle encore une fois! Un nez sur des cerises et des mures avec des épices et un beau boisé bien maitrisé. En bouche, belle complexité et profondeur. Des cerises et une pointe de chocolat avec de beaux tannins fins et anguleux, quel beau vin bien équlibré. Finale tout en douceur et fort persistante. On en redemande, un classique pour nous et pour encore longtemps!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Reliably delicious. If you ever want to experience a true old style Rioja look no further than R. Lopez de Heredia. Medium bodied, earthy, subtle oak. Wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The color is somewhat dense but see through garnet that lightens to the edge. The smells are currant, soy, cedar, and herbal spices. The tastes are tobacco, black olive, currant, sour cherry, pepper, licorice, and spices. The body is light and the finish is long. The tannins are velvety and this is a nice old world, complex wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bodega makes a style of wine that is not very comon anymore nowadays (unfortunatelly) . This is old style rioja at its best! A piece of art from Lopez de Heredia, one of the oldest bodegas at rioja/spain. This is a wine that spent at least 8 years in barrels before going to bottle and to the market! Light colour, something like a burgundy piece. The nose smells like very, very ripen fruits, a little decadent, and oaky, with some ( riped) cherry and red berries. This is very diferent from most of the available wines on the market these days. It s definately not an obvious wine, and you have to search its greatness in the glass, and if you do find it, you ll be very rewarded. Good tannins, medium body, balanced acidity, fresh and delicious, great and easy to drink alone, but it can also be paired with food. it has a long finish and you keep missing it and asking for another sip. I really recommend this wine for everyone! Theres no mistake here! If you' re searching old fashioned rioja, you got it!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich, pleasant on the very start of the palate. But acidic, tannic, and a bit thin on the middle and end of the palate. Very young, certainly needs some time for sure. Somewhat acidic and astringent at the end of the palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of pepper, flowers, talc and plums. Rich berries flavors with added flavors of cherries and raspberries. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold.
My guess was a 2007 Bordeaux. He shoots, he misses.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lively nose of complex savoury and warm spice and warm fruits with some herbal complexity; lovely silky tannins, very good balance and interesting savoury fruit. Nice medium to full mouthful. Good wine. Fresh and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tight, men sammensatt nese av kirsebær, mineraler, selleri, mynte, kjøtt og lær. Fokusert i munnen, med moden frukt, og en veldig flott og frisk syre. Noe tanniner. God lengde og balanse, selv om syren er litt dominerende. Denne vil drikke godt i mange år fremover, og trenger en del luft nå. Lekkert. 91p.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dried red cherry and rose petal on the nose. Palate opened up after an hour or so revealing bright red fruits of red cherry and subtle raspberry. Secondary favors of mulled spices and red floral components. Definitely decant for a bit before drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An all around, five-tool player. Nose, color, mouthfeel, complexity, ability to linger. Not, perhaps, exceptional in any one area, just a great combination. Definitely decant for 45 minutes or more. Opens up beautifully. Strangely, not as good the next night, so push yourself to drink more upon opening!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over 8 hours --
NOSE: initially quite expressive, but this did tighten-up considerably over the last 3 hours; juicy, baked cherry; strong underlying mineral/ashy note – reminds me a *little* of a Pauillac; Hoisin sauce; at a pleasant primary/tertiary point of its life.
BODY: ruby core with some tawny coloring at the edges; color is of medium depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: good acidity; tannins are fine and only slightly drying; baked cherry flavor with an underlying leathery note; long finish of moderate intensity; 13% alc. is not noticeable. After a few hours: strong acidity; moderate to moderate+ concentration of fruit; baked red fruits; fruit leather; hint of oak spice emerging now, but does not come across as oaky. Drinking very well now --- I’d say in the beginning of its prime time. Fantastic QPR at $38.
B: 50, 4, 13, 17, 8 = 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still very youthful and primary, but already showing perfect balance and lovely depth of flavour. The nose is bright and open, full of sweet red berries with the lightest hint of spicy oak. Like the nose, the palate is still dominated by the berry fruit, the the long finish reveals hints of roasted spices, old polished wood, leather and herbs. Can't wait to try this again in ten years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
With a relatively young cellar, I was glad to score a few of these from an email offer. Had a mature red-garnet color. Old world nose of red fruit and leather. On the palate it was balanced and crisp and paired well with stuffed peppers. Medium finish and drinking well now but seems built to last many years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red tart berries and spice, with a hint of mandarin orange. Maybe a bit of leather too. Lean and bright, this got better the longer it was open. At a nice mature stage and perfect for drinking now. With tamales. 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha 5%, Graciano, 5% Mazuelo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very earth driven, restrained but well balanced, red fruits tending to cranberry notes. Leather and spice. I don't get the brighter red core I associate with wines with more maturity, eg the 91 Gran Riserva. This one is lighter, perhpas shut down. Very good example of the house style and oh so traditional. Enjoyed over three days but did not see that it iopned up. Great value
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Crystal ruby in color. Juicy fruit flavors with fresh acidity, but lacking depth and complexity--which is the consistent house style for a Tondonia. A good wine, but my least favorite of the reservas.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bouquet intenso de violetas, cereja, couro, cedro, canela. Fruta metalica jovem, mas deep, layered, delineada por acidez de arrepiar e com taninos ainda presentes. Fica melhor a cada minuto que passa. Looongo. Proxima garrafa daqui a 5 anos.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is quite good, but will probably never hit "greatness" (although who knows what another 10 years will do to this as it definitely has the acidity and freshness to go 10+ more). Dark red berries, some vanilla, dill (not overdone), mushrooms, new leather, but overly funky/earthy. Very refreshing on the palate, and the tannins are still there so this may have room to run. This got a lot better over the course of a few hours (bigger nose, tannins backed off, better mid-palate). Great producer. 2+ points of upside. Not much downside. Give it 2 hours in the decanter and you'll like it a lot more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Saturated ruby color with a minimal orange rim. Well developed, youthful and intense nose. The red fruit represented in various forms is highly celebrated on the nose: cranberries, red and black cherry, strawberries, together with complex aromas of orange peel, blood orange, spices, tobacco and game. There is a stunning purity of red fruit on the nose that I enjoyed tremendously. Full bodied, lively and balanced, this wine has a great drink-ability. Assertive but smooth tannins and a killer acidity provide a long lasting structure to this wine. Medium plus finish, always on the red fruit profile and fresh. (90-91/100)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Le bois est encore bien présent. Les tannins sont assez rudes (bu à la toute fin du repas; le boire en mangeant aurait été préférable). Malgré son âge et étant donné son long vieillissement en fût de chêne, quelques années d'attente seraient pertinentes pour ceux qui ont la chance d'en avoir encore quelques bouteilles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My favourites in the Estación quarter (Barrio de la Estación- Haro - Rioja): Pure ruby colour with orange rims. Biscuit punch at first also with citrus peel and almonds aromas. Very fine and balanced. On the other hand, a muted palate is showed. Short, quite acidic...disliked! Because have a nice pack laying down in my own cellar, hope I'm not totally wrong....those confronted feelings!
Puro color a rubí con bordes naranja. Golpe a bizcochos al principio, también con aromas a piel de cítricos y almendras. Muy rico y equilibrado. De la otra parte en boca se muestra mudo. Cortito, bastante ácido...me desagradó. Espero que es solo por ser joven. Porque ya tengo unas cuantas botellas, espero no estar totalmente equivocado....¡Estos sentimientos confrontados!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium intensity cherry red with light brick rim. Medium intensity nose, notes of candied cherries, licorice, tobacco leaf, cedar, cinnamon, vanilla, mushrooms and a hint of coffee. Soft attack, marked acidity, it lacks amplitude, medium evolution, low body, medium-low structure. Medium duration aftertaste of medium intensity. Better in the nose than in the mouth, but overall a good old style Rioja if you like this kind of wines. However I would recommend not to decant it and to drink it quickly after opening the bottle, I drank it along four hours, and after about 30-45 minutes or so it started to decline.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 2 hours. Red ruby color with some brown flashes, brown rim. Nose initially shows clear aromas of raspberries, evolving to dried red fruit. Behind all the fruit we can find a bouquet of cedar, old wood, leather and dried orange peel. Overall it has medium intensity and seems a bit too young at the moment, with all that red fruit. On palate it's fresh, with plenty of red fresh fruit along with some leather. It has medium body, a notable high acidity and good balance with rounded, integrated sweets tannins. The finish is medium with some smoky aromas, dried fruit and forrest floor. It drinks very well with food... actually with that acidity screams to have it with food. Seems it can improve with more time (88-90).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4hr decant. Much too young, but quite good already. Of the 2001 Reservas I've tasted, certainly among my very favorites. The nose was effusive upon opening, retreating a bit by mealtime and then re-emerging with vigor. Dusky cherry, cigar skin, leather, dried fruits, smoke, cedar - all the elements of classic Rioja. The mouthfeel is elegant and refined, though the structure quite dominates the finish. Few secondary characteristics thusfar, but the oak is already very well integrated. Nonetheless, most of this Tondonia's charms remain buried beneath a thick veneer of acid and tannin. Yet and still almost irresistable, my wife practically begging to open another bottle as we drained this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ce vin de cette maison fameuse est composé de 75% Tempranillo, 15% Grenache et le reste composé de raisins Graciano et Mazuelo. L'oeil: La robe montre un peu de cuivre mais c’est un rouge brique assez foncé tout de même. Le nez: On sent les cerises confites avec un peu de champignons et de fumée. La bouche: Il y a un bel équilibre et la texture du vin est soyeuse. On goute un peu les cerises, de l'anis, surtout des notes de terre humide et des épices avec une belle acidité et un peu de boisé. Les tannins sont bien intégrés et le tout est harmonieux. Finale assez longue sur des relents de petits fruits rouges.
Un très beau vin digeste et élégant, un vin qui demande de la nourriture pour s'exprimer encore plu selon moi!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with my previous experience, including the slight imbalance stemming from the high acidity, but serve it at the dinner table, and you've got no worries. This complex, savory wine make it such a versatile Old World companion to any meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hi toned red fruit (cherry, raspberry), slight leather, slight spice, nice minerality, acidity, slight tobacco, really well integrated. Nice, lingering finish. Opened an hour before, but better with more air. Really gets better and better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clean aromatics that still show some wood influence, but there is ripe fruit and a smoky undertone. The wine is powerful, kind of beefy, but with a good deal of finesse on the palate. Good balance and the acidity is bright. Lovely wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
(12.5%) 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha (Grenache), 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo (Carignan) – Sublime, lean and and seemingly in its infancy. This starts with tart, dry red berries and finely grained tannins upfront backed by an iron-streaked minerality. From there black pepper emerges on a lifted mid-palate leading to a soft, oaked and spiced finish that lingers for quite some time. Pure and focused throughout. My first date with Heredia and a good one at that. My sense is I need to spend more time getting to know this one (as my budget allows)…
Wine Geek Notes: Imported by Winewise, 6 years in bottle, unfiltered, ~25,000 cases made
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From half bottle. Bright red color. Beautiful nose of red fruit, leather, and spice. In the mouth, seamless and elegant, with pretty red fruit, spicy notes, earth, and leather. Bright acidity is blunted by the wine's glorious texture. Long, smooth finish. A very complete and pretty wine. A-/A
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pale mature ruby in color. Glorious nose of cherry, licorice, floral and cedar. Nice sour cherry on the palate with a tad of oak and spice. Much better than bottle tried 9 months ago. I thought this very ready to drink and didn't find the tannins that others have found in this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP wine bar in new York. At first extremely tight almost nothing on the nose and acidic on the palette. After an hour the noise opens up a nose of cherry liqueur and cola. Almost a blood orange scent following. On the palette, spice cherry still assertive tannin. A very nice strong aftertaste. Coming back there is almost a bourbon note on the nose. I'll be curios to see of anyone else gets that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Toast, and Cinnamon. It tastes like Cinnamon. The body is Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice. Nice plum fruit an a somewhat tannic palate, good acidity, some wood notes but not obtrusive, clean finish. Many years left but enjoyable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely old-style Rioja. Discreet nose, opens up beautifully but remains subtle, plums and warm wood, very good depth; elegant, medium weight, very harmonious, lovely ripe, soft, tannins; excellent savoury finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
For a Tondonia, more supple red fruit than usual. This vintage needs more time, even though you can drink it today. I was surprised at its youth though. Better second day, but again would let it go longer. Very nice and has such potential. The traditional Tondonia stylings all showing themselves here, only a strong vintage in a young state.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
So much more integrated than when I first tasted the bottle. Man do these bottles need time to settle. Much more cherry fruit and grip, texture, vibrancy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
this has been open for about 4 hours now. red fruit that's turning towards earth and damp leaves. brown sugar. palate lets the herb ride really high in the mix, but a sexy palate feel on some nice acid. worchestershire sauce savory herb appeal on the palate. medium plus acid the more that I dig into this. at $36.99 this is an extraordinary value for the cellar, IMHO, but not for everyone.
DAY 2. loads of bouquet today and not that worchestershire note from yesterday. herb has settled in. fruit, earth, herb palate. loaded with spice on the finish today. medium (+) ruby with garnet hightlights.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good lord this bottle is closed. Could be very very low level corkiness, it smells of almost nothing, but the palate is both quite clean and has a wonderful texture. I really must forget about the rest of these.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of red fruit and herbs with dusty mineral notes. Medium-bodied with good acidity with high-toned pure cherry fruit on the palate. Velvety smooth with a little bit of tannins and good length. I think this merely needs more time to develop more complexity as the material here is quite good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yes, it's a classic Rioja. I prefer this style: light and acid, than the new ones. But on the other hand vainilla and oak cover everything. I don't know if time will be enough to round the circle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1hr decant. Elegant nose of dusky cherry and cigarbox that carries over to the palate with a silky, vibrant mouthfeel and and still quite muscular tannins. Bright core of sweeter cherry emerges on finish along with fresh acidity, smoke, orange peel, nutskin, and traces of vanilla and cedar from very well integrated American oak. Young with scarcely a trace of secondary characteristics, should age well and in a very classical style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Awfully young. Light bodied, very delicate and really quite acidic, but at the same time you just know this will flower into something amazing. There's fruit, and some iron and peppery notes, but it will all really sing with proper age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful silky smooth texture. Dark fruits, dried cherries, some minty-ness. Tons of acidity on the finish makes it perfect for food. Perhaps a bit more complexity could make this perfect for me, but overall this is great stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Soft ant gentle on the nose, with sweet oak and red fruit. Dry with nice acidic structure and velvety tannins. Primary fruit is gone and leaves a complex taste with dried fruits, choccolate. Altogether a classic rioja, old and fragile. Needs food!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A few wines at Monty (The Monterey): creamy currants and cassis and a little spice. Vibrant palate, quite acidic with a citrus element. Lengthy finish with some orange peel. Tannic and fine. Adds a little leather to the nose with time. Needs time to pull together.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I absolutely loved the combination of elegance and complexity in this wine. On the nose, it was a wonderful medley of scents that kept changing over two days. Leather, cedar, mushrooms, a whiff of cigar smoke, and others I couldn't keep count of, followed by purity and silkiness in the mouth. The acidity, which kept the wine feeling fresh and good with food, nonetheless seemed a shade too overpowering in the finish. But altogether, this is an excellent beverage and a solid value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium deep red with a delicate perfume resembling distant smell of crushed red overripe cherry. The palate is soft, almost devoid of tannins, fully developed with only a slight pleasant accidity. The flavours kept opening up including port-resembling light nutty taste without the strong alcohol kick. Pleasant light but long aftertaste. overall this wine is silky, gentle, fully ready to be enjoyed right now. Not sure about decanting time: it defeinitely needs some but an 1 hour that I had it probably started to loose some of its concentration.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pale, but not watery, garnet. Oak, cherry, and leather on the nose. Nice latent acidity, cherry, smooth and balanced. No real tannins to speak of. Initial palate has strong iron flavors, but these dissipate rather quickly. This was rather nice and balanced but didn't wow me in any particular dimension. A lovely food wine but lacking a singular quality or two to separate it from the crowd.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needs more time in the cellar, also needs a lot of time for decanting. Didn't really open until five hours after pouring, Nose is promising, rich in black fuit but palate is a bit weak - long and decently complex taste, but frankly less concentrated than what 'I expected. Noticeable tannins, enjoyable with meat dishes but will likely improve with more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From my favorite Rioja Producer, a nice bottle, yet I was slightly disappointed with this wine. Popped and poured at Paloma, my current favorite Philly BYOB. Ruby red with a subtle nose of oak, cherry and vanilla. Missing that floral fragrance I usually get with Heredia reds. Soft palate of charcoal, leather, sour cherry and earth. Nice with food, but lacking fruit and the complexity I usually get from this producer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good traditional Rioja at 13%. Leather and fig on the nose, smooth on the palate with a nice fresh acidity. Long but with a final touch of VA, so not sure this bottle had a long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pronouced nose. Oak, fig and high cherry. Very soft and smooth across the palate. Seemless across the palate, finishing in tannins.
10 hours later: roasted walnut, smoked black pepper, out of Riedel's Tempranillo glasses this time. Some vanilla and coconut. Palate is soft, with almost no tannins, red fruits all the way through, lively finish with the fruit hanging on all the way through the acid character. Lengthy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Having had an aged Rioja I choose this from a restaurant list as the most suitable wine to follow. However this didn't behave at all as I had expected. Lots of lovely vibrant fruit. No real trace of(old) oak. Seemed almost 'modern' (heresy!) after the previous wine. Lovely though. No rush obviously. (90-92)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light to medium deep with noticeable orange rim. Not particularly strong, but compelling nose with red fruit, vanilla, cedar wood, light, almost ethereal. Med. body, nice balance. Very moderately tannic, fresh, nicely delineated. Some lingonberry and licorice on the palate. Quite long, elegant, slightly tannic aftertaste. Discreetly charming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spanish wine: *Open always a "CRIANZA", 2h before. a RESERVA, 4 hours before. A GRAN RESERVA, 6 hours before.
We drank this bottle with some professionals of wine. We were all amazed about its mature characteristics resembling any 40+ old vintage of top class burgundy.
Color: Light ruby. Tondonias are clarified with egg whites, and the color and texture is lighter than other Riojas.
Aroma: Very subtle, very elegant, easy on the nose. There's a good balance of tobacco, vanilla and yeast. A pleasure to smell again ad again during the tasting.
Taste: First impresion is a wow of acidity on the sides of the mouth. That acidity is very different from young wines. It becomes perfectly balanced and opens the mouth to the rest of the flavors that are all there packed, offering different faces at each sip. It has a pleasant finish. You may miss the tannins, the flower, the fruit, the wood... It's all there, in very subtle threads interwoven with each other, not one singing louder that others. That elegant balance is what a good wine aging perfectly is all about. I leave room to add more points when It gets older... It is excellent now, it can get even better in 10 years!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent Reserva. Quite clean on the nose, correct Rioja Reserva but only beginning to mature. Great power and transparency in the mouth. Drinks excellent now, but will continue to improve for at least 15 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Holiday in Spain - a glut of Spanish Wines; 5/28/2011-6/6/2011 (Southern Spain): Oh oh oh so young but such a serene and superb wine that sticks a finger up at those obsessed with power and ripe fruit. Light and whispy yet this has real potential that is just starting to show. Delicate cherries, grilled meat and a tickle of oak then that Tondonia style that you are not quite sure means the wine is spoiled or not. There is a lurking quality to this wine that is hard to describe, but you just know it has the stuffing to be quite fantastic if you have the patience to leave it alone. Brilliant stuff that has years and years ahead of it. Excellent - and for 17 euros quite simply amazing quality for the price. Not to everyone's taste.
Mainly red fruits. Juicy. Some currant impressions. Good acidity. Medium to full bodied. A bit drying in the finish. Elegant and classical wine with good concentration and a good future. Already a pleasure and 4 - 7+ more years will not be a problem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially taking a few hours to open, and for the good well judged oak to blow off, my general thoughts are this is closed somewhat: Hints of shoe polish and and walnuts linger amongst bitterish dark smelling cherries and hints of roses, highish acidity on the palate that is slightly thin-ish yet carries a good elegant core of sour red fruits, and slight floral elements. Tannins, although not big, overbearing or dominant in anyway, are slightly unresolved and sort of "clunky". Drinking the remainder of a bottle of day two and the feminineness of it becomes apparent, becoming more floral with the rose hints more evident. I would give this a few more years before opening another bottle. it's just getting into the secondary phase. Good, even better potentially with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Påske i Erfjord, forsmak med broderen, 10 grader, Riedel Bx. Litt yogurt lukt rett etter åpning og litt søtlig honning lukt. Deilig nesten elegant søt/sur smak. :-D Einerbær, overraskende god. 1 dag i flaske, til lammeribbe: Deilig elegant sur/søt, særegen og fin :-D kan godt ha noen sånne på lager.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 2 hours on night 1. Soft nose. Some cherry to aroma. Taste of sour red fruit. Long finish. Complex and enjoyable. Finished bottle a day later, and aromas and taste were more pronounced. Will lay down remaining bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific traditional style Rioja. Light ruby red, delicate nose of rose, red fruits over a mineral background. Very elegant in the mouth with nice acidity and silky tannins. Long finish. There is still space for improvement over the next 5-10 years.
Bellissimo questo Rioja tradizionale. A partire da un rosso rubino molto scarico e brillante mostra il suo carattere tradizionale. Il naso è delicatissimo, di fiori macerati, piccoli frutti rossi.In bocca colpisce per la sua eleganza e sapidità, supportato da una grande acidità che lascia pensare ad una lunghissima evoluzione e da tannini finissimi (ricorda qualcosa del rocce Rosse di ArPePe). Lunghissimo finale.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
C: med+ Ruby, starting to show signs of bricking A: med intensity, developed showing Secondary Fruit Characteristic , dried sweet cranberry, Licorice, T: med+ acid, med- tannin, med body, med+ finish, med+intensity cranberry, licorice, vanilla
conc: very good, excellent with food, surprisingly well with spicy Habanaro
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lopez de Heredia Tour & Tasting (Haro, Rioja): Softer nose, Velvet rather than silk. Quite plush red fruit. A slightly mushroomy complexity. Showing a little volatility on the finish. ***1/2
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
N Garrigue Kirsch Waldpilze tief Holz ist nach 2 Tagen weniger präsent G überraschend fruchtig + teerig T minim grün, fein, auskleidend A 5 dezente Süße transparent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clean on the nose with medium intensity, developed notes of ripe cherries and other red fruits (almost like pie filling), vanilla, chocolate, rich earth, sweet cooking spices.
Dry on the palate with medium body, medium acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol and medium flavour. pretty much the same on the palate as on the nose with rich red fruits especially cherry and wood. long finish
An outstanding wine. My favorite of the evening by far. complex and fantastic, truly a joyous wine :D Can't hold much longer so drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/18/2024 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 92 Points
Vanilla bean crème, unripe cherry, dill, earth/barnyard notes, herbal notes. Old school rioja, and dare I say this can go many years or needed more air. I probably underestimated the amount of air (2hrs) this could take.
Rioja aficionados will appreciate it for what it is…others, maybe not so much.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2024 - WST Likes this wine:
Charity Wine Pairings for Hospice House Auction winners; 4/6/2024-4/7/2024 (Bellingham): Our nightcap or digestif. One of our guests wanted to try a rioja. Tobacco, sour cherry and dark berries, smokey leather, moist earth. While I think it's a great wine, it probably suffered by following a glass of port. Still, I think its best days are ahead. I'll never turn down a LdH Tondonia or Bosconia, Reserva or GR.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2024 - lolo66 wrote: 95 Points
After 15 minutes this was singing. This has been sleeping for 15 years in my wine fridge and showed beautifully. That subtle spur cherry with earth tones and hints of tobacco make this a beautifully balanced wine
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2024 - Mleh Likes this wine: 89 Points
Astonishingly for a 23 year old wine this was not even close to ready. Super sour and oaky. This dissipated into something resembling balance after eight, that’s right, EIGHT hours in the decanter. At which point it was really quite nice. Red fruit, tobacco, even a little dark chocolate. I know Tondonia can have significant bottle variation but I won’t be opening my next 2001 for several years at least.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2024 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Women Who Wine & Their Arm Candy (Estelle, St. Paul, MN): Dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour. Baked cherry, a bit stewy, sappy, dried herbs.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2024 - hprphf wrote: 92 Points
Young, perfumed and still a touch oaky. Showing well. 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2024 - mclanew wrote: flawed
Tainted bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2024 - Donjcorleone Likes this wine: 93 Points
Restrained aromas of dried red fruits, forest floor, leather and sweet oak tones give way to a refreshing, saline, dark berried, mushroom and lingering soaked wood flavors.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2024 - rocknroller wrote: flawed
Porzana (Porzana, Mpls): Stewed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2024 - mimik Likes this wine: 94 Points
Finally, this wine is coming along, beautifully and displaying secondary and tertiary notes. Palate is oaky and still full of acidity. Just beautiful
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2024 - Adrian Chmielarz wrote: 90 Points
Despite the age, today it still feels like it was done yesterday. Still a bit tight, with tart acidity. I don't feel any results of the aging, and I'm not quite sure of the direction it's going or should be going. After 23 years the wine should be better and more memorable. Might be a bottle issue, so scoring the current average.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2023 - JLCFan wrote: 94 Points
From magnum, still very fruit-forward but with prominent notes of savory balsamic vinegar. Wonderful and obviously still very young.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2023 - steveiiiiii Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bought now in the same time as gran reserva release so would guess it comes from winemakers own cellars. Surprised at how little development compared to new releases of 10 or 11. Except from more damp forest floor notes on nose it is pretty tight. Oak surprisingly still dominating with that toasted character. It’s a great wine but does not have the same vibrant and distinct push on mid palate as the 10. This holds for decades from here. Saving my other bottle for at least one.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2023 - cweiss wrote:
in Norton. I thought a 2020 bottle was entering drinking window, but this, while enjoyable, was still too young with two much American oak sticking out. Good balance, plenty of fruit. Next in another 2-3 years?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2023 - king-bing wrote:
Riojathon (London SW11): Tasted in a flight of three 2001s. A slow and gentle starter this one. Less flashy than the other two, but as time ticks by, this keeps moving forward. Pale colour but a darker fruit profile. Some meatiness, leather and old wood. An a super fresh and long finish. Classy but still young.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2023 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine:
Bromley Wine Circle does Rioja - 16th November 2023: Some orange peel, bacon and mulberries on the nose. With air some suggestions of bloody steak. Of all the wines tonight this really benefits from some air. Palate has hints of Christmas spice. Long and more-ish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2023 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Riojathon (South West London): On serving - something funky, va? Then that started to blow off - a kind of earth sweetness, orange peel, good but not as good as the best bottles I’ve had.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2023 - GasperTheWineGuy Likes this wine: 87 Points
Showing its age. Coffee/Toffee starting to take over and make the wine a bit unbalanced. Still a great experience but did not hold up as well as an 85 I had earlier in the tasting.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2023 - Rico100 wrote: 95 Points
drinking quite well now - very nice - classic.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2023 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Very taut and linear. Good though I felt it lack the deeper aromatics and textures I expect from VTR.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2023 - CHINACAT wrote: 91 Points
Ripe red cherries, minerally and still quite fresh. More primary than I was expecting, but very enjoyable. Still has plenty of time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2023 - SuperSomm Likes this wine: 95 Points
Medium garnet colour. Pronounced and developing nose with dried herbs, licorice, vanilla, cloves, cedar, charred wood, coffee beans, fig, leather, mushroom, tobacco, wet leaves, forest floor, caramel and cinnamon. Pronounced taste of licorice, vanilla, cloves, cedar, charred wood, chocolate, coffee beans, fig, leather, mushrooms, tobacco, wet leaves, forest floor and caramel. Long and dry finish. High acidity. Medium tannins. Medium body. An outstanding Rioja with wonderful structure that has matured beautifully. From a magnum bottle. Drink now or over the next twenty years. Goes well with beef or lamb.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2023 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Iberia Wimps July 2023 - Malhão de Estrela; 7/28/2023-7/30/2023 (La Trompette): Generously pulled from the reserves bench. No decanting poured straight from the bottle - and it shone. Real density here, salinity, this is drinking great just now. Clear wine of the flight for me - interestingly I also tasted it alongside the Ardanza a few years ago and on that occasion I preferred the Ardanza. Not sure if this is a case of a flawless bottle of the Tondo vs a slightly funky Ardanza but this was great.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2023 - Paul D wrote: 92 Points
7/12. No formal note but this was an excellent bottle, dark fruited, tobacco with classic tondonia salinity, medium bodied, still with some grip, plenty of life in fact, good length finish. Excellent.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2023 - mclanew Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Medium bodied, mature, tannins resolved. Black currant, smoke and herbs. Very good concentration and length.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/30/2023 - jhrabideau Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully right now.
Popped and poured. Some bricking around the rim, with aromatics of bitter cherry, forest floor and a slight balsamic note.
On the palate, waves of cherry fruit fading to mushroom, pine needles, and moist earth. Tannins well-resolved. Tondonia's mineral character was quite present in this bottle. A long, mineral-tinged aftertaste, redolent of balsam, orange, and a harvest-time cherry orchard.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2023 - EZEddie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent paired with a smoked beef tenderloin. PnP. Deep maroon in color, tart cherry and tobacco on the palate. Drinking well right now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2023 - peternelson wrote: flawed
mousy, ethyl acetate fault going on here. Hippo w/EWG 2001 wines
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2023 - Paul D wrote: 91 Points
6/12, vg cork. Decanted 1/2 hr.
Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim.
Quite discreet on nose - dark fruit, smoke, hint of chocolate. Medium bodied, elegant, leather and tobacco, underlying dark fruit, saline notes, soft tannins, fresh/vibrant acidity, good length harmonious finish. Excellent, drinking well, no particular hurry.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2023 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted briefly. Showed well with opulent acid and mature, restrained fruit. Not as complex as I would have hoped.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2023 - atlantisssss Likes this wine: 92 Points
This feels like it's in a pretty good place to drink now. All the tannin feels integrated and smoothed out (definitely this is the way it should be consumed when I compare with a 2010 vintage of the same wine I had recently).
I served this one slowly over about 3 hours after light decant into a carafe and used a Zalto burgundy glass at 12~20 degrees celcius (I let it warm up from cellar temperature slowly to see if there is a particularly good temperature - having gone through this, I would recommend slightly warmer than cellar temperature).
Acidity is sufficiently high to offset the weight of oak and tertiary flavors from the aging. The overall balance is decent thanks to such acidity, but I feel that the wine could have used a bit more concentration of fruit - if it did, I think this could have been a 95 point wine. I think this has some good dark fruit (I would say some dried fruit type of note) but the earthiness and chocolate/coffee/oak type of notes are powerful - they are good, but a bit too strong for the fruit in this one to balance.
Despite all this heaviness in aroma, the mouthfeel is quite light, perhaps because the tannin has calmed down. Good food pairing might be a bit limited to this one; I think something like dark meat with mole sauce might work well due to some coffee note in this one.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2023 - wa2ofd Likes this wine:
A treat. Out of mag and no decant the wine took a good hour or so to come alive. When it did it had some very nice slightly rustic red fruits. All at the table enjoyed as a 22 year old Rioja we rarely drink.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2023 - SH Wu Likes this wine: 92 Points
Freshly ripened red berries blend with rose water, citrus peel and gentle tannins. Hints of spice and a sprinkle of salt add some dimensionality to make this a nice food wine.
Drank with broiled tripe and garlic chips. The parts came together perfectly and I really enjoyed this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2023 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 93 Points
The red wines of this producer have a strong and unusual acidity that reminds me of a tomatillo or underripe tomato. It must be embraced to appreciate this wine. Then, there are sophisticated aromas of tobacco, sea salt, and citrus rind. This is one of those rare red wines that I’d have a good chance of guessing exactly right in a blind tasting. It is one of the most food-friendly of red wines — savory and light bodied with mouth-watering acidity.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2023 - Gunakadeit Likes this wine: 94 Points
Recent notes on point. A stunning, incredibly balanced wine at its apogee. The mid-weight, mid-ABV wine of my dreams. I’m probably underrating this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2023 - pgb67 wrote: 92 Points
Very impressive that at 20+ years this continued to have nice zing and power. Mixed youthful elements like plum and sweet cinnamon with age-driven complex elements like tobacco leaf and roasted fruit.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2022 - kingkanu wrote:
Xmas 2022; 12/20/2022-12/27/2022 (Matt and Marta’s): From Matts cellar. Decanted for a couple of hours before serving. This is starting to come together now, the nose has some leather, spice and cherry but I feel it will unfurl further and improve with more time, the palate has style and class, built around the core of acidity and again will develop more complexity with patience, and you need a lot of that with this wine to experience it at its peak
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2022 - Lype Likes this wine:
Dark toned meaty nose, on the palate sour cherries, mahogany, bergamot, hints of black pepper, savory character, attractively fragrant and floral flavors. Great refreshing acidity, smooth slightly gum drying tannins and fully integrated oak. Burgundian lightness, yet dense and elegantly forceful. Seamless from front to rear palate, all elements are in a perfect harmony. Everything about this is exceptionally noble and refined, a true representative of the holy trinity 1964-2001-2010 Rioja vintages. Not a flashy wine but genuinely special, in a perfect place now but will last. Coolest thing, however, is that the (lovely) next gen. has already delivered the convincing 2010, which is still developing but likely to reach the heights of the 2001.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2022 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points
A blend of Tempranillo (75%), Garnacha (15%), Graciano and Mazuelo (10%). Fermented spontaneously in old oak fermenters, aged in old American oak barriques for 6 years, bottled unfiltered and then aged for further 50 months in bottle. 13% alcohol.
Luminous and quite translucent cherry-red color with a slightly evolved hue; the wine's appearance seems very slightly more advanced than that of Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 2001 that was tasted alongside. The brooding nose feels quite big and dark-toned with slightly sweetish aromas of dark fruits, some old savory wood, a little bit of strawberry and dusty cherry, light earthy notes, a hint of old leather, a touch of dried figs and a whiff of dill. The wine feels quite ripe yet still dry on the palate with a medium body and quite intense flavors of tart cranberries and sour cherry bitterness, some crunchy notes of fresh red plums, a little bit of old leather and pouch tobacco, light evolved notes of meat stew with dill, a hint of wizened figs and a spicy, phenolic touch of cloves. The wine shows great depth of flavor and the high acidity contributes both to the intensity of the taste and to the sense of structure, which gets nicely backed up by the firm, moderately resolved medium tannins. The finish is ripe yet dry with a little bit of tannic grip and lengthy flavors of crunchy cranberries and some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of crunchy red plum, light earthy and leathery notes, a hint of wizened figs and a faint touch of dill.
A fine and harmonious Rioja Reserva (that could easily pass off as a Gran Reserva) that has evolved wonderfully over the past four years - that was when I tasted the wine and estimated that the wine will keep on evolving for another 5-10 years. It seems my estimate was pretty correct - the wine shows a bit more depth and the tannins seem to have resolved to some degree, contributing more to the general sense of firmness and texture rather than to the grip and structure. However, the wine seems to show developed qualities so much that I doubt this will going to be a super-long lived vintage. Most likely the wine will continue to develop and improve a little bit more over the next handful of years and then keep just fine for another decade, maybe even two, but that's about it. Tasting this wine side-by-side with Tondonia Gran Reserva 2001, I felt this was slightly better now, coming across as more harmonious and complete at the moment, but most likely that Gran Reserva will both outlive this wine and turn into a better wine in the process. However, the QPRs of these wines are from two different planets: at just 21€ this wine has been a screaming bargain.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2022 - TGOT Likes this wine: 94 Points
A wonderful, elegant wine that, amazingly after 21 years, needs at least 1.5 hours of decanting before it shows itself.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2022 - ucbeau Likes this wine:
Opened and let sit for approximately 1 hour prior to tasting. The bouquet is amazing. Loads of tobacco leaf, black cherry, incense smoke, and warm dry oak. There's a compelling black pepper note that emerges with more air. On the palate it's integrated and balanced with silky tannins and tons of roasted plum, ripe tomato, oak, and baking spices meandering across your palate. The finish is clean with the beautiful tapering feeling that I so love.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Siggy's Annual BBQ (Chez Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Ok, well this was good, classic Lopez, maybe nit the absolute rock star you'd expect from '01, but dang good and it was great to drink after a 2010 this week that blew me away. Nice, David, thanks.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2022 - minndavid60 Likes this wine: 94 Points
At Siggy and Jennie’s BBQ. I’ll defer detailed notes to rocknroller’s upcoming event notes but just say this was delicious, classic Rioja on both the nose and palate that was a total pleasure to enjoy and share. One left. At least five years more of good drinking left IMHO.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2022 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A great (last) bottle. Dark ruby with browning edges. Expressive old Rioja showing notes of old leather, sweet cinnamon, stewed plum, woody spices. Still fresh and vibrant, fleshy core and ample structure. Perhaps the odd hint of Port and going over the hill, but a joy to drink this in the twilight of its range.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2022 - edckim wrote: 92 Points
Classic, restrained with a splash of strawberry and as it opened up, bright cherry leading to a structured, elegant at the same time powerful, lingering though not complex finish
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2022 - Paul D wrote: flawed
5/12, vg cork.
Corked!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2022 - DK Amateur Likes this wine:
What a beautiful wine! Decanted an hour, zalto universal glass. Wonderfully fragrant with leather, American oak, red earth and cherries, with great presence right out of the bottle. Serene and cool in the mouth, silky, mid-weight, with just the amount of tannin and acidity for perfect balance and food-friendliness. Long aftertaste with sweet fruit and savoury elements.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2022 - FjordogFjell wrote: 90 Points
Kryddret lukt med rognebær. Sødmefull frukt, med litt hyllebusk. Forsiktig modning. God syre og avslepen tanniner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2022 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Un classique revisité.
Encore bien en forme ce vin.
Tout simplement mythique cette maison!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2022 - NiklasW wrote: 90 Points
Decanted, sipped over a few hours. This did develop with air, and really started flowering with a great paella. The nose was all about dried cherries, leather, notes of dust, very inviting. The palate was quite austere initially, with dried cherries and resolved tannins, more fruit came out with the food. A very nice Rioja!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2022 - Biggsy wrote: 92 Points
Tasted blind in week four of Blind.Faith’s blind-tasting competition: two reds from the same region. I was nowhere near getting this (nor were many people in the competition with only 3 from 26 going for Rioja). I went for Barbaresco and thought it was a very good one with some age. From my notes - it’s pale to medium ruby with a wide garnet rim. The nose is lovely with notes of leather, tomato juice and red fruits. For a wine that’s clearly got some age it’s still fresh and grippy with very fine dry tannins. There’s a little nutty note on the very long finish. Excellent wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2022 - pigdaddy wrote: 91 Points
decanted 2 hours. maturing well & has remained constant in its classic expression, balanced & sure, cedar, fruit leather, leather leather, restrained; elegant & red fruit-cored, dry & slimly grainy, lengthy acids. distinctive.
4th/6, where I like it. not part of my regular regimen, rewarding tonight
mignon Diane, roasted potatoes, arugula w/lemon & cabrales
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2022 - RichardP wrote: 92 Points
Strawberry and prune on the nose. On the palate, tart cherry, raspberry, currant, and notes of prune, leather, and rose petal on the medium to long finish, with strong acidity. This was excellent, and although I was hoping for more complexity it may yet improve.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2022 - evjoh Likes this wine:
Dark garnet color. There was a little sediment, but nothing that 10 minutes standing up and a gentle decant couldn't solve.
Even 30 minutes after opening, it's already super complex. Dried strawberries, prunes, mint, dill, tobacco, leather, old books, and a little bit of vanilla. There's the classic high Rioja acidity along with some very fine tannins. Everything is really well integrated.
I think this is an amazing wine, but it's definitely not for everyone. The fruit is nowhere near ripe or jammy. No one note overpowers the others—they all support each other in perfect harmony. But if this was my first bottle of Rioja, I probably wouldn't be able to appreciate it as much. I'm glad I got my palate accustomed to younger, fruitier Crianza before diving into the old-school stuff like Tondonia.
I got this from $39 before tax from a Last Bottle marathon last year. It's an absurd QPR for that price; I'd buy it at even twice that.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
1/26/2022 - BurgunDivine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour : meaty, supple, refined, with still some wood, long finish : an elegant wine at his maturity peak.
Décanté 1 heure : profil carné/sanguin, souple, raffiné, avec encore un peu de bois, une longue finale : un vin élégant à point.
Decantado 1 hora : algo carnoso, polido, refinado, con un toque de madera todavia, con un final largo : un vino elegante en su punto.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2021 - dannyg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nice strawberry aromas, floral, balanced on palate, tannins well resolved. On its own this is still drinking well, Had it opened 3-hours at least. Can open the night before in bottle, even better as the wine I was having after about 7-8 hours was drinking superb and had good 30-sec. length. A bottle to have in the cellar, regardless of vintage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2021 - edjBoca wrote: 89 Points
I just slow oxed this....never opened up on night one...freezer....we'll see.
EJ
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2021 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Big Al & Janelle's Spanish Inspired Blowout (Big Al & Janelle's, St. Anthony, MN): Dark red color. Drank a glass over an hour. Slow-O for 5+ hours. Same bottle as Chablis28. Nice spices, kirsch, candied cherry, dried earth, vanilla, medium full bodied, graceful with a long drinking window left.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2021 - chablis28 wrote: 93 Points
My red tonight at Big Al' & Janelle's epic Spain inspired dinner. Felt like we dinned in Seville :) Opened 3hrs prior to leaving for Big Al & Janelles'. Finding this elegant & open simply slow oxed in btl. Removed cork again on arrival. Semi translucent ruby with bricking on the rim. Lovely forest floor & dried roses on the nose. The palate echos the nose w/ relaxed but still sweet red fruit along w/ more forest floor, cedar, mineral & spice. An elegant feather weight that will please any Burgundy lover like myself. Just a lovely 20yr old Lopez that seems fully resolved but likely has addl life left based on the producer.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
10/10/2021 - gukarl wrote: 91 Points
Edelt treverk og te på duft. Fin moden vin, fortsatt god frukt igjen, men drikker godt nå.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2021 - FjordogFjell wrote: flawed
Litt uren lukt . Litt kork som dekker fin frukt
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2021 - DugyDog Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is drinking beautifully. Tannins soft and refined; fruit still full and strong but with beautiful secondary notes of earth, leather coming through. No hurry to drink this has years ahead of itself.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2021 - honest bob wrote: 91 Points
From 75cl, finally a bottle of this vintage of LdH Tondonia reserva with a truly perfect, almost unstained, still-elastic cork. Yes, it is possible and no, this definitely isn’t the same batch of cork that any of my previous bottle was closed with (yes, I do keep all "my" corks in a succession of drawers, which I guess does make me a certified wine nerd). Decanted 30 minutes, after which the wine was still a mess of unappealing American oak. But at about 90 minutes the miracle happened: The volatile oak vanished, the deep, succulent dark-red fruit, that sexy Rioja Alta acidity came singing through and the tannins purred and purred. Yes, this became the dreamy traditional Rioja I had hoped for. No, it isn't Castillo Ygay, and for more bottle-to-bottle consistency (and value for money) in a similar style I'd recommend La Rioja Alta Ardanza, but believe me, it wasn't just the wine's tannins or the cat purring this evening as we came to the end of the bottle. 91P
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2021 - Livonietisr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet color. Intense aromas of sweet cherries, prune, leather, tobacco, sweet spices. High acidity, medium bodied, cherry taste, soft tannins. Has long life ahead, but also very good right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2021 - lozatron Likes this wine:
BWC X1 Dinner - Hawksmoor: Lovely wine, a little brooding, but less forthcoming with its delights than the Ardanza that sat beside it. This definitely deserved more attention than I was ready to give it - equally, I suspect that it will benefit from a few more years in bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2021 - _water.into.wine_ wrote: 89 Points
I was so excited for this, yet so disappointed. My first bottle for about 5 years, having bought a case back in December 2013. I found this quite sweet, showing a lot of age, and almost tired. Both the oak and vanilla was very prominent without the fruit or structure to support. I really hope this was an off bottle.
*As an update, I just double decanted this, and then consumed over a couple of hours. With hindsight, I think more air would have been beneficial.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/29/2021 - rossi.wine wrote: flawed
From magnum - corked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2021 - Topper wrote: 86 Points
My second underwhelming bottle of this. Worried that I may have to dump the rest.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
4/10/2021 - AudunG wrote: 90 Points
Deep and concentrated aromas of cherry and well integrated oak. Light footed, velvety and balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2021 - bnqwallace Likes this wine: 93 Points
A classic rioja. Dark fruits on both the nose and palate. Slightly overoaked if being hyper critical but the fruit is still keeping it at bay creating a well balanced wine that offers good value. In my opinion nowhere near its downward slope if anything yet to hit its peak.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2021 - Alex Brogan wrote: 80 Points
Actually a bit disappointed. Still lots of great acidity but didn't seem particularly complex nor much fruit. Maybe my own fault for not giving it enough time to open up / reach room temperature.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/5/2021 - gtilley wrote:
Well, there’s no doubting what this is! Brick red, the nose screams saddle leather, raisins, sawdust, chocolate, mint, bay leaf - luxurious and liqueur like. The palate continues in a like fashion, perhaps there are some wobbles on the finish, which is at times spicy in an
unattractive American oak vomit and coconut way, at times a bit ferrous and acidic. Nowhere near expired though, a good decade left in it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2021 - Lemmy-W wrote: 92 Points
Still going strong in my view. Good traditional Rioja that should easily carry to suggested end of CT drinking window, 2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
1/19/2021 - microbox wrote:
On the way downhill
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2021 - Levinsb Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is beautiful wine. An elegant glass of dark cherries, so smooth, with a tart twang and a hint of dusty sandalwood. Juicy but not bracing, looong finish. A wine for food! A glass of wine doesn’t need or deserve to better than this one. Drink it now, or have patience and be rewarded further. A classic.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2020 - honest bob wrote: 89 Points
From 75cl, good cork, decanted 1 hour. All I have to add to my cri de coeur TN of 14.10.2020 is: The last drop was the best, probably best to try a really extended decant. 89P
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2020 - mimik Likes this wine: 93 Points
Needed a bit of air before opening up to sweet morello cherries, sweet oak and nice tangy acidity on the palate with similar replays from the nose. Long succulent finish. Yes will get better for the next 5-8 years but with a bit of a decant, it is showing its charms.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2020 - asparagus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had this side by side with a 2001 LRA 904. This was a bit reticent and needed some coaxing. Tart red cherries, great acid, and amazing length. Soft tannins. Noticeably older school in style and probably is a decade from peak. Will definitely get better. Can't wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2020 - WST Likes this wine:
I haven't opened one in a while. I liked them a lot a few years ago, and time has been very kind to these. Tobacco, sour cherry and dark berries, a little earthy, smokey leather. I love LdH wines, usually preferring the Bosconia, but I'm very happy I went deep on this wine. Perfect pairing with tacos tonight.
Plenty of upside potential, but there's no harm in opening now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
A legend of a wine, leans hard on the savory side but so elegant and with great depth. Great acidity too. Not to be tasted, to be drunk with food next time. From magnum and I expect it will go 80 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/3/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
All that ferral walnuty iron earthiness. From magnum. And so tight on the palate still. Forceful, just opened.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2020 - Sinclelz wrote: 91 Points
Drunk at Noble Rot Soho during an extended pre-lockdown business meeting this was just delicious. Just textbook Rioja in the most traditional style from a bodega that never fails. Lovely and leathery but with tons of fruit even at nearly 20 years old.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2020 - Nahebub Likes this wine: 90 Points
Schön zu trinken nach 19 Jahren. Tannine sind gut eingebunden, gute Säurestruktur, mittlerer Körper und mittlerer Abgang. Rote Beeren. Noch nicht altersmüde.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2020 - Bandreas wrote:
Mahogany color with bricking at the rim; smell of bee's wax and wood polish in a refined way. Beguiling bouquet, ethereal and enticing.
On the palate there are some dusty tannins; quite intense, smooth, deep and long finish.
A very attractive wine even though I am not quite sure about the QPR with a purchase price of EUR 250.- per bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2020 - Slammin Sammie wrote: 86 Points
Cork had dried and broke off in removal from bottle. Slight vinegaring - probably because of the dry cork. Nonetheless good flavor profile as the wine opened up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/14/2020 - honest bob wrote: 89 Points
From 75cl, good cork, decanted 30 minutes. As so many others have noted, there's major bottle variation with this wine. This particular example wasn't in any way spoiled, but tasted so heavy, sweet and dark-fruitedly Grenache-like in a way I can't remember from any of my 11 previous bottles (2 of which were seriously flawed, the others ranging from 90-93P). The bright tangy acid verve I expected (and have recorded here on many occasions in the past) was sorely missing. Nothing wrong or unpleasant to record tonight, but if you're trying to pick a wine to go well with food, or cook appropriately to enhance enjoyment of the evening's chosen wine, such wild differences between sharp morello one day and dark brambles the next, not to mention the intensity of evident oak, are pretty irritating. 89P(?)
As I gradually approach my sixth decade, I find myself wanting to have some idea what the wine in a bottle I have been cellaring for a decade or more might actually taste like. In this respect I have had consistent luck with Ygay (now, unfortunately, out of my price range), La Rioja Alta and Muga, but less fortune with LdH. I don't exactly regret buying 18 bottles of this vintage of Tondonia, but do notice my loyalty shifting away from LdH to other Haro producers I used to consider less exciting.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/13/2020 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Replacement for a mildly corked bottle. This also starts off very nicely, but with noticeably brighter and denser mid to dark red fruit and an attractive richness alongside the trademark acidity. Very finely velvet plushness. Long and rich, this is in a lovely place now, and while young is drinking very well. Lots of ageing potential. A lovely wine. ****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2020 - SimonG wrote: flawed
Starts off very nicely with mid to dark red fruit and an attractive richness alongside the trademark acidity. Really very good until after an hour or so some very minor TCA comes through on the nose, and the attack. **** quality.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2020 - rayq wrote: 91 Points
Mature looking brick red colour. Nose is rich and warm, mature red fruit hinting at that old rioja christmas cake richness. It's not there yet but is certainly heading that way, there's a hint of citrus already. There's also a touch of roasted almost pruney fruit but not stewed.
So much better than my experience last year. Acidity lower than previous bottles, still a nice tartness on the finish.
There's certainly bottle variation in this wine and in this vintage. This is one of the good ones.
This has the potental to increase a lot if this develops like wines such as the '70.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2020 - guynewell wrote:
Decanted, although very little sediment, left to breathe for 3 hours. Potentially this was too long as the wine seemed to fade a little whilst drinking over the next hour or so. Very interesting old Rioja with smacks of fresh blood orange, some wafts of mint and a lovely acidity. Enjoyed greatly, shame it was my only bottle of the 01 left but have some 05 to look forward to. 90pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2020 - MLipton wrote: flawed
Mildly corked, dammit, but despite that quite a lovely wine: pencil lead, tobacco, leather and fruit in a high-acid package. The cork taint precluded much consumption of the wine, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2020 - Too much practice. Likes this wine: 93 Points
Served against Rioja Alfa’s 2001 904, and the style is a little more austere and dusty. Suffered by the comparison but was still quite brilliant. It needs food to show it off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
8/19/2020 - johnmfedorko wrote: 65 Points
Might have had a bad bottle....not very good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
8/2/2020 - Paul D wrote: 91 Points
4/12, OK cork (c50% evenly soaked). #075416.
Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows dark fruit including blackcurrants, tobacco, touch of brine. Medium bodied, quite rich for a tondonia, tobaccoey dark fruit, spice, soft tannins, fresh/vibrant acidity, some spice on a very good length finish. Starting to fire.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2020 - asparagus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Watching Football as I was chugging this down, so didn’t really pay attention - but this was lovely. Very balanced and very good. Wish I had bought more than the 12 bottles...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2020 - jamesdoeser wrote:
Dark stewed plum, olive, leather, nice balance with acidity mellowing and tanins softened.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2020 - DK Amateur wrote: flawed
This was sligtly corked, though the cork taint at times seemed to disappear so that the beautiful dark-toned mellow and acid-structured wine beneath was visible. Glad to have one more bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2020 - Blair Curtis wrote: 80 Points
Had a bottle of this 4 years ago that showed as oxidized or heat damaged, or over the hill. This second bottle was another poor showing, but this bottle felt more over the hill than flawed. Rusty flavours. Acid out of joint and too high. Fruit fading and buried. Not pleasant. I bought 4 bottles of this on release and stored perfectly since. It is possible that all my bottles were damaged during shipment, but the retail source is not known to be problematic. This wine just tastes way sub-par to me for a wine of excellent repute from a great vintage. A big disappointment. Other two bottles...hmmm...expensive Sangria?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2020 - 312 Likes this wine: flawed
Dark ruby. Cherry and blackberry on the nose. Full bodied. Smooth mouthfeel. Notes of cherry and pomegranate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2020 - honest bob wrote: flawed
From 75cl, cork stained half way back. TCA
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2020 - FjordogFjell wrote: 91 Points
Pinsefeirng 19 år. Spent på denne, etter svak flaske i fjor, forsmak i skyggen: Rik moden lukt, fruktig anslag med nype-ekstrakt, god syre men litt vandig avslutning. Noen timer i åpen flaske: Bedre balanse og lenge, svært god syre. Mye bedre enn forrige flaske. 1 dag i åpen flaske: Nydelig rognebær juice. Knall syre . Opp ett poeng fra i går.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2020 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium garnet in color. Visible sediment. Nose of red fruits, rusted iron, very mineral, a bit of kirsch as well. Dry on the palate, acid is high, medium tannins with a pillowy texture. Alcohol is medium. It feels younger in the palate than the nose. It may need some air. Decant next time. Finish is fairly long, already 45 seconds. A bit of heat on retro-nasal. Definitely good pairing with Gambas con chorizo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2020 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Same notes as earlier. Last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2020 - honest bob wrote: 92 Points
From 75cl, perfect cork. Another outstanding bottle as previously noted on 10.09.2019. I seem to be having more luck with LdH Reservas than with Gran Reservas; recent experiences with the 1994 GR tinto and the 1991 GR blanco were less than thrilling, but this superb Reserva was the real deal. 92P
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2020 - WbstrSt Likes this wine:
First time with this wine. Cherry, smoke. High acid palate—sour cherry—with leather, minimal tanin. Medium to medium-light weight.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2020 - WetRock wrote:
Classic leather with hints of cherry expression. Acidic. Still fairly dense and showing lots of color. Very Old Worldy and showing as young as more recent examples of this bottling. Not real complex though. Very good. No rush.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2020 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
This was delicious, still fairly young really. Oak still sticks out a touch, but otherwise it is pure classic Rioja. Red berry fruits, a hint of VA, spice, leather, earth, a whiff of dill. The palate is silky and bright. Will be better in another 5 years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2020 - Two Winos Likes this wine: 92 Points
Checked in on this one from a 375. This is going to be a really nice wine in a several more years. The oak is still not quite fully integrated yet. The fruit and acid are doing great. There is a pretty nice finesse evident in the wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2020 - DravlaH wrote: 90 Points
Oh man, this one is past its prime. Still drinkable, but barely. Baryard, currants, gooseberry on the nose. Slightly brownish coloring. Medium dry. Drik up!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/22/2020 - fc1910 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Next bottle of this Reserva, a very crumbly cork, the opening at last saved by my Durant, having read about some bottle variation in other TNs from the CT crowd I am curious about the topical showing, for me the bottles from LdH always need some or better a lot of bottle age and right after opening air, decent decant or slow ox over some more hours, same with this bottle, a little savoury fruit at first, earthy tones, some tar, forest floor, herbs, with some aeration very well structured bottle, the pure elegance, midbodied, smoky, cigar box, some ripe plums, very good grip, ending long with still lively acidity, great pairing with self made pizza, the last drop of this bottle is pure Rioja harmony after 7 hours, can be enjoyed from now on but the acid indicates life ahead up to a decade(++), **(*-****), around 90,91(+) potential
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/29/2020 - dbkitc wrote: 92 Points
By far the best bottle of this wine in a number of years. Mature, silky and full of sweet fruit. The nose has earth, leather and oak elements to complement the just on the right side of ripeness notes. Finish could last a bit longer - maybe starting to crack. Drink up as I think it could start declining soon. (92)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2020 - Caruso Likes this wine: 96 Points
Garnet with a thin orange rim. This is entering its plateau of maturity I guess. Of course this cuvée can be drunk by release, but some bottle age is useful. From the start great nose of currants, mulberries, mint, cherries and smoky vanilla notes. Imho vastly underrated here, it is going to evolve gracefully for another decade minimum if stored at perfect conditions since release. 5/13/18/10. 95 points from the WA in 2012 and Suckling in 2015.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2020 - cweiss Likes this wine:
Chosen to match simply prepared veal chop, and did so. A little more wood in the nose than palate but this is already an elegant wine. All about balance and refinement.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2019 - Mr T wrote:
drunk with a friend who loves Spanish wines and this was solid and consistent with prior tasting. For me, still doesn't move me, but buddy enjoyed a great deal.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/25/2019 - stevegpg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Christmas dinner with roast pork loin. Slightly earthy and woody nose. Perfect tart cherry, leather and Smokey taste. Really in a great drinking place now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2019 - BillBell73 Likes this wine:
Very nice...medium body, good acidity, and cherry fruit with a touch of smokiness and savoriness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2019 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Pnp at restaurant. First bottle in 6 years and it was excellent compared to bottle of 6 years ago which seemed tired. This had an enticing earthy bouquet, with lively, balanced and fruity palate. Like LdH wines, it evolves in the glass with each sip making for a superb drinking experience. Imo, this will continue to drink beautifully for a few more decades.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2019 - Biskuit Likes this wine: 93 Points
Leather, clove, dark fruit on the nose, but isn't heavy at all on the palate, lively, a touch of roses, some nice cherry acidity, really drinking well and, to my taste, still many years to go.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2019 - BadOyster wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well right now but in classic Rioja style could still go for many years. Minerally red fruit with a dose of cured meat and a medium finish with good acid. Nary a tannin to be felt.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2019 - Paul D wrote: 90 Points
3/12, good cork, decanted 1/2 hour.
Medium garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows leather, smoke, tobacco, - underlying dark fruit - quite ripe. Complex. palate is medium bodied, with leathery dark fruit to the fore, perhaps a touch of raisin every now and then but there's plenty here to like as well with tobacco, smoke, fine but firm tannins' excellent depth of fruit and fresh acidity carrying an impressively long finish with a tickle of tannin at the tail end. This is drinking for me but will certainly hold/improve and there's nothing to suggest it won't go for many more years. Excellent.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/18/2019 - fc1910 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Purchased some bottles by auction recently, so I have to try one, the very last Rioja bodega with very classic, oldschool Rioja in its portfolio, sometimes I am dreaming of their "cementerio", visited in march 2016, thousands of bottles ,unlabled in their iron-barred boxes, from 1928, 34, 35, 42, 48, 52, 55, 55, 58, 64.... to be continued, very herbal, maybe some dark savioury fruit in the background, the tannin a little adstringend still, but with about one hour of aeration this blows away, very tight, dense, but on the other hand the pure elegant flow, ending long with some mouthwatering acid, can be enjoyed from now on but will benefit from more cellartime to get much more silky harmony, great! **(*-****?), 91, 92(+) potential
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
9/10/2019 - honest bob wrote: 92 Points
From 75cl, perfect cork, opened but not decanted 1 hour. OMG, this is a perfect bottle. Thanks to Tubulus (CT TN 05.08.2019) for describing it so well. Everything is in balance, the oak, the bright, plum-morello fruit, the sweetness, the acidity, the luscious, caressing tannins. Of 8 bottles so far, this is the joint best (according to my TN =10.09.2017) 92-93P
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2019 - honest bob wrote: 90 Points
From 75cl, perfect cork, decanted 1 hour. A very different creature from the La Rioja Alta Ardanza Reserva 2001 tasted yesterday. Much darker fruit on the entry; smoother, more polished mid-palate not unlike an excellent Cru Bourgeois from the Médoc, generally riper, more concentrated and more voluptuous. Which makes me wonder about some of my previous TNs. Either I am unusually inconsistent about this specific wine, or there is considerable bottle variation. This bottle could have held and perhaps improved for another decade, so let's say 90-91P I suspect some of my remaining bottles will be brighter and more red-fruited.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2019 - Tubulus wrote: 93 Points
A very lovely bottle. Everything has fallen into place. Leather, the faintest bit of plum, a tiny bit of dill hidden in the corner...but only a touch Well into the secondary flavors, tannins are fully integrated. Will hang on for decades likely but will it be better?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2019 - Javachip Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour, re-bottled and brought to restaurant. Clear deep garnet-ruby-blood red color. Wonderful bouquet of red cherries, raspberries and their liqueurs, rhubarb, leather, tobacco, stony soil, hints of tomato, balsamic and soy. Similar on the palate, full body, seamless, excellent balance, pleasant tannins and acidity.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2019 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Ah Ben...pas juste moi qui qualifie ce domaine de Légendaire et Mythique...c`est rendu
que même Alfred Expert le vin le clame haut
et fort...faut croire que j`étais précurseur depuis déjà plusieurs années!!!
Beau nez sur le café et les feuilles.
En bouche, du tabac et du chocolat, encore en forme,
les tanins sont assez fins et la finale de longueur moyenne.
Bien aimé cette bouteille.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2019 - dbkitc wrote: 89 Points
Interesting bottle. Neither as good as the best or a disappointing as some. This bottle shows good balance with a bit of the over-cooked raisin aspect present in the less desirable bottles. Some freshness on the finish. Good but no more. Incredible bottle variation here. (89)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
5/27/2019 - CWilliam wrote: 92 Points
From magnum, purchased in 2012.
Brought to dinner party so no formal notes. This wine drank very well - no oxidation of fruit and would have guessed a late 2000s Rioja 92+/-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2019 - FjordogFjell wrote: 87 Points
Moden, bør drikkes nå
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2019 - pwillen1 wrote:
Absolutely banging. Gorgeous opulent fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2019 - Whine-oh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pnp at Peruvian restaurant. Bricking noted. Earthy w/ lots of secondaries present. Medium bodied. Mild fruit, fine but appreciable tannins. Good to go tonight! Great food wine, yummy!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2019 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Tasted over 2 hrs, from 375mL from secondary market
-dark red
-morello cherry tobacco lightly oxidized pruney element faint oak
-med acidity, med weight moderately sappy black cherry tar menthol mild oxidized note, med/med- tannins
-good complexity early on mature plateau even in this format, perhaps may not have seen perfect storage
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2019 - Kerino wrote: 89 Points
A tidy Rioja that is still young. Oddly has coconut as a key flavour. Seriously WTF. Oak is unsubtle at times and not quite smooth as a baby’s bum. Tastes indestructible. Try again in 2021.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
2/28/2019 - SteveG wrote: 91 Points
From memory, no problem with this bottle, best after about 2 hours of air, and apparently young.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2019 - rayq wrote: 89 Points
I opened a 2001 Tondonia Reserva today to check its progress.
On opening all I got from the nose was a wet mouldy wood note. Not corked I think, more mouldy and dirty. Like I'd fallen while running in the woods in December.
(I'm really selling it here!) Palate was also quite muted. With time open some red fruit flavours appeared but accompanied by a sour cherry acidic flavour.
Not unexpected in a traditional Rioja. The issue is there isn't anything else. None of the complexity I'd expect. No real evolution.
I'm leaving the remainder for a while. The wonderful history of this bodega suggests this will improve considerably.
Point rating relates to how it tasted today.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/9/2018 - Paul D wrote: 89 Points
2/12, very good cork. Decanted 1 hour. Bottle #075318.
Medium/deep ruby/garnet core, pale garnet rim. Initially I though this maybe corked, but on returning to it later I found it was fine. It had a dark fruited, leathery nose, with smoke and plenty of vanilla. Surprisingly sweet and ripe. Medium bodied on the palate, with dark, leathery fruit, smoke and again, quite a lot of vanilla. This has attractive vibrant acidity and good depth with a very good length if still quite firm finish. I think it will be better in 2-3 years time and last quite a few more after that - next bottle 2 years. Much better than the last bottle I had.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 Points
Similar notes to 2015. Still quite young, ripping acidity, crisp red fruits, loving the earthy, spicy, savory elements. Enjoyed with good friends so it was fun, but sort of wish I had held off for three more or so.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2018 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted against a 2001 Prado Enea. Dill, red strawberry like fruit. Lovely freshness both on the nose and on the palate from the rather high acidity. Almost burgundian in style. Great fruit and acdity rather than tannin to give it spine. Sleek and elegant with personality. I really like this!
Will keep for much longer but drinks very nicely now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2018 - rossi.wine wrote: 88 Points
Signs of evolution around the rim. Great nose - spices, leather, dried fruit, vanilla. On the palate a little thin, not much fruit, a little drying, good acidity. Drink up. 87-89
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2018 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 92 Points
Evolved and beautiful at the 1-3 hour mark. Traditional Rioja. Don't open for to long before tasting.....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2018 - AudunG wrote: 90 Points
Aromas dominated by coconut and toast. Not the well integrated oak that was the case with a bottle a year ago. Hm! wine tasting is difficult! Light weighted and vivid. Good concentration.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2018 - pcwoz Likes this wine: 93 Points
93-94+. This just lovely. Complex notes, Wood, Spice. Lovely cheery and red fruits. Smoke. Fabulous.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2018 - Don and Pam Likes this wine: 91 Points
Interesting, good wine but can’t imagine this getting better with additional aging. Drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/26/2018 - paul.guerrero.co wrote: 88 Points
Not as tired as expected, but wouldn't hold much longer. Nose of toated marshmallow and tobacco. Still some fruit notes on the pallet, like fig or sweet plum. The tannin structure is still faintly evident.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2018 - Taronti wrote: 92 Points
I love reading tasting note in French; surely worth an extra point or two!
Cherries, graphite, thyme and whatever Spanish underbrush might be. Clean, good acidity with nice tannins at the finish.
Seems to be getting into full stride. Needs an hour in the air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2018 - maxima wrote: 91 Points
Bu avec la paella de Carol.
Beau nez sur le café, la terre, les mures et les herbes.
En bouche, satiné et velouté, vraiment bien équilibré.
De belles saveurs de cerises avec du thym et du chocolat, du graphite et
une pointe montholée vers la fin.
Les tannins sont bien enrobés et la finale assez longue et tout
en souplesse et délicatesse. Belle longueur et tout à fait digeste.
Impeccable celle-ci.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2018 - wineforth Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine has improved immensely over the last 5 years and is now at its peak. Old fashioned Rioja with the Vanilla and anise American oak to the fore but plenty of morello cherry fruit and leathery complexity. Very long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2018 - honest bob wrote: 91 Points
From 75cl, good cork. Needed 1 hour in the decanter to settle down and release initial old oak volatility. Thereafter pure, slender, sharp morello pleasure, a wine for Burgundy lovers, perfect with rich lamb stew. 91P
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2018 - Marcyrillo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent wine. Very well balanced. Great freshness and long lasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2018 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Assez tuilée comme robe.
Beau nez sur le tabac, le cuir et les fruits noirs.
En bouche, assez souple, encore du boisé, profile moins tertiaire
que mes précédentes, du cassis, du poivre, du tabac
et de la fumée. Tannins assez fins sur une
finale de longueur moyenne assez soutenue.
Bien
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2018 - Bozekt wrote: 95 Points
Visible age on the rim. Nose shoes caramel, vanilla, dried herbs, sweet tobacco, dried cherries, anise, coconut, dill, leather. This wine has all the major markers that a good and true to style Rioja should show. Palate of caramel / Madeira, tart cranberry, dill, dried herbs. Medium acid, body, tannin, and ABV. Very harmonious wine and simply wonderful!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2018 - Ron Van Holland wrote: 92 Points
Medium ruby color. Fresh nose. Classic Rioja fruit benefits by a one-hour decant that brings all in balance with still-mouth-watering acidity. Showing no wear with age, drinking well, with a cellaring window that remains wide open.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2018 - amateurwino wrote: 92 Points
Winner of our best bottle contest. Showing maturity with good balance between engaging fruit, judicious oak and good acid backbone. A touch oxidative as you’d expect given the producer and the age of the bottle, but actually shows younger than 17 years from vintage, with some notes of earth, dried leaves and spice adding to the complexity. Lovely. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2018 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points
A blend of Tempranillo (75%), Garnacha (15%), Graciano and Mazuelo (10%). Fermented spontaneously in old oak fermenters, aged in old American oak barriques for 6 years, bottled unfiltered and then aged for further 50 months in bottle. 13% alcohol.
Slightly translucent cherry red color with somewhat developed mahogany hue and a mature, partly orange and partly fully clear rim. Attractive and somewhat developed nose with aromas of wizened dark fruits, some gamey tones, a little bit of crunchy cranberry character, light savory wood tones, a hint of sweet raisiny fruit, a lifted touch of spicy VA and a whiff of smoke. The wine is medium-bodied, smooth yet pretty high in acidity and enjoyably firm on the palate with layered, savory flavors of ripe dark fruits, some sour cherries, a little bit of woody bitterness, light raisiny notes, a hint of tart lingonberries and a subtle touch of game. The structure relies both on the acidity and on the medium-to-moderately high tannins that slowly grow in grip. The finish is lively and pretty acid-driven with remarkably long flavors of sour cherries, some dried dark cherries, a little bit of woody bitterness, a lifted hint of sweet VA character and a touch of leather.
A very sophisticated, harmonious and thoroughly elegant Rioja in the most classic old-school style possible. Some people claimed that at some point the wine started to taste "metallic" but I didn't notice anything like that at any point. To me this was a great example how well Heredia fared in this remarkable vintage. What surprised me, though, was how relatively light and delicate this wine was - I was expecting something a bit bigger and riper, but this wasn't a far cry from the vintage 2002. Only the difference in quality and complexity was evident - this was far superior to 2002. A beautiful Rioja Reserva (that could easily pass as a Gran Reserva) that is starting to show the first signs of age and drinking wonderfully now, but which will easily continue to improve for the next 5-10 years. Stunning value at only 20€.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2018 - Lipsman wrote: 88 Points
Brown in color with a garnet background. This is rather lean at first. Needs an hour with a brisk decant to gain some weight. Still a light to medium bodied wine, nicely balanced, but the Madeira is never far. Drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2018 - cannym Likes this wine: 91 Points
So much better a bottle. Fine garnet colour, plenty aromatics. Spices, wood smoke, saddlery. Bitter cherry, warm spices, dried meats, great acidity. Swirling and changing constantly. Good length. Seems to be considerable bottle variability but good ones are lovely, and getting into there stride.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2018 - maxima wrote: flawed
Bouchonnée!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2018 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still dullish red in colour, bit of garnet around the edges. Elegant and soft earthiness, mulled fruits, roses. Medium weight , smooth wine, supple tannins. Red fruits/cranberry/cherry. Excellent
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2018 - rocknroller wrote: flawed
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Tilia, Mpls): corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2018 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Un peu plus sur le tertiaire, assez fruité encore avec de beaux tannins et une belle acidité...c'est assez classique, faut aimé le style qui ne plait pas à tous.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2018 - rossi.wine wrote: 89 Points
From magnum. Quite evolved in colour, tawny around the rim. Lots of mustiness on the nose at first which took quite a while to blow off. Leather, spices, tobacco on the nose. Lots of acidity on the palate, very bright and a bit unbalanced and angular. Good length. 88-90
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2018 - ryestraw wrote:
This is starting to show some bottle variability, some more faded, some more youthful. This faded bottle still is profound, and the tertiary characters coming in are spot on beautiful. I love this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2018 - SteveG wrote: 90 Points
From memory. Garnet to tawny edges, interesting nose of lovely fresh red flowers and questionable funk. The palate seemed thin for the first 30 or so minutes, then opened as distinctly oldish Brodeaux in profile. We enjoyed this wine but certainly this bottle was not the most charming of Tondonias, drank with sous vide flatiron steak chimichurri.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2018 - Oldworlddrinker Likes this wine: 89 Points
Clean appearance, tawny red color, medium to light hues. On the nose this gave of sensation of wet wood, it made you feel like you were in the forest. The palate is clean, light body yet plentiful of structure, focused acidity with nose of cranberries and dark cherries, there is something about this wine that spells old school, there is this old library leather scent that lingered all around. An hour later the acidity softened giving way to some raisins notes. This feels old traditional Rioja.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2018 - asparagus Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drank over 3 days. Dark cherries with medium acidity and medium tannins. An enjoyable wine in its own right that was best on the second day, but cannot hold a candle to some aged tondonia riservas (the 1987 immediately comes to mind) which were amazing. too young or did they change the winemaking such that these are meant to be enjoyed younger?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/7/2018 - honest bob wrote: flawed
From 75cl, optically OK cork. Stewed/volatile/fungal/bretty/TCA mix. Undrinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2018 - cannym Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark cherry, browning to edge. A bit lacking in depth or concentration though better after 24hrs. Plenty of black cherry, redcurrant and cranberry fruit. Some light spices and cured meats. High acidity, not quite balanced by the fruit. Not terribly long either. Just would have looked for greater depth and interest.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2018 - dbkitc wrote: 90 Points
After the poor showing last week, decided to open again to see what’s going on. Totally different wine that is more complex, more integrated and more enjoyable. Been through a bunch of this Wine and have experienced wide variation. When it’s good like tonight, offers excellent old world QPR. (90)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2018 - portman63 Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of the best buys possible. The Grand Riserva is a better wine, but the Riserva is unbeatable at the price point to my palate. Shows the red forest fruit with a bit of a stewed and nutty character and leather. The tannins are so soft and integrated with a lush yet clean finish that works with so many dishes from tomato-based to fatty meats. It has mature elements, but never tastes old to me. Good from release and for 10-15 years after in my experience.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2018 - maxima wrote: flawed
Bretté et/ou réduit, déviante celle-ci.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2018 - dalondra Likes this wine: 92 Points
Exactly as before. Perfectly mature and drinking well
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2018 - dbkitc wrote: 87 Points
First bottle in a few years and not my favorite to be honest. I can’t imagine that it’s getting old but this bottle lacks flesh, is a bit raisin dominated and seems a bit short. This was pnp’ed so maybe not at its best. (87)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/5/2018 - Cailles wrote: 88 Points
Flows through you like Legolas walked over the snow in Lord of the Rings. So smooth and soft with a good flavor profile of red fruit, some earth and mint aromas. Interesting but too light-footed and boring to deserve a higher score.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2018 - AV2012 wrote: 88 Points
The most classic and lean of them all. Not watery, but structured, quite tannic and very dry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2017 - kfinsrud wrote: 91 Points
Dekantert 2 t. Noe vanilje i nesen som blåste vekk med luft. Ellers tobakk, plomme og lær. Bra struktur og flott syre. Fruktig, men nærmer seg modning. God avslutning med medium tanniner. Ypperlig med mat til. Min siste flaske. Vil fint holde 10 år til.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2017 - cheZ joZef wrote: 92 Points
Classic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2017 - AudunG wrote: 91 Points
Lovely, deep and concentrated aromas of cherry and well integrated oak. Light footed, velvety and balanced on the palate. Has taken on weight and concentration since the previous tasting a couple of years ago.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2017 - cweiss wrote:
Coravin taste about a year earlier and thought it was off, maybe corked. Finally got around to opening it and not corked but somewhat mute, but improved with time in the decanter. Traditional Rioja, so plenty of acidity and still some tannin but balanced and enjoyable with paella mixto.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2017 - Avicenne Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tendu, juvénile, commence à être très poli.
Superbe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2017 - microbox wrote: 91 Points
requires a decant. lovely old school
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2017 - microbox wrote: 92 Points
Needs air when uncorked. Alternatively, wait until 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2017 - Oechsle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tempranillo 75%
Garnacho 15%
Graciano 5%
Mazuelo 5%
Nose is alive straight out of the bottle. The word Fuzzy comes to mind. Lift, freshness. Hard cherry candy, reduced cranberry, macerated wood, hints of black dirt and raw meat.
Deeper red garnet, orange rimming.
Poured a glass and Audouzed 60 minutes, Mouthwatering acidity. Sour cherry, Tart cranberry, darker, deeper edged fruit profile and wood dominate the palate. Crushed gravel with hints of tar. Medium body with gentle tannic structure, underlying acidity brings Burgundy to mind. There is a slight Green herbal note on the finish. Don’t think this will offer more intrigue by holding further. Definitely needs food, lamb, sausage, fatty beef. Purchased upon release, stored accordingly and enjoyed 65-75 with grilled beef. Drink Now… Na zdrowie
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2017 - honest bob wrote: 93 Points
From 75cl, perfect cork, decanted 1 hour. Superbly pure, ripe bright-red fruit, amazing depth and resonance, long finish. From the start barely a hint of volatility, American oak beautifully integrated; no sign of mould or cellar funk. My best bottle yet. Exceptional now, no hurry. 92-93P
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2017 - anstruletz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Shows nice age but by no means on the decline - enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2017 - amateurwino wrote: 90 Points
Showed a bit more oxidative than I expected even considering the producer, but not a flawed bottle. Dill from the American oak quite apparent on the nose, palate is balanced with plummy red fruit flavors. Not the most complex LdH wine I've had, but solid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2017 - amateurwino wrote: flawed
Alas, corked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2017 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle was showing very well and seemed quite youthful still (compared to many notes I've read about its current development). Complex, seamless, memorable. For $35, those are strong words, and definitely merited.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2017 - Kirk Grant wrote:
Consumed over a period of 2-3 hours with 2-3 hours decanted prior to tasting. This was nice, but not worth the price of admission. Like others mentioned in other notes there is a hint of raisins, fig, and other sun-dried fruit notes on the nose that cause this to seem a little less than fresh. Medium body, med acidity, med- fruit, and all in all a Very Good wine. It's a bit disappointing given the vintage quality.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2017 - Paul D wrote: 85 Points
1/12. Good cork. Decanted 1/2 an hour. Medium garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose initially slightly mute, showing dark, leathery fruit, a touch pruney, smoke, hint of tobacco. Medium bodied, quite dark fruited, leather, again a touch of pruniness to the fruit, tannins quite soft, savoury dark fruit on the good length finish. Not sure about this, not a great bottle perhaps. 85?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/8/2017 - David J Cooper wrote: 91 Points
Light red with clear edges. Medium light intense nose. Bony plum, leather and black cherry fruit. Cherry and earth flavours and a very lean finish.
With food this really takes on a lot of weight. Becomes a bit fatter and elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2017 - kingkanu wrote:
Approachable, but more to come if you can be patient
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2017 - johnnyrichardson Likes this wine: 91 Points
This has opened out in the twelve months since my last tasting, beautifully well balanced, the best bottle so far of my 6-pack. Drink or hold...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2017 - fwota Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bricking around the edges. Aromatic nose with orange peel, cinnamon, spice, tart cherries, light funk. Tastes of orange peel & pith, sour cherry, hint of vanilla. A bit on the tart side, and thinner on the palate than on the nose, but with a lingering finish and residual tannins. Hard to say how much longer this has.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2017 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tawny garnet in appearance. Open and expressive nose, with oodles of orange peel, cinnamon, clove and old leather. Good representation on the palate, with plenty of acidity and structure, albeit the ripeness of the fruit is starting to fade. Lots of bottle variation on these in the past year: either total duds or perfumed and expressive.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2017 - SouthernStateofMind wrote:
Garnet w/bricking rim displaying aromas of dusty red fruits (red cherry/cranberry) with tertiary notes of, earth, tobacco, leather and vanilla. Muted red fruit flavors are accompanied by distinctive earthen undertones. Nimble presence on the palate; tannins are fully integrated and silky smooth at this juncture. Sufficient acidity remains to provide adequate lift however my sense is this has rounded the curve and is tracking downward. That said, this is a wonderful representation of aged Rioja. Drink now!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2017 - brooklynguy Likes this wine:
Really good showing. Sweet ripe fruit - dark cherries and something like persimmons, shot through with earthy notes. Harmonious, essentially, but for the vanilla and coconut tones from the oak. Although it's not true to say this detracts from the wines harmony or balance. It's just a noticeable flavor. Delicious wine and entirely demonstrative of real Rioja.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2017 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: flawed
A private lunch (Restaurant De Burgemeester *, Linschoten, Netherlands): Tired, oxidative. Probably an off bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2017 - Lobonick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just love! This wine may be a couple of years beyond how I like them. Fruit is faded, but this wine has an amazing weightlessness. Orange edges and a beautifully easy drink. Nose is rose and warm brioche. Palate has spice and balance and beauty. Finish is gentle and very very long. Love!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2017 - Pebben wrote: 92 Points
From memory: Best bottle to date! Sweet red fruit, leather, tobacco, spices and vanilla on the nose and palate. Both generous and well balanced. Very enjoyable with this Easter’s compulsory leg of lamb.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2017 - sbeeks wrote: 90 Points
Not sure if it was the bottle, but this one tasted like it is about at the end of the road. I was surprised.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2017 - king-bing wrote:
Very good shape. Very clean. Paler colour than the 2001 Baron de Chirel alongside. More red fruit and delicacy. Savoury. Refreshingly acidic in the best sense. Yum. No hurry, of course.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2017 - SimonG wrote: 92 Points
Traditional Rioja (RSJ, London): Dark red fruit. Good acidity. Mid palate richness. Still some tannin in the finish. All there for the future, and this has really come on in the past six years since last tasting. Needs a few more years to develop an extra layer of complexity and nuance. ****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2017 - MonkeyBiz101 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Last bottle, lip smacking till the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2017 - Raul Likes this wine: 90 Points
Color Depth: medium; Color Hue: brick; Clarity: clear; Aroma Intensity: aromatic; Development: aged; Aromas: red fruits, wood, spices; Dry/Sweet: dry; Body: medium-full; Acidity: fresh; Tannin Levels: medium; Tannins Type: round; Balance: good; Flavor Intensity: flavorful; Flavors: red fruits, woods, spices; Finish: long Style: in-between Conclusion: nice, complex, good evolution.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2017 - aChave wrote: 92 Points
Clear ruby. As before, prominent acidity and finishing tannins give an edge to the wine. Fruit is very fresh and pure. Excellent balance. After a day in a half bottle the fruit expanded in intensity and density to become much more forward and fragrant. An excellent value and a very good wine. Has more time to go.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2017 - amateurwino wrote: 92 Points
A gorgeous bottle that was WOTN for many party attendees. Lovely fruit, complex with notes of autumn leaves on the nose and a juicy, flavorful palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2017 - minndavid60 Likes this wine: 91 Points
On the nose, progressive aromas of cigar box, campfire, spice and later on, some cool meatiness and game. The initial palate was tart cherry and a bit straightforward for the first couple of glasses, but by glass #3, this was picking up weight. Typical Lopez class and elegance. By the 4th glass, the palate also picked up some meatiness of its own. Finishing the bottle the next night, the red fruit had rounded more to strawberry. This still has upside potential. 91+
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/25/2016 - Simonea2777 wrote: 92 Points
- Aromas of smokey, burnt toast, baker's yeast and dusty and has flavours of smokey, dusty and sherry.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2016 - MonkeyBiz101 Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP. Initially the nose and palate seemed old with some barnyard, bt then levelled out with a good degree of acidity but not unpleasant. Approachable now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2016 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 91 Points
Half bottle I was given by my dad 4 years ago. It showed well, though it still has some time ahead of it, which is why I am leaving my full bottle for another year or more. A little funky on the nose to start with, then tart red fruits mixed with balsamic. Very elegant as always and just a delight to drink.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2016 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better than our last bottle, which tells me that one was flawed to some degree. Candied cherries, red roses, and potpori on the nose. The palate still has a firm frame and juicy core, with subtle streaks of coffee and blue fruit beneath the tangy red fruit. The finish is refined, elegant, and near perfect. Paired nicely with a savory winter stew. If you get a good bottle, it should go another 3-5 years in a nice window.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2016 - DK Amateur wrote:
Drunk after the 2002. The colour seems a bit more black and there is more mature aromas with greater depth to the nose. I was perhaps less convinced that the slightly acidic taste was actually better than that of the 2002 on this occasion. Overall a wonderful wine though.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2016 - Phenol73 wrote: 88 Points
Dark garnet with some browning. This opens completely mute, with hardly any aromatic expression. The palate has a reasonable structure, being medium bodied with soft tannins and modest acidity. Last tried this about two years ago, where it showed completely differently: expressive bouquet and bright acidity. After about two hours, suddenly some character and expression, showing orange peel, clove and leather. Attractive if delicate, though missing some support on the palate. This then held for the better part of two days. Perplexed. This is not dead, but can't be in a dumb phase after 15 years. And where is the acidity that was so prevalent two years ago? Tried this with two bottles; same result.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2016 - kfinsrud wrote: 91 Points
Enda bedre enn sist. Tanninene er mer integrerte nå. På et fint stadie.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2016 - dbkitc wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful, maturing garnet color. Lots of plum and red berry fruit on the nose mixed with spice and saw dust. The real winner here is the palate. Plump red fruit, an oak frame and tobacco. At the height of maturity. Good fruit, good verve and just a great impression. (92)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2016 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine needs about 15 minutes to open up and settle down and to let some of the acerbic qualities of Tempranillo quite down. Then for the next hour or so, the wine is more in balance with a moderate bandwidth of flavors typical of this varietal.
Ullage was good and cork was strong. Color was good but with some signs of tawniness. Nose and palate of leather, cherry, and some subtle licorice notes; all within the restrained bandwidth as noted above.
At about an hour+ the wine began to loose a bit of its charm as the acidity began to re-emerge.
Nice for a 15 year old bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2016 - Wine4Life Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice clear ruby showing very little age,nose has earth, clove, vanilla, medium body with high acid, long sour cherry finish. This wine should continue to age and develop.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2016 - Blake Brown wrote:
2001 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA RESERVA RIOJA- 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo and Graciano; I`m a big fan of this producer and this bottling as well; our bottle showed beautifully giving bright spicy red cherry aromas which continued on and were joined by cranberry and black cherry notes; it was delivered in a silky smooth texture which served to perpetuate the length of the finish; underlying tannins were evident enough to suggest support for aging; although this is really showing well now, it will morph into even greater things.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2016 - AccaDacca wrote: flawed
Heat damaged, ugh
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2016 - SouthernStateofMind wrote: flawed
Pungent aroma of musty wet cardboard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2016 - Lordswood wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 4 hours in advance. Nose has tinned strawberries and forest floor. On the palate some blueberries and tinned strawberries, well resolved tannins and strong but well balanced acidity. Drinking well now, with a decent decant, please don't rush, as it should improve further with a bit more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
6/15/2016 - maxima wrote: 91 Points
Un classique encore une fois, très old school et fidèle au goût depuis le début.
Fruit rouge, tabac, herbes et menthol, belle finesse et équilibre.
Assez long et vaporeux en finale, encore très bon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2016 - eoinhharkins Likes this wine:
Personally think think this is in a good spot right now, though will get better, sweet pipe tobacco,, some dried dark fruit on the nose, palate has nice fruit on the attack, there are still unresolved tannins that the mid palate struggles with but it still finishes well medium plus length
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
6/12/2016 - johnnyrichardson wrote: 90 Points
In view of some recent tasting notes I opened this to try. No disappointment, still on the young side and slightly austere; IMO this needs more time. Will open out later for sure, either a long decant or another few years cellartime is required..
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/4/2016 - MonkeyBiz101 Does not like this wine: 80 Points
I am really not getting this wine. I have popped and poured, decanted, opened and left, and I can't get anything more than an acidic palate. My bottles have been stored IB until very recently so I can't believe that is the problem, is it just too far gone? Very disappointing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/31/2016 - DaveSo wrote: 87 Points
This wine seemed past its prime. The cork was in wonderful shape. Starting to get a bit flabby. I have 1 more bottle and based on others similar comments, I will drink it up sooner rather than later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/18/2016 - Blair Curtis wrote: flawed
Hmmmm, this tastes heat damaged and/or oxidised. Could be the bottle I suppose. I have three more to try but this concerns me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2016 - honest bob wrote: 92 Points
From 75cl, v. good cork. This was great straight after opening and just as enjoyable after 2 hours in the decanter. I expected the fresh red-fruit strawberry/rasperry/morello tang, but this bottle has much less volatility on the nose than I remember from previous ones, and a gorgeously round, ripe mid-palate. Obvious, but perfectly integrated old oak treatment. Gentle raw leather-tannins on the finish make it mouth watering and moreish. Perfectly mature tonight, but no hurry at all. 92P
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/22/2016 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 89 Points
Wine seems long in the tooth compared to a few years ago. Still a phenomenal nose of candied red fruit, savory herbs, dried leather, and rose floral arrangements. However, the palate is thin and tired. Could be an off bottle but more likely hit peak around 2014. Still, this is an enjoyable mature Rioja. Drink now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2016 - wineordeath Likes this wine: 91 Points
A good, but not awesome Tondonia. Nose took a while to open. Good fruit and spice. Just a bit light on the palate. 90 - 91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2016 - lasko Likes this wine: 91 Points
Jammy, pruny fruit. Quite dense, but nicely balanced with good acidity. Soft tannins. Not my favourite style of rioja, but still a very good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2016 - Pebben wrote: 88 Points
From memory: Significant notes of prunes and port indicating fairly advanced oxidation, though not completely shot. A lot richer than the bottle consumed three years ago, which in turn helps to balance out the high acidity. Obviously not the best this wine has to offer, but still enjoyable “in an interesting sort of way”. 15 years should be no problem for good bottles – lets hope I’ll get lucky with at least one of my last two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2016 - Zumboto wrote: 90 Points
Good, not great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2016 - Ringo Lee Likes this wine: 90 Points
Predominant nail polish nose. Very smooth palate with delicate dried plum flavour. Overall quite harmonized integration. Very drinkable. Bottle finished quickly. Just hope more complex elements developed with further aging for another bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2016 - Lemmy-W wrote: 92 Points
great wine that needs some air to breath. felt quite closed for the beginning, but after 2 hours of air starts singing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2016 - Tubulus wrote: 90 Points
The dill is strong in this one! Has almost a saline/salt water note as well. Went really well with proscuitto-wrapped cod with spanish beans. Not the best bottle I've had, but still very tasty, and it's peculiarities actually helped with the food pairing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2016 - fanglangzhe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Seems fully fleshed out & mature with red/dark fruits, spices, hint of earth/barnyard. Very elegant style as usual. In its peak right now and no need to store longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2016 - PC73 wrote: 90 Points
Surprisingly mature flavour profile. Fruit very much stewed flavours. Nice complexity and tannins still present. I question how much longer this will live.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2016 - Yagil wrote: 89 Points
2001 Rioja wines tasting (Yagil's home): dark translucent red-purple with brown tones
present nose of rich dark mature fruits (plums) with earthy and tobacco-spicy notes
firm tannins on the palate, good acidity level, fairly structured and complexed, intense cherries, plums, some jammy tones, earthy-dusty character, savoury and light spicy association, cedar aroma, leathery and chewy aftertaste. Bottom line: very classic Rioja-for-food wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2016 - JimmyBubbles wrote:
Otra extraña botella de este vino. Ya son unas cuantas. Tengo que probar a dejarlo abierto con mucha antelación. Tomado en restaurante en Avila.
Bastante lacteo, abriendose poco a poco, con carne y cafe. Es la boca la que descoloca más, se hace algo pesado de beber. Le falta brio.
Seremos nosotros...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2016 - dbkitc wrote: 92 Points
Excellent wine that has nice fruit to complement some secondary development. Not as interesting as the Ardanza but should get there with time. Great value. (92+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2015 - PC73 wrote: 91 Points
Sweet fruits.
Slightly stewed fruits on the finish.
Silky tannins.
I actually think it could be time to drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2015 - Rico100 wrote: 92 Points
Nice but not blow away. Not a lot of fruit left but a nice mature wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2015 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Merger of TTTG &FTTG - Blind (DB): Tricky Mr. B served two halves of a magnum in two separate flights paired with Burgundy. Happily, I had nearly identical (tepid) notes for both, with the two ending up my 7th and 8th wines of the night. Medium-plus tawny color. Brooding nose of dark (stewed?) fruit, surprisingly advanced on the nose; a bit heady, ripe. Some sourness on the palate. Meh.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2015 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Served from magnum, but in 2 parts. Each half of the mag was decanted into a clean 750 ml bottle. One half was decanted an hour to the other half. The two bottles were then served blind to my tasting group as part of two separate flights of wines.
Both halves of the magnum showed pretty well, and the group was quite close on the average result. The later decanted half scored slightly higher than the earlier one. Both bottles showed chalky tannins on the finish, with the later half being more astringent, but also with richer fruit. Overall I would prefer to leave my other magnum for several more years to allow the tannins to soften, and for more aged character to develop. The wine currently seems to be in a bit of a grumpy teenager phase.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/22/2015 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
You can never go wrong with this wine. Always elegant and terroir driven. Red fruit, spice leather and earthiness. Tonight overshadowed by some stellar BDXs and would likely shine more in a Rioja lineup.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2015 - Cofxc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Yoghurt, high acidity, oak slightly disjointed. Smoothed out and fattened up after a couple of hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2015 - Rechrom wrote: 93 Points
In a very good place. Zippy acidity, sweet fruit, flowers and spices on the palate. A bit of leather notes and spices and flowers on the nose. Clean medium length finish. A fun wine to drink with food or alone, has personality.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/10/2015 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 Points
2001 Rioja (Maryland): Deep nose of rich plums and earth, with time all sorts of spicy tobacco and floral notes come out with a real sense of elegance. On the palate the tannins are firm and the acid is ravenous. Almost abrasive at first but settles down and shows all sorts of elegance. Fleshy red cherries, plums, some currant jam notes, full of dusty earth, tobacco and spiced coffee complexity. Opens up with air and develops all sorts of nuanced spice and deep floral tones. Plenty of time to go in the cellar, so I’ll hold onto my sole bottle for four or five years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/10/2015 - gtilley wrote: 90 Points
It is essential to decant this wine for 1-2 hours. Having bought a case and now consumed half over the last few years, on every occasion it has been almost undrinkable when opened - horribly thin and acidic. But after decanting, it blossoms into a very characterful Rioja - tonnes of dried fruit, cedar dust, sweat, and "horsey" notes. Still on the lean side, I can't say it's a huge favourite of mine, but it does have the virtue of being distinctive.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/20/2015 - btock Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted, and enjoyed after about an hour of air time. Good now, but still tight. Classy red fruits and earth. Has that Rioja dust and sanguine thing going on which is nice. Nicely balanced, good food wine. No rush to open.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/20/2015 - Scottlmatthews Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another 5-15 more years, but very enjoyable now with foods that match. Maui Beef Ribs with soya sauce sweetness work with the acid balance of the wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/18/2015 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Dropped into a decanter. Served with a light dinner and shared with friends. Sour cherry, earthy core, slight amount of dustiness and herbalness to it. It is always a good time to pop a LdH.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
9/12/2015 - ArolandJ wrote:
Slightly tart. Almost sour. Tannic
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/12/2015 - johnnyrichardson Likes this wine: 91 Points
Six-hour decant - some tannin giving good balance; vanilla (not much); some earth and leather; fruit not prominent, contrary to some other notes this tasted young and vibrant to me still, a long life ahead..very good.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/5/2015 - aChave wrote: 91 Points
Clear ruby. Prominent acidity and finishing tannins give an edge to the wine. Fruit is very fresh and pure. Balance is the byword. Good aging potential but quite enjoyable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (4)
8/31/2015 - rayq wrote: 92 Points
Took a while to come around. Last couple of glasses were best.
Old style Rioja, red fruited with old oak and spice aromas and flavours.
Still quite drying on the finish with slightly tart cherry flavour.
I'm tempted to keep my remaining bottles for some time yet.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2015 - T.E.D. wrote: 90 Points
Saved a couple glasses for second night. The wine is showing more traditional secondary notes with nice dusty cherry, dried herb, plum skin, desert earth - certainly the garnacha is evident. So old world it begs for an aged manchengo. Buzzzzoff thanks for your note. Additional age we'll definitely help draw out these secondary notes and I can see the aging potential. I just question the need to sit on a simple reserva for so long . . .
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (9)
8/28/2015 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
The third time we try this wine in as many years and we consistently like this and rate it 91. Much like the last two times this delivered the goods and was a pretty nice bottle to enjoy. Full character and elegance, very ice fruit, light sweet core very much classic well made Rioja . 91 and at a great place ( generally 2001 Rioja is drinking very nicely now ) 91
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/28/2015 - T.E.D. wrote: 89 Points
Light ruby color. Classic sour cherry, stewed prune, some port notes, touch of dusty earth and wood . On the palate medium acid, orange peel, prunes, raisin, followed by earth and dry spice box. Not overly complex and short on structure, nothing to right home about and better value can be found. I do not believe age will enhance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
8/21/2015 - wineforth Likes this wine: 90 Points
With Sandy. Once the volatile acidity is out of the way this is a well balanced very traditional Rioja. It needs decanting in good time. Black cherry and oaky vanilla with a touch of bitterness on the finish. Has improved a huge amount over the last two years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/8/2015 - gilrbo Likes this wine:
At a restaurant. The color has lost some of the brilliance but was still quite young looking. The nose was not very expressive and had a little bit of mustiness which took a while to dissipate, but was also subtle and fine. I took the glass to the open air and there it showed its best: together with some forest floor, it still had fruit and some subtle floral nuances. The palate was lovely, smooth, silky, with tannins completely integrated. It had a special flavor on the finish, which I could not quite nail down (some sort of noble and refined earthiness, perhaps close to herb liqueur).
I have almost no experience with aged Rioja. This was not earth-shaking, but definitely fine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
8/6/2015 - thatsbabymakinwine wrote: flawed
Purchased at Eroski Córdoba early July 2015. Cork like crumbly cheese, coming out in several lots, leaving remainder in neck. Eventually accessed wine, or what should have been. Concentrated vinegar. Very disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/30/2015 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted. Delightful balance with many years to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/13/2015 - VeronicaXu Does not like this wine:
Slightly flat, medium (-) finish. Sour cherry, slightly. This bottle might not be at its best.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
6/25/2015 - pdxwinefan wrote:
I should have read others' notes on this before opening. Brought to a restaurant and decanted for only about 30 minutes before drinking over the course of an hour or so. Really nice fruit aromas with just a hint of vanilla. But the acidity just wouldn't calm down without more air. With some fairly aggressive spins in the glass you could get nice integration with some slight earthy flavors mixed in with the fruit--tantalizing with the promise of what this wine has in it. I recommend much longer decanting (a couple hours at least) if you're not holding this for a few more years. No rating as I feel I mistreated this wine. Lesson learned.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/21/2015 - honest bob wrote: 90 Points
From 75cl, good cork stained half-way back. Sorely needed 2 hours in the decanter, started tasting really good after 3. (Initially the intense American oak and volatile acidity made it all-too redolent of a used plastic-lined airline barf bag.) At 4 hours: American oak, dark spices and dried fruit on the nose; sweet entry with nice tannic grip and an exciting acidic crescendo onto the dry, slightly dusty finish, which –at least in the case of my mouth – coaxes major saliva flow. i.e. a great food wine for tender red meat or game. 90-91P, mature now, but no hurry.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/12/2015 - VeronicaXu wrote: 92 Points
Subtle scents of rose and cherry-skin tannin. Everything about the wine is gentle while remarkably long. Combine old vines, traditional winemaking and the stunning 2001 season.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
6/11/2015 - Herschel Krustofski wrote:
Takes 60-90+ min to open up and get rid of some awkward aromas.
Difficult to get excited about this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/17/2015 - jshearer wrote: flawed
Two corked bottles in a row. Are people seeing a lot of bottle variation here?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
5/17/2015 - stiang Likes this wine: 87 Points
Sur-søt bålrøyk. Overraskende moden frukt; lær og tobakk, touch fjøs. Bløt og tertiær. Tanninene og syren kommer i finish. Undres veldig over lagringspotensialet her. Var bedre i 2012
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2015 - Jhcwine Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Over the hill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2015 - kenito799 wrote: 92 Points
Cherry, raspberry, vanilla, woody notes in the long finish. Great acidity and balance, drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2015 - J. Vino Likes this wine: 90 Points
I decent offering but a little uninspiring given 2001 was an excellent vintage for Rioja. Pnp'ed (but would probably decant if I had it to do again). A reasonable bouquet of mature fruits. Minerally and highly acidic. Just didn't have the depth or balance of peers from this vintage, imho.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2015 - Wine4Life wrote: 89 Points
Good wine but better are available for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2015 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
At a very nice time to approach this. We decanted and served.
Still quite dark, light cocoa feel on the nose, dark fruits, light smoky feel still. Still primary and on the fruit, good rich core. The sweetness of youth is now well integrated and just feels the money. Good wine. 90-92 and drinks well now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2015 - DK Amateur Likes this wine:
From memory: Lovely classic wine with dark cherries, red earth and a little wet dog. Elegant and smooth -- a food wine more due to acidity than tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2015 - theronware wrote: 92 Points
Significant bottle variation as this one was considerably more evolved than our last, six months ago. Wide open right off the cork pull. Dried cherries and butterscotch/toffee, slight vanilla and tobacco on the effusive nose. Palate similiar. Somewhat drying tannins. Acid is nicely integrated. Lovely bottle of wine. Have 9 left but don't think that will be enough.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2015 - aChave wrote: 91 Points
Ruby. Decanted 30 minutes. Fragrant tempranillo but firm underlying tannic structure. Not flabby; precise. Has a freshness that allows for current drinking, but really needs another 10+ years. Great potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2015 - stevegpg Likes this wine: 88 Points
Not bad, but not as good as other bottles. Decanted about an hour, very muted fruit and not much of the tobacco, chocolate flavors I expected.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2015 - BillyT wrote: 90 Points
The rating may be unfair. This wine requires at minimum 2-3 decant. I popped and poured and after 1.5 hours at the restaurant it really started showing its aromatics of cherries, dark chocolate, etc. Well balanced but starts our with high acidity. After time the acidity fades to a silky smooth mouth feel. Good wine but want to open and handle properly before casting any real judgement.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2015 - sequoiagrove Likes this wine: 91 Points
Easter dinner was Leg of lamb with potato and asparagus gratin. So what wine to serve other than tondonia :)
And I only have 2001 reserva. On opening it was lacking flavour. sawdust and leather. Decanting, and having it with the lamb it came out to sing with dark cherry, almost toffee character. gritting tannins that I love, leather and cigar instead of sawdust. lingering finish.
Got one left, need more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2015 - FjordogFjell wrote: 91 Points
Påskeaften med lammelår og mor og broderen i Erfjord. Overraskende moden, deilig klassisk moden Rioja. Det er bare lyngen igjen av alle blåbæra som var her sist. :-D
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2015 - Brichardson001 Likes this wine: 91 Points
On first opening, huge leather, sawdust notes. After 1 hour opening up with cherry and dill coming though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/29/2015 - Rechrom wrote: 93 Points
Drinking very well. After a one hour decant, had a nice nose with some leather, earth and smoke. Dark tart cherry and more leather on a light palate that works really well with tapas type food. Nice alone too. Not sure if this will continue to improve, this was its best showing to date and well worth opening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2015 - kfinsrud wrote: 90 Points
30 min. i karaffel. Rubinrød. En attraktiv nese bestående av treverk, sviske, plomme, lær og noe tobakk. En saftig og konsentrert fruktfølelse av mørke bær i munn. En lang og syrlig finish. Høyst tilstedeværende, men tilgjengelige tanniner. Passet ypperlig til lammesteika.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2015 - AudunG wrote: 88 Points
Light brownish red. Clean tempranillo aromas with just a touch of wood. Light and feminin in the mouth, almost airy. Maybe it lacks some concentration. Wait and see. I guess it has more to show in the future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2015 - MAOC wrote:
Multiple bottles over last 12 months. Bit of variation (touches of VA, some a bit more masculine, others more delicate) but all lovely. Sweet cherry, American oak, leather, smoke and earth on the nose; the palate adds extra nuances as the wine develops. Will be fine across another 10+ years but too tempting to open now. Hard not to love Lopez Heredia. ***1/2-****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2015 - diggydan wrote: 93 Points
Distinctive nose - funk, oak, sour cherry, dill. Masculine but graceful medium-weight body. Soft mouth-feel with a bright fruit, leather, and earth palate, finishing with a good dose of acidity. BYO at Copper Onion in SLC.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2015 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine: 91 Points
A 2003 Bosconia Riserva that showed well piqued my interest and I decided to try one of these. i found this wine to be more feminine and based on finesse. It's aged dusty quality was less prominent than the Bosconia. In fact, everything was playing at a lower volume in this wine. Perhaps the wine is in a shy phase or it's just how it is. Tannins are well integrated and this has entered its drinking plateau.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (8)
2/27/2015 - loegaute wrote: 91 Points
Våt stein, modne kirsebær, kjøttkraft, lær, estragon, mynte, kaffe og lett balsamico. Saftig anslag, flott syre og driv. Nydelig kirsebærfrukt, moden og konsentrert, med innslag av lær og røyk. Runde, så vidt tørrende tanniner. Trodde kanskje jeg hadde vokst litt fra denne, smaksmessig, siden forrige flaske, i 2012, men nei. Knallvin! På et bra sted nå, men med mange gode år foran seg. 91p.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2015 - baroloboy55 Likes this wine: 94 Points
However good this wine was a few years ago, after lengthy slumber at the winery, it's on fire now. Earthy, slightly dank aroma on initial pour but explodes on the palate with sweet, spicy,long and complete classic old school tempranillo fruit. Just a glorious rendition of traditional Rioja the way it should be made!!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2015 - Moko_hk Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hours and the aroma started to flourish. Nice briking color as the vintage. Nose of fresh red fruit. Soft and silky tannin. Med (+) acidity >> sweetness. Med finish. Can cellar for another 5-10 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2015 - sfwineguy Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of best Rioja wines in years. Still plenty of life in it. Last bottle - wish I had more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/1/2015 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Earth and mineral palate. Medium plus body, medium tannin, medium acid. Mineral, stony, light earth, red fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Off the cork pull its concentrated and dark, powerful, very long life ahead. From half bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2015 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
Really lovely classically styled Rioja. The nose has tart cherry, cranberry, green tobacco, mushroom, earth, leather, and hints of vanilla. The palate is filled with vibrant red fruit and lots of earthy, gamey notes. The acidity is definitely high and this absolutely requires food to show well. With food it is outstanding. Very good with beef tenderloin and a mushroom red wine reduction. Without food its a touch thin due to the acidity. Very good.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2015 - galewskj wrote: 89 Points
Spanish (Kevin's house): Decanted 2.5 hours and followed a small pour over about 2 hours. This wine earned its points on the nose, which is a wonderful complex assortment of tar, leather, earth, bramble, some spice and red fruit. The palate, especially mid-palate, is rather thin and dry, but the finish is halfway decent. I wonder if this wine is in an in-between phase at the moment.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/25/2015 - Neecies Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very good bottle. No sign of oxidation--but I said that last time and two days later the unfinished half had turned into prune juice. Dang, I don't know what to make of these.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
1/24/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 88 Points
Minneapolis Wine Club - Spain (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark red color. 2.5hr decant, drank 1 glass over 2 hours. The intriguing nose offers dried herbs, rosebuds, dried fruits, caramel, briary, dry earth. The palate is light with very drying tannins, a little heat, funky, mushroom, dark red fruits, spicy, medium body, thin in the middle and somewhat austere overall. I'm hoping that this just needs more cellar time to evolve. I'd sit on these for several years, as I'm not loving it where its at. 88-89(+?)pts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2015 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Still primary at this stage. Got better in the glass but not ready to drink. Rustic with leather, floral and mushrooms. Medium finish. Decanted a few hours but needs a decade in the cellar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2015 - Anthony Lombardi Likes this wine: 95 Points
From 375. Poured a glass out & let breathe an hour before serving. Oaky, vanilla aromatics mixed with dill & tart cherry. As always, amazing bouquet on these. The palate offers a creamy texture showing cherry, tobacco, cinnamon & more vanilla hints. One of the things I love about LdH wines is watching & tasting the integration of the oak. This is beautifully rich, but light as a feather on the palate. Supple tannins & bright acid. One of my benchmark wineries worldwide.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/9/2015 - dalondra Likes this wine: 92 Points
Absolutely perfectly mature. Cherry red colour. Soft tannins, red fruit long dry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2015 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 90 Points
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2014/12/vina-tondonia-2001-reserva.html
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
De color rubí rojizo de capa media, limpio, tapado. Reflejos anarajandos y cobrizos, sin mucho brillo. Borde amplio, anaranjado. Sensación de grosor, mucha lágrima, permanente.
Cargado en nariz, poderoso, expresivo, dotado de mucha personalidad aunque con un exceso de potencia que le resta detalles de mayor finura. Viene embutido de aromas de frutos en licor, escaramujos infusionados, té de hibiscus y un fondo a caramelo de cola y vainilla que cimbra, aún despegado y por integrarse, a ras de maderas añejas. Maduro, amplio, haciéndose espacio sin contemplaciones en copa al ir respirando. Va sacando apuntes de hierbas aromáticas, hebras de tabaco, melaza, clavo... No para!!! Cuesta creer que estemos ante un vino de López de Heredia. Diferente al resto de reservas probado hasta día de hoy.
En boca es gordote, espeso, con un deje de dulcedumbre inicial que fulmina su implacable acidez. Sabroso, amplio, relleno de especias, cremosos. No hay dudas de que se conduce por caminos lejanos a los habituales pero no por ello resulta menos atractivo. Un tinto que comienza a ofrecer las primeras alegrías después de una larga travesía. Apenas ha llegado a su primer puerto y parece que va a tener que seguir en tránsito durante una larga temporada. Este Tondonia tiene la personalidad de su cosecha marcada al rojo vivo. Habrá que seguirlo de cerca para ver si cumple nuestros buenos augurios. Botellas no faltarán!!
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
75% tempranillo, 15% garnacho, 10% mazuelo y graciano - 12.5% vol.
Uva vendimiada a mano. Fermentación en viejas tinas de roble de 60 hectolitros sin control de temperatura. Seis años de crianza en barricas usadas de roble americano de 225 litros. Sometido a 2 trasiegas nanuales cada año. Clarificación con claras de huevos frescos. Embotellado sin filtrar. 250.000 botellas elaboradas.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
1/6/2015 - mduque Likes this wine: 88 Points
Same as previous tastings. If you like old school Rioja this is the way to go !
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2014 - m_arcon wrote: 92 Points
Nose: A typical "old world nose" with bright aroma spectrum of dried red berries, a bit of underbrush, leather, tangerine peel, cedar box, clove and a bit of vanilla.
Palate: The oak is nicely integrated, medium-bodied. Very nice to drink, not to heavy with a moderate alcohol level. Good food wine. Will definitely benefit from another decade in the cellar.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2014 - Vinomane wrote:
Still not knit 5 years after release. Looks like it needs another five. Can't tell where it goes from here. Hold.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2014 - dbkitc wrote: flawed
There was something off about this bottle. From the start I could hardly get the screw into the cork. The wine, while drinkable, seemed clearly to have an oxidized, raisin element. No score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2014 - jseal@hotmail.com wrote: 92 Points
2004 Rioja Tasting Nov-14: very light nose. tart plum and cherry. Light dry flavours, modest complexity, very subtle, light body but medium length. A long decant, possibly drink the next day improves the flavour. It is good, but its very different from bigger bodied colleagues especially the 2004s. Feel it may be moving past itr prime, but perhaps just evolving and is destined to be very light and subtle, requiring lots of decanting to pull out its full character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2014 - Pknut wrote:
Lovely, round, integrated palate, very smooth, great texture. This seems to show its 13 years texturally, but it's not as advanced in terms of palate complexity. There are notes of dried spice (clove), dried cherry, fig paste, cedar and musky incense. This seems to be just out of primary and into secondary. I found the oak to be integrating nicely. There are some sweet dried spices and cedar, which are likely attributes of oak, but they add complexity. None of that creamy dill that I often get (and detest) in young Rioja. Ever-so-slight coconut notes emerge after this wine sees a few hours of air. Overall, this is far from the oaky wine I had been expecting. Tannins are surprisingly supple. This is really pliant and smooth and easy, already, but it is not especially complex . . . yet. With David and Lindsey in Scarsdale.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2014 - Tubulus wrote: 94 Points
Every time I drink this wine I wish I am a little sad because it means I have one less bottle. Just fantastic balance between bright fruits, sweet oak, and lots and lots of acid.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2014 - dpc123 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Only Rioja has the oak presence that I truly love. Vanilla and black cherry, red currant, cedar box and clove. Lovely.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2014 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Polarizing wine, I loved it however. Classic Tondonia funk in a great vintage. Toast and vanilla oak, tangy red fruit, funky Tondonia, earthy.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2014 - Drankard wrote: 90 Points
This light, balanced red delivers mature flavors of dried cherry, medicinal cherry, and leather. Fresh and lively boosted by zesty minerality. Classic Rioja but a bit uninteresting. I would drink up.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
10/21/2014 - Euge67 wrote: 84 Points
Tappo integro anche se non di gran qualità
Naso = marsala.
Prima boccata = marsala.
Gli do fiducia, lo lascio respirare. Migliora. Il sapore di Marsala se ne va. Meno male. Decanter. Dopo 2 ore vino molto "stretto". Si percepisce un po' di tabacco. Acido, alcolico. Non va giù. 24 h dopo, il vino è cotto. bevibile, ma cotto. O la mia bottiglia era fallato (ma non credo) o chi ce l'ha lo apra subito e incroci le dita.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
10/21/2014 - Neecies wrote:
Pulled a bottle from my stash after tasting a rather oxidated bottle at a friend's house. PnP. Verdict? No ox. Splendid wine but needs more time. We didn't finish the bottle: two days later, however, it had turned pruney and we were unable to finish it. Make of that what you will!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2014 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
2014 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/14/2014-10/21/2014 (New York City, NY): This wine (a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo) is now 13-years-old but still has a youthful, medium-to-deep ruby/red appearance. Red currants, orange peel, clove and loamy earth are found on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied and with well-integrated alcohol (listed as 13.5%), it is crisp yet supple on the palate as a result of its fresh acidity and resolved tannins. Solid in the middle, it concludes with a lengthy finish. This wine is drinking beautifully at this point and should continue to provide pleasure for 5-7 more years. Drink now-2021.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2014 - Neecies wrote: flawed
Someone else's bottle. Concerning level of oxidative flavor--I sat there thinking "I hope my bottles aren't like this", though next day DC said he hadn't found it oxidative at all. Strange. I'm putting this down as flawed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2014 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rioja - Small flight at home with friends: 13% alc; mid garnet to mahogany
Deep penetrating aromas of exotic spices, black olive, rhubarb, liquorice, tar, tinned cherries and plenty of forest fruits.
A firm entry with a vein of bracing acidity, slightly metallic texture slowly yields a more juicy feel. Traditional style, the wine has a medium body with a mineral note, lovely poise and feels pristine and weightless. Liquorice, pressed red flowers and cherry fill out the mid-palate. Intense wine with lots of complexity and that backbone of acidity finishes long with fine, velvety tannins. Become more intriguing in the Decanter.
Quite an intellectual wine. 91+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2014 - theronware wrote: 92 Points
On the second night, this was great. The overwhelming acidity of the first night (despite a two hour decant) backed way off. This allowed the complex mix of dark red fruit, meaty balsamic savoriness, slight vanilla/coconut to play in the foreground. This is really going to be special in a few years.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/4/2014 - bretrooks wrote: 91 Points
Not decanted, poured out ~1/2 hour before drinking, consumed over ~2 hours. This took about half an hour to open up aromatically and about another half-hour before the palate caught up. Light-to-medium in weight, with tart, tangy acidity backing up dried cherry/red berry fruit, slightly-sweet oak (in balance), and a little roast-beefiness. Delightful lingering finish. We shared this with friends over fajita burritos, and it worked as well as I'd hoped it would...seems like it would match well with many different types of food.
It seems like it's really just entering its window, but this bottle drank well last night. There's structure to allow for years of development, so no rush.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/4/2014 - ryestraw wrote:
So good, so easy yet complex, so well balanced.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - Fateful Destiny Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sweet oak, red fruit, acid on the nose. Similar on the palate with medium alcohol. The sweetness of the oak is a tad different but a good one nonetheless
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Silky, rich, well-rounded, very well structured. Acidity is still massive and this needed 2/3 hours of airtime in bottle to fully blossom. Then lifted aromas of balsam, vanilla pod, bright red cherries, a touch of ginger. The palate is rich and full bodied; tanins are sweet and very fine. Some real elegance here.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2014 - niloc36 Likes this wine: 92 Points
For a 13 year old wine, this Tondonia is remarkably youthful. Medium red brick color with a hint of brown on the rim. Delightful subtle bouquet of vanillin oak and sous-bois. The youthfulness is primarily evident on the palate: a great backbone of acidity that gives the wine structure and style. Tannins aril present, although softening. Nice, tangy finish. Not a great deal of complexity, but I expect this to emerge over time. After all, it's only 13 yrs old!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2014 - pcwoz Likes this wine: 91 Points
coming along nicely. Really racy acidity. Well balanced though with nice development and the freshness really makes this a lovely food wine. Some nice tobacco and red fruits coming through too.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2014 - aChave Likes this wine: 92 Points
(Tasted alongside an Ontanon Gran Reserva from 2001 - Rioja Baja)
Ruby with brick edge, firm fruit structure and supporting tannins. Has good aging potential for further development. Firmer structure and darker fruit than the Ontanon, but both are more similar than different. Both very high quality. The Lopez has a firmer structure while the Ontanon is a bit rounder and more forward/approachable now, but I would prefer to age both at least another 5+ years. To me the Lopez de Heredia had a slightly longer finish. Bravo to both.
Also tasted an Ontanon library wine at the same time... 1995 Ontanon Gran Reserva; more round fruit with supporting tannins and acids. Shows what more aging can achieve in these wines... and not about to go down hill.
The Lopez de Heredia was from a 1/2 bottle, Coravin'd a week earlier so only 1/2 of the 1/2 was remaining; not enough time lapsed to tell, but did not notice any decline in quality.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2014 - WDSteers wrote: 88 Points
tight, acidic, fruit not showing . mint
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2014 - aChave Likes this wine: 91 Points
(Coravin'd from a half bottle; testing for current drinking vs. aging potential.) Bright ruby with light edge. Smooth, deep, red fruit with fine tannic structure boding well for long life. Nice lean Rioja, not flabby or overblown. Very drinkable now, but I will be waiting several years to approach the full bottles. Will improve further.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2014 - acidqueen wrote: 90 Points
Medium red. Very light style rioja, easy drinking. Smooth tannins, tastes of meat broth and flowers. Time ahead of it, will get better. But drinks well now. I won't drink any more for several years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2014 - djarcara wrote: 88 Points
Perfumed nose. Medium body. Dark purple color. Acidic with restrained dark fruit. Earthy. Traditional Rioja. A bit austere. Needs a lot of time to open up; minimum an hour. Could use a few more years in the bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2014 - honest bob wrote: 91 Points
From 75cl, fine cork. Decanted 2 hours, during which the wine smoothed out and opened up. Vanilla oak, pencil shavings and strawberry aroma; caressing, silky entry, slender yet supple with bright acidity like a very fine Côtes de Beaune; some raw leather on the mid-palate; very long red-fruit/acidic finish with some residual open-grained tannins. Wonderful now, will surely hold and perhaps improve for at least a decade. 91(+)P
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2014 - SLR204 wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful multi-faceted wine. Needed 2 hrs in the decanter. Went well with steak rubbed turkey burgers with grilled portobellos. Nose of smoked meat, rose petal, dried herbs and leather. On the palate smoked cherries, some pomegranate, dried sausage, leather and a dark thread of soil. This is just getting started and will last years. If you like Rioja pick up a few. Glad I have more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2014 - sequoiagrove Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is my second last bottle and I fear it is in a closed period, or I have difficulty adjusting to this type of light wine after a summer of big napa cabs and chocolaty supertuscans. When I opened it , it was basically flavourless. red water. 12 hours later I poured and it started to have some bark and bitterness. Started cooking. Lamb marinated in smoked paprika, rosemary, lemon, garlic and oil, with sauteed asparagus and onions and mashed potatoes. as I cooked, the cherries and leather started to emerge, especially after tasting some of my food as it went along, but a bit too much acid. With the food it was amazing. It really worked well with the food - that's the time Im giving the points for. After food it is fine, but still only a shadow of the greatness of Tondonia Grand Reserva, which was an adventure. I'll see tomorrow if some more time helped a bit.
Had the rest of it. and it became more balanced and also worked as a sipping wine as well as a food wine. It had a meaty character and darker cherry, and a nice textured finish. So I'll go against many of the tasting notes, by saying it can take some more aging to be really good.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2014 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 93 Points
Surprisingly good! Great fruit, tannins
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2014 - Oineus Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent. The producer is so canonically established that they do not need the approval of this consumer, but still. Just ask yourself which wines of this vintage at this price point are still so vigorous and energized (-izing), and you'll agree that this is one of the better bottles in your cellar. Stock up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2014 - Rechrom wrote: 91 Points
Great food wine. Goes beautifully with tapas type food, cherry fruit with a leather and bramble underpinning. Soft red color, light palate, nice balance. Has time left, drinks well now after a two hour decant.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/1/2014 - Kirk Grant wrote:
A well balanced example of what to look for in slightly aged Rioja. Scents of tobacco, earth, leather, and dried red fruits with a palate that's got a nice balance with medium acidity, med fruit, and med tannin. This should do well for several years with good storage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2014 - Chivafradi wrote: 80 Points
Unfortunately this bottle past its peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
7/26/2014 - Arch57 wrote: 87 Points
I thought this was kind of weak and thin this time around and it didn't match up with grilled rib-eye, so I vacu-vinned it and pulled a 2007 Cali-Cab for dinner. Had a glass after dinner and again it was just okay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2014 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
A lovely, classic Rioja. Nose is complex and really pleasant with saddle leather, dusty earth, dried cherry, vanilla hints, a touch of cranberry and anise. The palate is still fresh with red fruit, well integrated tannins, hints of vanilla and a tasty finish. Classic style of Rioja and quite delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/14/2014 - SouthernStateofMind Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear, garnet color exhibiting developing aromas of lavender, musty red fruits (red cherry/cranberry) savory/meaty component and vanilla. Dry with medium levels of alcohol and acidity presenting bright flavors of aforementioned fruit profiles. Medium bodied, round on the palate and delicately structured with fine well integrated tannins. Long evenly distributed finish. Progressively more expressive with extended air exposure, fully hitting its stride after several hours. Lovely now but should drink well for at least a decade.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/8/2014 - AtoZ wrote: 91 Points
Good food wine. Not huge. Ready. Can also wait. Some smoke but not too much.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2014 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 92 Points
Ruby with garnet shades. Compelling nose with telltale aromas of an aged Rioja as vanilla and sweet spice lead the way to a mix of red and black berries. Mid-weight, crisp and racy with red berry flavours showing some evolution. Crisp, caressing and very well balanced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2014 - dream Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really funky nose of animal fur, earth and sweet tobacco. Lovely on the palate with tangy red fruits along with flavors of damp earth, green tobacco and woodsmoke. Silky, weightless texture but also rustic in style which made it perfect with barbeque and the finish is intense enough to pair well with charred and flavorful food.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2014 - LFCHALA wrote: 89 Points
Similar to 26/06/2013. A little better aroma.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2014 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fourth bottle in a year I think. I love this wine. This had a slight bit of heat I felt, but altogether very classic. Light-medium body. Cherry. Leather. A little funk. Superior to the 2002. I think I have a couple bottles of 2001 left. Yay.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2014 - Villon wrote: 92 Points
Jolie rioja d'une maison très traditionnelle, qui vise la finesse davantage que la puissance. Le vin est arrivé à maturité, avec des notes d'évolutions nobles et un équilibre exemplaire. Me semble plus riche et moins évolué que d'autres bouteilles bues. 91-92
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2014 - LoireFan wrote: 90 Points
More oxidative than I expected.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2014 - pomelo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rioja traditionnel textbook. Vin délicieux. À boire lentement afin de suivre son évolution.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2014 - 4 Pointers wrote: 93 Points
I found the magnum we opened very approachable and ready to drink. Very nice old school Rioja
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2014 - mattyboy_ Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not quite ready. Nose is still muted but showing faint dusty cherry, smoke, asphalt, scorched earth. Savory cherry, slightly tart but very coiled up. With some time in the decanter, the tannins softened a little. Not much fun to drink yet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
5/14/2014 - w9oh wrote: flawed
CORKED - bummer. This 1/2 bottle was purchased at the winery. I had a magnum (that came through normal distribution channels) of the same wine that was corked a month ago and a 750ml bottle that was corked a year ago. I know these wines and the difference between funk and TCA... this was TCA... all three times. Anyone else have cork taint issues with the 2001 Reserva?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
5/10/2014 - blaahhi wrote:
Oak and red fruit on the nose. The red fruit continues on the medium palate with hi-middle and lower treble vibe. There is a remarkable acidity, and the tannins are well integrated, but do pile up. Old-school Rioja at its best (or worst, depending on your preferences).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2014 - degrandcru Likes this wine: 90 Points
As last bottle, needs some air to open up, decant. Very nice after a few hours, great with steak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2014 - ucbeau Likes this wine: 87 Points
Opened a few hours before drinking. Showing some maderized notes along with smokey red fruit, sun-dried tomato, savory meats, and nicely integrated tannins. After being open about 5 hours, it started to fall apart and turn even more oxidized. I liked this wine a lot but it just didn't have that extra quality that other bottles have had. Still, a fun one to taste.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2014 - w9oh wrote: flawed
Corked - serious bummer.....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2014 - arthrovine wrote:
From a 375mL
Dried red musty cherry and oaky flavors. Soft textures. Hint of tobacco. Medium length finish. No alcohol. Food Friendly.
From this format, maybe its ready?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2014 - mike l. wrote: 84 Points
balanced oaked but not much else going on. was a disappointment at french laundry.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
3/30/2014 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 93 Points
A gripping mix of dried cherries, tar, earthiness, and intense minerality.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2014 - slippytoad wrote: flawed
Not my style, obviously. Also bottle was slightly corked which means it tasted even thinner and less interesting than it could have been.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2014 - kstoddard wrote: flawed
From magnum. Corked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2014 - Tocororo wrote: 92 Points
Deeply aromatic and just delicious drinking. Old world beauty
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2014 - johneagle Does not like this wine:
Second bottle marginally better that the first, but still sour, thin and positively unpleasant. I've sent the rest of the case back to the seller
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2014 - jshearer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Slow ox'd three hours and it continued to improve. This smells like someone filled a cedar cigar box with fresh damp earth, dark cherries, a small amount of decomposing leaves, and gave it a light drizzle of strawberry balsamic reduction. In the mouth, it's dark red fruits, irony bull blood, and cherry stones. The tannins are pretty well-integrated at this point but build through the finish. Let this rest for a few more years or at least decant for a few hours. 91+
I like this quite a bit and look forward to trying my last two bottles over the coming years. Reminds me of my time living in Madrid during the fall and winter of 2001.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2014 - Tom Myers Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was my favorite of the night...nice age...went well with the ribeye steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2014 - CieloVista wrote: 89 Points
Light, dry and excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2014 - DDicaprio Does not like this wine: 90 Points
Lighter in body than I expected, but not as much so as the 04 Viña Ardanza Reserva. Firm but mellowing tannins with a dry medium-short finish that turned very slightly astringent at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2014 - Connaître Likes this wine: 91 Points
Old school Rioja from one of the most regarded producers.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2014 - Winebuff8 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Built to last, this red fruit dominated beauty takes a while to open up. Suggest decanting if drinking now but better still, suggest sitting on it for a few more years. A class act in the making.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2014 - degrandcru Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needs time to open up. Drinks a lot better after about 4 hours of decanting. Cherry and strawberry on the nose and on the palate. Leather and a metallic taste. High on acidity and still very tanic. Really like it but I think its still too young.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2014 - urbanfarmer9@gmail.com wrote:
Getting better over time. Delicious w/ 1.5 hr decant
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2014 - Mfsb89 wrote: 91 Points
Todo un Riojano. Madera, cuero, cerezas maduras. En nariz notas de chocolate. En boca un largo final. Es un vino que bien puede evolucionar más en los próximos años, sus taninos todavía están muy presentes. Ideal para acompañar carnes al carbón o guisos condimentados
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 89 Points
Quite meaty on the nose, savoury spices, dark fruit, smoke. Good balance on the palate, lacking a bit of fruit but round, fresh and long.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2014 - hankj wrote: 92 Points
leather, orange peel, tart raspberry, tea - long with bracing acid. Pure Rioja and quite enjoyable. Drink now through however old you can stand it
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2014 - Wine4Life wrote: 89 Points
Nice ruby colour, just starting to brick at the edges, nose is oak with a medicinal edge. First taste was bitter cherry and orange, medium body, slightly out of balance. Medicinal edge began to disappear after an hour or so and the nose and balance greatly improved. Open this wine hour prior to drinking or let it lay in the cellar for 5 to 10 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2014 - T.E.D. wrote: 88 Points
Not sure I get some of the hype here. Very straight forward and singular - hard edges of cherry, pit, lead and earth, very acidic. Little on the nose thru palate, perhaps age will improve the structure and give more depth.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
2/6/2014 - MemorialWineFan wrote: 89 Points
Opened this next to a 1994. The older bottle showed so much more. These need more aging time. Still enjoyable, but what could it have been?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
2/4/2014 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Pour le prix, super bon encore une fois.
Un peu de notes de cuir et animal avec un beau fruit rouge au nez.
En bouche, super équilibré, fruité avec une belle texture satinée, assez long en finale.
Très bon encore une fois.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2014 - Massimo Alessandria wrote:
TCA
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2014 - jcomm wrote: 95 Points
Concistent with previous notes, smooth and balanced once again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2014 - Ludi Likes this wine: 93 Points
Granato non molto intenso. Al naso deciso incipit di macchia mediterranea, erbe aromatiche, mora, mirtillo, noce di cola, chiodo di garofano, lievi sentori balsamici, carne cruda. Bocca rispondente, giovanile, elegantissima ed in mirabile equilibrio fresco-sapido
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
1/26/2014 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
Consumed over three days; the wine remained remarkably consistent across all three.
Nose of massive oak treatment, attempting to integrate, that partially comes off like deciduous forest floor, certain fungi (including fine mushrooms), damp haystack, and nuttiness; tart red fruits also stand out. The palate is intensely acidic at all phases. Some tannic grip, a good part of it oak imparted, comes through at the back. Acid and oak elements make balance an issue. The finish is also acidic. This is not a layered wine, particularly if the prominent wood elements are not considered layers. Fruit wise, this wine is about tart red fruits only. The oak treatment drowns out all latent terroir elements and minerality.
Stylistically, this wine is an enigma. As a light-bodied acidic red with prominent oak treatment, Burgundy is better; for highly acidic wines that feature red fruits and modest oak treatment, Valençay blends based on Gamay, Cru Beaujolais, and wines by Domaine Les Pallières from Gigondas are more approachable or terroir driven respectively; for light to medium body whispy wines, Mourvèdre heavy CdP blends feature a more distinct sense of place. This wine is always going to be potently acidic, and I am not sure it's the type of acidity that softens and integrates with age. In that way, this wine drinks like an offering from a great appellation in a cool climate year, and I don't think that will change.
This is a correctly made wine. However, there is nothing charming here, no clincher, just numerous oak elements, tart red fruits, and acid. I could not identify any flaws though, and therefore the 91 point rating. I have generally stayed away from Rioja and will continue to do so; the woody and acidic style does not appeal to me.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (8)
1/25/2014 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not dissimilar to the Ardanza 2004: a nose of black cherries, plum, Christmas cake, ginger and fennel seed. Very perfumed and aromatic. However, a bit more smoke and vanilla than the Ardanza, and not so much leather. The palate is also immediately richer and the finish a touch longer. Ample acidity and tanins, which are still slightly dusty. Very enjoyable and should continue to age well. Good stuff.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2014 - slippytoad wrote: 88 Points
A little thin and acidic for my tastes but I understand thats what a 13 year old Rioja often delivers. Never really opens up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/9/2014 - johneagle Does not like this wine: 75 Points
I'm surprised at all the positive notes. I was promised great things for this and this bottle was very disappointing. Thin, sharply acidic, not a lot of fruit and no length. Vinegary strawberries with a farmyard element. Unpleasant.
I tasted it when opened, decanted and kept struggling on tasting at intervals for 5 hours with no improvement.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
1/7/2014 - pigdaddy wrote: 90 Points
decanted 45 min, essentially no sediment. dark ruby red; cedar, woodsmoke, leather, pomegranate on the nose; mid weight; predominately red-fruited & notably dry w/pomegranate & dried tart cherry, mineral, some leather again on the moderately tannic & slightly woody finish. seemed a little constrained, but all the parts are there. first of six.
potato soup w/bacon, jerusalem artichokes & oyster mushroom "chips'; roasted brussel sprouts w/pimenton, smoked almonds & sherry vinegar, shaved manchego
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/4/2014 - yiuwing_hk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Breathe 1hr, very close nose with with dried red fruits, vanilla, dry leaf. Refined tannin, balanced acidity, with some palate of dried herbs, red fruits, some minerals, finish is medium
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2014 - cartime Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needed some time to open up, but was drinking well at the 1 hour mark. Dried red fruit and spices. Great acidity and fine tannins. Would give this 5 more years ideally.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2013 - W-MI-oenophile wrote: 93 Points
Clove spice nose, bold presentation with leather and oak notes. Tart cherry fruit finish. Enjoyed with fondue on New Year's Eve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2013 - PhilJ wrote:
Good wine, notes of vanilla / oak, smooth round edges.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2013 - debenlodge Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very old fashioned Rioja, slightly brown colour. On first tasting two hours after opening was tannic and unforgiving. Improved by the next day but was still a little dark. Interesting to drink but for me perhaps not as hedonistic as I like.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/24/2013 - studleytrey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Was a little concerned based on a few notes suggesting this was tannic and/or needed time, but I found this to be pretty open for business right out of the gate. Popped and poured a taste, and then slo-o'd in bottle for about an hour while our Christmas Eve "7 fishes" cioppino came together. Perfect pairing. Crimson coloring with slight bricking. Aromas and flavors of red fruit, dry leaves, leather, vanilla, and cinnamon, with good acidity and medium+ length. Traditional style with a lovely mouthfeel. Found this very smooth and not tannic or highly structured. This was a treat and I'm glad I've at least got one more.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2013 - abbulf wrote:
Very good as is always the case with LdH. Smooth and elegant, but with the structure and intensity of the wintage. Drinking well already, but will keep for many years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2013 - maxima wrote: 92 Points
MYTHIQUE!
Toujours aussi bon et satisfaisant, super beau pour le prix.
Beau nez sur le tabac, le cuir et les petites cerises.
En bouche, fumée, cerises, sous-bois et menthol avec des tannins fondus, belle acidité et belle longueur.
Je ne me lasse pas de ce vin, ma première caisse achève d`ailleurs...la 2ième sera entamée en 2014!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2013 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 88 Points
Drank over a lovely roast lamb dinner which was a great pairing. Consistent experience with my note of 5/11/2013 - this is still very young and needs a good few years to harmonise. At the moment the acidity is predominant and the fruit is hiding in the back room. Actually, the acidity worked well with the slightly fatty lamb. Quite short on length at the moment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2013 - Collector1855 wrote: 85 Points
At BBR December tasting Singapore. Medium garnet, brownish. Very oxidative leathery, rustic nose and palate. Too old fashioned Rioja for me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/13/2013 - eniskonuk wrote: 87 Points
- Garnet color. It's unbalanced and has flavours of blackberry and tea with a medium body. Linear texture with a medium finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2013 - straw18 wrote: 90 Points
Noticeably better on the second night.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2013 - redz wrote: 85 Points
maybe a bad bottle, thin and vapid, even after 3 hrs
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2013 - BadOyster Likes this wine: 92 Points
A beautiful wine, full of rustic leather and cigar flavors and just a hint of the Rioja fruit coming through the mid-palate. Tannins like silk. Overall, a very elegant Rioja that drinks nearly like a Pinot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2013 - belfast taxman wrote: 92 Points
Two bottles went superbly well with loin of Iberian pork. Decanted for one hour the two bottles were noticeably different but both highly enjoyable. The first was comparatively soft but the red berry fruit was mixed with cherry cola, spices and cedar and held a long finish. The second bottle was sharper and had a dsfinite tannic dryness on the finish but again the complexity was very good with tobacco and almost a vinegary edge but in a really good way. What did really surprise me was that it did not immediately make me think of Rioja - no sweet vanilla from new oak here!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/7/2013 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is just a fantastic wine, and my half-bottle was drinking really well already. There is such superb depth of flavor (dried red and black fruits) with notes of autumn leaves, yet the wine is lithe, and as Tanzer says (and I agree), almost weightless. I will hang onto my second bottle for a good while to see the difference some extra years of aging make — but may pick up a full-sized bottle too as I liked it so much. One of the best stories, and estates, in wine for sure.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/2/2013 - _water.into.wine_ wrote:
Decanted for a few hours. needed longer. Pale red in colour and becoming translucent. Slight bricking. Needs much more time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2013 - jeffreylubowski wrote: 90 Points
No decant. Drank in a hotel in nyc out of plastic cups hahaha. U do what u gotta do. This was my second tasting of this wine. Hasnt changed much in last year. Bricking around the edges. Cherry. Cedar. Leather. Tobacco. All the regular reserva rioja aromas n flavors. Really a steal for $40 and will be better every year for quite awhile. My only complaint is that the $30 2001 vina ardanza beats it hands down, but then that's the qpr king.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2013 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Monthly Tasting Group LTB; Rioja: This is a classical old school Rioja. In the bouquet at first organic, oxidized and caramel impressions. On the palate also oxidized, celery, cold tea, chocolate, figs and oak. Firm acidity. This is Tondonia style and you can learn to love it. It is special and I can appreciate it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2013 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needed a couple hours to open up and is quite youthful. Smokey nose with some cherry. Palate is still quite bright and tart, with plenty of cherry fruit and a touch of cassis. Moderate pipe tobacco and herbal finish, turning a bit sweet. This still needs some time but is approachable with air.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2013 - Vinterest Angus Likes this wine: 93 Points
At The Witchery in Edinburgh. Fastastic value. Exhilarating nose of flowers, sun-dried raisins, mulled fruits, spices and leather. Great palate to boot. A lovely wine, drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2013 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Très beau vin de cette MYTHIQUE maison!
Un nez dans la pure tradition des Rioja...des odeurs de cuir neuf et de pain grillé avec des notes de café et de cerises noires....SUPERBE!
En bouche, des épices avec des tannins charnus mais bien enrobés de fruit et une superbe acidité...un très bel équilibre.
Finale longue sur des relents salins!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2013 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 3+ hours prior to dinner. Deep, dark violet color with slight bricking around the edges. Concentrated nose of spring flowers, sun-dried raisins, peppermint, spicy chocolate, herbs, and leather. Medium-bodied palate follows with dried cranberries, chocolate raspberries, mocha, more leather, tobacco, cinnamon, baking spices, and fresh cherry pie. Finish is smooth, much better with food, leaving delicate yet pronounced tannins that bodes will for aging. Paired with garlic BBQ chicken, wild rice, and mixed salad. Drink now-2031.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2013 - Biggsy wrote: 90 Points
Dense spicy nose with spicy black fruits and a little floral character. Still very, very young and completely primary, full of dark sweet fruit and really zingy acidity. Real intensity of flavour, a touch of grip and a long Christmas cake finish. Good but has so much potential.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2013 - dbkitc wrote: 91 Points
This wine is all good and a phenomenal value. I have many notes so will keep this short. I am a believer and hope the recent WS doesn't focus too much attention on Rioja. I like the QPR! (91)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2013 - djdaqm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Paella Dinner (Home): Mild nose with just a touch of oak and earthiness. Cherry and cedar on the palate. Good acidity and light-to-medium body. Not a standout, but good classic aged Rioja at a reasonable price.
(Kindly provided by Jay.)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/16/2013 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Garnet in colour. Aromas of candied fruits, earthiness, mulled fruits, roses. Overall a juicy, medium weight , smooth wine. Red fruits/cranberry/cherry ...... drying finnish (medium tannins, smooth/silky tannins). Earthy finish. Touch of saline on the finish. Excellent wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2013 - Solde wrote: 90 Points
Intense nose with vanilla, chocolate and red berries. Very oaky feeling. After an hour it opened and revealed some nice structure with smooth tannins and decent length. Nice complexity and was very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2013 - fanglangzhe Likes this wine: 90 Points
red & dark fruits. spices, cocoa. elegant & complex.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2013 - ekenneth wrote: 93 Points
This is a good example of the greatness of Lopez de Heredia. The current release of this wine is 2001 and it costs around $35-$40. It's consistently one of the better high-end buys for this price.
So the wine. There's deep earthy red fruit that is still fresh and crisp. The nose is delicate, giving away a hint of candided fruit, but not showing much of the complexity on the palate with a rich mix of fresh fruit, minerality, earth, spice cake that are all very well integrated.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2013 - Billiken Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good wine with Bordeaux like qualities although the color was more pinot like. The nose was leather, fresh tobacco and maybe cigar box. The palate still had surprisingly bright red fruits. We later tasted the Gran Reserva from 1985 and it too was very good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2013 - sgatti1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Musky nose with a hint of medicinal smells as well. Softens as it opens longer. beautiful red color. Medium tannins with a smooth finish. Sour cherry and raspberry notes with a longer finish than most temperanillos.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2013 - jorivesud Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rubis avec disque légèrement tuilé. Au nez, cuire, sous-bois, un peu de prunes. En bouches, fruits rouges, cerise sure, reglisse avec tanins biens intégré. Encore beaucoup de fraicheur marlgrés ses 12 ans.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2013 - KVM wrote: 90 Points
Light to med red with amber cast. Only a dusting of sediment. Light fragrance of flowers and cherries and oak. In the mouth it is a little sour, light body, light concentration of smoky fruit. The 6 years of oak has stripped out the colour and rendered this slightly oxidized. This is interesting and in an elegant, traditional style. Accompanied charcoal grilled steaks very nicely. 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo. I recommend reviewing this producer's fascinating website
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2013 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 92 Points
Blend of 70% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha with the rest Mazuelo and Graciano. The wine spent 72 months in oak.
Dark garnet colour with salmon highlights. Loads of rust and iodine run alongside lively sour cherry aromas along with vanilla and elegant floral scents. Silky mouthfeel, well poised and energetic. Lots of life packed inside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2013 - TheWinedown Likes this wine: 92 Points
1 hour of air. NOSE: Lighter than expected. Raisins, black cherries, stewed dark fruits, and only very slight wood (if any). PALATE: Black pepper shows up, raisins, stewed fruits, a little stone, medium-plus acid, medium-plus tannins (fairly bitter tannins too), nice long length.
Overall, this is clearly a great wine. I'm not sure if it's going through a dead period, or if it's peaking to be honest. I don't know if another hour of air is going to open this up any more. I expected more out of this. If I had more bottles, I'd sit on them for another year or two and see where they stand then. It certainly won't decline any between now and then.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/17/2013 - mschede Likes this wine: 93 Points
13% abv. Nariz complexo, que ainda denota juventude com suas notas de cerejas um tanto intensas, mas também já conta com boas notas da evolução, que remetem a especiarias exóticas, ervas secas, tendo também um toque de metal, mineral e discreta nota oxidativa. Boca excepcionalmente bem equilibrada e elegante, de médio corpo, com acidez marcante e um belo sabor agridoce. Ótimo hoje, mas sobra potencial, devendo evoluir lindamente, merecendo ainda uma guarda de médio a longo prazo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2013 - LT98 wrote: 93 Points
Way too young but tremendous potential. Started off closed and tannic, but opened up quite a bit after 30 min. Dark fruits, brooding, lots of tannin. Ordered off a restaurant wine list but if I was opening at home I would let it breathe for 10 hours.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2013 - aagrawal wrote: 94 Points
Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting (City Walk @ Metreon, San Francisco, CA): Dusty spicy complex red fruit; young, red fruit, cherry, freshness in midpalate; med finish. Fabulous acid. Needs lots of time. 93-96
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2013 - Jhcwine Does not like this wine: 87 Points
2 hours decant. Nose - Baryard notes + Tempranilo fruit. Palate - Tempranillo fruit but still excess tannin (unbalanced). No particularly special or interesting flavours or notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2013 - ttuominen wrote: 94 Points
A great bottle, consistent with previous 94pt note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2013 - Vinomane wrote:
Not much going on as yet. You can tell it's traditional Rioja and that's about it. Revisit in a year or two. Sometimes these gain weight, especially in top vintages. But you can tell it's not a Gran Reserva. (If history is any guide -- and at Lopez it seems the only guide -- many of us won't live to see the release of the 2001 GRs. Don't be misled by the misfiled CT "reviews" of the 2001 GR Tondonia. Most bottles of the LRA 890 -- also unreleased and now ageing glacially -- will have been consumed long before then).
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2013 - OmiyaDrinker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite light, rose colour. Nose of cherry and red onion. Nice balance and strong acidity. Something edible, chunky, and sour. A food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
BBQ Brisket with Big Reds (Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Small pour. This seemed a bit on the austere side to me tonight. Don't know if this had any decant. Nose has red fruits, red cherry, berries, some earth. The palate is cherry, on the sour side, mineral, firm tannins, a bit rough around the edges, but shows promise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2013 - Billigan wrote: 88 Points
Almost a citrusy quality from the abundant, juicy acidity, along with the usual leathery scents. Typical LdH silk on the palate but undercut slightly by a sourness on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/3/2013 - julius111 wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful aromas of moist leaves and tobacco. Gouleyant et soutenu.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2013 - thetong wrote: 90 Points
A bit shut down right now. Fruit is subdued, wood comes through. After an hour or so the wine opened up but it probably needs a bit more time.
Has a decent amount of acidity, some earthiness, good character of old world Rioja. Worth a buy but I'd let it breath quite a bit if you want to drink now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2013 - pcwoz Likes this wine: 91 Points
lovely. I think getting better. Burgundian. Sour cherries, light woodiness and some secondary flavours coming though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2013 - PC73 wrote: 93 Points
I love this wine. Always great. Great balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2013 - tendring Likes this wine: 91 Points
Spain Tasting (The Good Wine Shop, Chiswick): Still very youthful, lovely fruit, interesting comparison with the 1994. This is a beautiful wine developing in the right direction and worth waiting for another 7 years or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2013 - Uglypinga wrote:
From a 375. The nose is where its at for me. Meat, olive tapenade, earth. The palate is bright and acidic with some glyceriny feel up front but quickly swept by acid. Olive and pickling brine notes a bit of wood and bright tart berries. Sweeps itself clean with just a touch of gritty tannin. A food wine if there ever was one. Not my favored style but every so often I love a wine like this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/22/2013 - degrandcru Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of strawberries and dark cherry. Made the big mistake to not decant it in the beginning. Opened it, poured a glass and almost no fruit and big tannins at the finish. Startened to open up after about an hour in the decanter and got better and better. Very nicely rounded, nice fruit and a long long finish. Was at its best after about 4 hours of decanting. This has all the potential to get better within the next years. Great Rioja.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/21/2013 - Stirling wrote: 90 Points
Still tight, this gradually opens up to reveal a classic Old School Rioja: raspberry, cranberry served up elegantly with a tobacco tinge. More body than previous Tondonias I have had; my guess is that 5 years from now the wow factor will kick in. Suggest a decent decant beforehand (we did not - mistake). www.advinetures.ca
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/16/2013 - cardsandwine wrote:
Drank alongside the 2001 Bosconia Reserva. This bottle seemed to be very tired, with little happening on the palate and a very weak finish. A disappointing bottle.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
9/13/2013 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The color is garnet and is clear and translucent to the edge and down the robe. The aromas are raspberry, dry leaves, dark cherry, smoke, red licorice, and eucalyptus. The tastes are dark and sour cherry, raspberries, sweet cedar wood notes, vanilla, sweet spice, and tobacco. The tannins and finish are very dry and the finish is nice but seems short and this is medium to light bodied. This is a nice complex wine that goes well with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2013 - Matches Likes this wine: 94 Points
Color: Deep ruby red, tinged with orange and brown. This stuff is BLACK in the decanter
Nose: Blood, iodine, decayed fruit, and cherry cough syurp with a hint of rich earth.
Taste: dense and powerful, but sneakily so. Classic dusty Rioja/temperinllo tannins and wonderful soft acidity. At 13% alcohol, this is a perfect food wine as there is no alcohol heat.
Note: after an hour and a half in the decanter, the wine has chaged tremdously. The cough syurp smell is gone and replaced with wonderful earthy smells I don't have words for. As the wine breathes, the tannins are becoming more agressive.
I suspect this wine has years of evolution ahead of it. Fantastic!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/12/2013 - legarejm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Red-orange color. Tobacco, leather, earthy and woody notes on the nose. Silky texture but still expressing good tannins. The palate matches the nose notes, good Rioja, decent persistent finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2013 - tooch wrote:
Dinner in Orlando (K Restaurant - Orlando, FL): Tasted blind. About the same as it was back in April. The nose took some coaxing to get going...had some light berries, tobacco, and tar. The nose made me think Nebbiolo at first, but when Robert said, "smells like Rioja" the light bulb popped on. Seems to be in a weird place, certainly young with some wooly tannins on the finish, there's no question to me that this has the raw material to "go the distance" (sorry, watching Field of Dreams...).
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/29/2013 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 87 Points
deep, murky purple
full bodied
A little ashy, dry with good tannins
typical Rioja, lots of complexities
medium+ finish
Soft cedar hints, some metal hints on back end finish
Very meaty
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2013 - rebs1 wrote: 91 Points
Let this one breath for at least 4 hours.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/25/2013 - lightning wrote: 92 Points
Supper Club, bottle, decanted.
Fairly restrained nose, dried cherries and mulberries, hint of mouldy cigar notable. Silky texture and slick, entry of sweet cherry which transitions to a midpalate of cranberries, strawberry and preserved meats; moves after to a slight acid zing and firm medium tannins which extend to the finish. Medium+ bodied.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2013 - mfreddi Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good but should evolve with more years in the bottle. Aromas and taste like classic Rioja alta. cheers!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2013 - Carstennoe Likes this wine: 90 Points
nose a little closed, hints of cherries and nothing more. palate "clean" with cherries, red berries, some earth, hint of oak. great acid. Medium aftertaste.
good wine, but i think it should age for a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2013 - maxima wrote: 92 Points
WOW, superbe vin de qualité ici...du MYTHIQUE encore une fois!
Un nez dans la pure tradition des Rioja Old School...des odeurs de terre brulée, de cuir neuf et de pain grillé avec des notes de café, de mures et de cerises noires....SUPERBE!
En bouche, des épices avec un fruit croquant avec des tannins charnus mais bien enrobés de fruit et une superbe acidité...un très bel équilibre.
Finale longue sur des relents salins!
Encore d`une jeunesse qui laisse présager plusieurs belles années en cave, GRANDE qualité ici, on adore tous!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2013 - PC73 wrote: 91 Points
Great as always
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2013 - PC73 wrote: 91 Points
Crowd pleaser
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2013 - pcwoz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really lovely. Burgundian - red fruits. Fresh acidity. Wine is improved since my last bottle. Nice complexity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2013 - MarkMich wrote: 89 Points
This was very good with the Habanero Chicken Pasta I made but not as impressive with my neighbor's Rib eye. Very fruity and nice acidity to complement food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2013 - WDSteers wrote: 93 Points
old school rioja, refined with high acidity and tannins settled. At peak drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2013 - Merengue wrote: 88 Points
Tasting Notes from trip to Rioja; 7/5/2013-7/12/2013: After 30 mins slow ox. Prominent caramel smoky notes, strawberries, bright acidity, leather, with mouthcoating velvety tannins. Still feels youthful. Awesome pairing with baby lamb chops. The wine tames the gamyness, the lamb tames the acidity. Lacks, a bit of depth. Elegant, pinot like in body.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2013 - nschmidt wrote: 89 Points
Drank at Peter Shields with friends. A bit too fruity after the Barolo we had. Good bottle though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/30/2013 - mtaczak wrote: 90 Points
An interesting wine, for sure. Cloudy in the glass and cloudy on the palate, with some meaty, earthy, kind of decomposing vegetable flavors going on. I think in 4-6 years this will be pretty, but it's kind of awkward right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/30/2013 - Lobonick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank it last night with dinner. Earthy and edgy with bright cherry fruit. Leather and mocha latté flavors too. Very much a food wine. Love it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2013 - LFCHALA wrote: 88 Points
The major conclusion after drinking this wine is: aerate it at least 1 hour. In general, it is a refined wine with sophisticated aromas more evident after 1 hour opening. The weakness: it lacks a bit of strength. Maybe this bottle was in decline. Two days ago, I drank Bosconia Reserve 2003 and found it better.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/24/2013 - dbkitc wrote: 93 Points
(at Jaleo – Washington DC) I really dig this wine. I have a bunch in my cellar and I am pleased to see if on many restaurant lists at good prices. Beautiful fruit, nice balance and a warm and inviting finish. (93)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
6/22/2013 - pbaek wrote:
Much more reserved and restrained compared to the 2001 Alta Gran Reserva 904, this wine has a Nebbiolo character to it, the fruit is tight and dusty, one can smell roses from the glass and the tannins are pronounced. Not as obvious as the Alta, this is a wine that tells you there is more to come, be patient. I'm intrigued by the hidden potential. Something special in the making here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (4)
6/15/2013 - Philippe_C wrote: 88 Points
Maderized and sherry nose, orange peel, a hint of greeness... light taste and a bit sweet, acidic and short... very dissapointingfor it's pedigree...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/14/2013 - T.E.D. wrote: 88 Points
Very straight forward, classic cherry and earth tones, little finish on this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2013 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Brown Bag Wine Dinner at Two Chefs Double Blind; 6/11/2013-6/14/2013 (TWO CHEFS, MIAMI, FL): The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Raspberry, Black currant (cassis), and Vanilla. The body is Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Long. Geoff's wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/7/2013 - wineberg Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted all afternoon. Leftovers rebottled and recorked overnight, TN is on the leftovers the next morning. 13% ABV
Both last night and today I find the nose more expressive than the palate. Certainly seems to be getting mature in color, aromas and flavors. Hint of red fruit and plum, leather, tobacco, chocolate, something slightly green to me as well. Nice acid, and smooth tannins that still have some grip.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/5/2013 - doctornoah wrote: 91 Points
Deep garnet. Lively, sharp acidity. Red currants and stewed fruit with a touch of candy on the nose. Not as much tobacco or vanilla as I would've expected from other reviews. A slight salinity. Tannins still substantial on opening but mellow with air. This would be excellent opened a few hours before consumption but still needs some time. Would not open again for a few years. Still developing its finesse
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/3/2013 - AV2012 wrote: 87 Points
Dried prunes and some spices on the nose. Also varnish and some paint notes. Quite a lot of tannins and oak, tart, cherry jam on palate. Greatly improves with air, aerate for at least 2 hours.
Didn't go well with Spanish ham and chorizos, became too bitter on the finish.
Needs some more aging.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/28/2013 - jcha24 wrote:
loved this wine. plenty of fruit on the nose showing cherry, black cherry, leather and the slightest hint of vanilla. full mouth feel and a medium-long finish. really enjoyed it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/25/2013 - Apark101 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very well balanced and solid elements playing together here, but, for me, way overshadowed by the blanco we had first, which was spectacular. Still very worthy though, would happily enjoy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2013 - hankj wrote: flawed
Corked, or at least I really hope it was with all that musty cardboard and thin, acid body.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/23/2013 - bryan107 Likes this wine: 92 Points
On nose pronounced intensity; So many things behind this Medium Garnet coloured wine. it has lots of cooked and fresh red fruits, balanced with oak: cedar, vanilla, cloves, and many tertiary flavours such as mushroom, forest floor, tobacco, chocolate, toffee.
On palate again pronounced, M soft but not grained tannin, M+ acidity, M+ body and M+ alcohol. More fresher fruits compare to nose.
This is definitely a pleasurable wine you would like to drink again and again. Very good to Outstanding quality. A certain improvement is there waiting if you age it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/20/2013 - ttuominen wrote: 87 Points
Wow, the joys (and despairs) of bottle variation. This bottle was nothing like my previous bottle (but also not clearly faulty in any way). Flavours of prunes, raisins and port overpowered the nose and palate. This was clearly more "oxidised" than my previous bottle, but it still wasn't completely past its prime - I had just expected this process to take closer to 20 years than 20 days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/16/2013 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The color is is densely hued but translucent and garnet in color with bricking to orange hints at the rim. The smells are tobacco, espresso,
currants, blackberry, and vanilla. The tastes are tobacco leaves, currants, cedar, vanilla, sour cherry, hoisin, salinity, leather, and espresso. This is medium bodied with nice acidity and puckering, velvety tannins. The finish is lengthy and this is classically styled and complex.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
5/14/2013 - AtoZ wrote: 89 Points
Hmm. Try again in 10 years. Kept changing. Best at one hour. Then got strange. Acidified?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/12/2013 - mduque Likes this wine: 88 Points
Drank over 48 hours. The oak is present but well integrated and doesn't get in the way of the fruit. There is a nice acidity to the wine and the tanins are present but rather round (not dry). the nose is of prunes and cherries macerating in alcohol. Medium length. Quite good but lacking a bit of complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/11/2013 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 89 Points
This wine attracts quite a diversity of opinion. Having quietly contemplated several glasses over this evening, i think it is very good...but only if you accept that young fine Rioja appears to have an absence of fruit (it emerges with more age, which in the case of Rioja means many years).
Actually, tonight I couldn't improve on my previous tasting note, except that I was premature in using the word "harmonious".....I think the orchestra is still tuning up on this wine:
"Light, semi-transparent lambs' blood colour. Nose is lifted, perfumed high tones of red cherry, light tar and subtle oak. Palate is medium-light bodied, packed with wild strawberry fruit and acidity and a fairly subtle but noticeable oaky finish. Still some tannin to resolve but only in the same way as a good Burgundy that has just entered its drinking window. This is very harmonious and enjoyable wine....and great QPR. Will only improve but is already lovely lightweight drinking.....a tribute to the 2001 vintage."
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/10/2013 - Blake Brown Likes this wine: 95 Points
quite a contrast to the 64` with more vibrant fresh ripe fruit including plum, blackberry and red currant topped with a hint of leather and spice with all continuing on through a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/7/2013 - hfc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light ruby colour is younger than what i expected. Upon opening it showed some nutty flavour which went away after half an hour. Candied and fruity aromas. On the palate it came with an initial sweetness and ended with an earthy and herbal finish. The acidity was not pronouced. A wine not of intensity but for comfortable, easy drinking. I like the style. I would give it 93-94 if the mid palate gives more elements.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2013 - Chiantihound wrote: 93 Points
Slow-o for 4 hrs. Very light red and translucent. No bricking. Strong nose of strawberry jam and cherries. Had trouble defining the flavor - very light red berry and alive, some secondary notes of clove? Roses too? Great red fruit flavors continue on palate. Raspberries, strawberry, cherry, the whole gang. Tannins present, and I thought lowish acidity. Not yet in balance to me. Medium plus finish. Overall an excellent exciting wine. Did change very much from initial open.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2013 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
n - VA, spicy, lush, leather
t. nuttiness
lots of acidity, perfume - such freshness
layers!
cedar
tobacco
So complex, so intense
just gorgeous - really good. Will get better i'm sure
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2013 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 91 Points
not as good as other bottles, but still nice
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2013 - f22nickell wrote: flawed
Seattle Wine Group - April Wine Tasting Event - Theme: Rioja/Tempranillo (Amaroso Room - Wine Storage Bellevue): Corked. Candied, Medeirized, stewed cherries. Still, was 6th place of 7 wines tasted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2013 - Pebben wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for close to three hours before tasting. Medium garnet core, rusty rim. Savoury red berries, autumn leaves, leather, tobacco, vanilla and spicy oak on the nose and palate. Medium bodied, elegantly styled, yet very structured. I personally find the high level of acidity a touch overpowering, and would have loved to see a slightly richer mid-palate to back it up. Points are also deducted for a shorter than average finish. Having said that, this is a good quality, food friendly and affordable wine. Still young – will keep for decades, and hopefully even improve during the next 5-10 years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2013 - DK Amateur Likes this wine:
To me, this wine has the beauty, fragrance, middle-weight and high acidity (rather than tannin) in common with Montevertine's IgT; but the aromatic profile is different. This is slightly sweeter and of course more aged; it shows red earth, dark fruits and lots of old oak. Very harmonious and easy to drink an hour after opening in a Riedel Vinum Bordeaux glass, I am sure it will keep for a decade or two -- another quality it has in common with Montevertine. -- Four days later the second half from a recorked half-bottle seems darker and fuller and to be very sensitive to temperature; its smoky plum-like, saline aromatic qualities seem to work best slightly below room temperature, i.e. at 15-16 degrees celsius.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2013 - tooch wrote: 90 Points
A somewhat muted, soft nose of dusty red fruits, some plum and smoke. The palate was really nice with great balance - a combination of violets, dark fruit, some lighter floral notes, and earth. Still super young, this should continue to improve for quite a while.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2013 - lator wrote: 90 Points
No formal notes. 90-91 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2013 - Gordonium wrote:
Very austere and acidic, the only fruit showing through being sour cherry. After vigorous aeration in glass, it opened up enough to pair with homemade pizza, but was just too lean and acidic to enjoy on its own. Left the remaining third of the bottle with a friend, hoping he might enjoy its second-day drinking more than I. May pick up another bottle and try decanting for a couple hours before drinking.
I should add that I suspect this wine is experiencing a good deal of bottle variation.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/11/2013 - Biggsy wrote: 92 Points
Much like other 01s this is perfumed and vibrant with aromas of ripe red berries. Pure and precise with zippy red fruits and lovely acidity. Gains a bit of richness in the class revealing more red berry fruit and a touch of tobacco and delicate vanilla on the finish. Lovely, but so very young and has decades ahead of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/11/2013 - ttuominen Likes this wine: 94 Points
C: Light red, bricking on the edges. Surprisingly light for a Rioja, but presumably typical for this producer.
N: Cherries, plums, warm forest berries. Some floral notes. Touch of tobacco, earth and leather. Beautiful nose. A slightest hint of vanilla and clove and a little alcohol on the end.
P: Cherries and earth. Great concentration. Smooth and silky. Spices and leather through the mid palate, but always with those great (slightly sour) cherries. Wonderful acidity, this is a really savoury wine. The tannins are still alive, but they have definitely integrated well. No sign of over-oaking at all. A touch short on the end, but that just makes you want to drink more...
O: Wonderful, perfectly balanced wine with good fruit concentration, structure, acidity and complexity. With a little less alcohol on the nose, a litte more fruit and a slightly longer finish, this would be approaching high 90s. Must buy more at this price!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2013 - arthrovine wrote: 90 Points
Definitely needs a decant and we did do due to diligence. Moderate tannin, great fruit, nice slight musty soft spice (that wouldve blossomed has we treated this with air). Horrible pairing with scallop tapas dish as expected, but beautiful with anything harissa, chimichurri, etc. Has a decade at least left. Should've decanted...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2013 - BurgAndy wrote:
This was quite nice. Translucent dark garnet in the glass with some subtle bricking. Elegant aromas of black cherries, ripe plum, some stewed dark fruits, violets, and roasted meat. This is soft on the palate, with flavors of ripe strawberry, prune, iron, earth. Approachable tannins with real bright acidity. Great power with little weight to it. Lovely juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2013 - Pedro G wrote: 88 Points
Cor rubí, borde de telha. Aroma madeira cuidada, fruta madura, doce. Em boca potente, saboroso, redondo. Falta um pouco de personalidade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2013 - 99tollap wrote: 92 Points
4 hour decant. Serious nose. This is not a fruit bomb. Subtle, mature, restrained but delightful. Beautiful delicate, ripe fruit with complex spices and a finish I just wasn't able to decipher but that was wonderfully balanced and long. Lovely acidity too. 92 may be an underscore.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2013 - easttide Likes this wine: 90 Points
Enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2013 - Bronc0-82 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Exceptional Rioja.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2013 - lovanc@outlook.com wrote:
Very smooth, well integrated tannins. Slight smokiness with dark fruit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2013 - StefanAkiko wrote: 91 Points
We had a well decanted yet shut down specimen tonight. Structure was excellent, but the patterns on the tapestries were undiscernible.
On the nose: chocolate, toffee, milk chocolate and dark fruits. Mellow yet M+ size.
In the mouth, only structure and oomph lent themselves to definition: tasty acids M+, elegant tannins M, fresh fruit and very very promising. May not reach the stars, but will be great pleasure always.
More plelasure to be expected from keeping.
Provided by M.E. in a very fine evening in relaxed friendship and nice talks.
Went exceptionally well w salami, hot pepper and garlic pizza. Yay!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2013 - drwine2001 wrote:
Young Lopez de Heredia Whites and Reds (Arlequin Wine Merchant, San Francisco): Light center. Pretty nose with some strawberry and soil. Light weight, elegant feel, herbal, high acidity. Much too young, gripping tannins give this a resoundingly austere finish. I wonder how (and if) this will come together. Not very pleasant now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2013 - BillBell73 wrote: 97 Points
This wine is still relatively young but already approaching greatness. Seamless, perfect balance of fruit, acid and old style funk. I'm not even going to try to describe this wine, it's beautiful and I don't have the words for it. If you're a fan of traditional styled Rioja, you know what to expect from LdH and this bottle has it all. I can't wait to try the gran reservas from 2001, this is such a great vintage that even the reserva wines are brilliant. An absolute steal at the retail price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2013 - paul canet wrote: 89 Points
Quelque peu déçu de cette bouteille mais je crois qu'elle avait un léger bouchonement.... je vais lui laisser le bénéfice du doute et en essayer une autre prochainement.
C'est l'entrée en bouche qui laissait percevoir un petit goût de liège, par contre en bouche c'était bien, avec des touche de cuir, tabac et de prune.
J'ai bien hâte de revisiter
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2013 - farinas wrote: 90 Points
Faint medium color with some brown on the edges. Bouquet is elegant and mystic with sweet cherries, vanilla, cedar, and dry herbs. Entry is bright with well integrated to low tannins. Body is thin with the fruit struggling to come through ending in a light cedar-kissed finish.
The wine is a fine effort with a very evolving nose and palate as decanting occurs, however it feels as if the fruit didn't show up in full force and the wine stays uni-dimensional.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2013 - junglejuice wrote: 94 Points
This wine is truly a delicious, old schooled, thought provoking delight where subtlety is the name of the game. It is medium bodied and evolved beautifully over the course of 4 hours. It was showing its best at the very end of the last glass. The red fruit spectrum dominates the nose and palate with minty undertones of tobacco and asian spice. The finish is long and features a conglomeration of red fruit wrapped in zesty minerality. Wonderful stuff. Describing the specifically the taste and smell of this wine is difficult as it changed and evolved so much over the course of the evening. There is clearly a long life ahead of it and I can only imagine how well it will continue to improve - 93-95+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2013 - tutticalvi wrote: 86 Points
Over the hill.
Edit: I received a comment "You realize this was just released right? It is far from over the hill, if anything it needed time to open up."
I have no axe to grind on this wine. I gave it approx 4 hours of decanting before drinking based on comments read on CT. Did not taste on opening but after 4 hours and 3 hours more of drinking the wine was old and tired, no fruit, little tannin really not that enjoyable. Had a 2005 Valduero along side that was much better. I am a moderately experienced wine taster. I like old and new workd wines. I like Riojas but am not an expert. I admit to having evolved my tastes to (usually) not liking really old wines and perhaps that's subjective. But I need some flavor.
Maybe it was a bad bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
3/1/2013 - Monsieur le Comte wrote: 94 Points
interesting stuff, opened well over 6 hours (needs time)
strawberry, cherry, leather, earth, salt, raw meat, well integrated oak, smoky!
a well balanced and very fine complex old school wine made in classic rioja tradition
easy to drink but take time to find its greatness in glass and you will be rewarded with a special and astonishing taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
3/1/2013 - pcwoz wrote: 90 Points
This needs time. 89 points day 1 and 91 points day 2 so I'll average it. It is nice and smokey and complex day 2. Day 1 I think it is a little closed. Still very very good old school example of Rioja. Smokey, cherries good wood balance and great structure
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2013 - WorldTraveler Al Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ruby red at the edge of the glass. Nose starts with chewing gum, and fresh dark berries. 5 minutes later mineral flavor and fresh grass start to come out. Medium body on the palate, fresh berry taste consistent with nose. Balanced acid, and tannin with medium to long finish. Much fresh taste than 2000 vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2013 - MProbst Likes this wine:
The R. Lopez de Heredia Rioja Wines are Fantastic. Complex like a Cab, while easy drinking like most Spanish Red Wines. Worth keeping in the Wine Cellar. Also, aged is even better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2013 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
A few Veleta wines with Nola and Juan Palomar (Emilio's Tapas Sol y Nieve, Chicago, IL): Nose: Well balanced and perfumed nose with tones of strawberries, fresh picked red berries, floral tones, spices, and some bits of leather.
Taste: Extremely well balanced and poised medium medium body with medium+ acidity and silky tannins. There is really nice depth to the tones of strawberries, fresh picked berries, floral tones, and some bits of leather
Overall: This is a well balanced and young Lopez Heredia. It is somewhat drinking and certainly needs time, but is extremely enjoyable right now as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2013 - jcomm wrote: 95 Points
Once again this is amazing stuff form this mythical winery!
Probably will evolve to be better in time!!! Decanted for a few hours before serving with the lamb chops!
Nose lots of black fruit and a bit of new leather & spices, pretty complex!
Palate is silky smooth with nice chewy tannins, extremely long and lip smacking GOOD!
A GREAT RIOJA from a classic producer, this is wine making that has been forgotten by many...the tradition continues!!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2013 - spacewrangler wrote:
Ripe and dense for a Tondonia Reserva this young. Sappy red raspberry fruit is buffered by ample acidity and polished tannins. Not used to such a stylish Heredia in youth. Curious to see how it ages.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2013 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Solid little wine as always, getting to fully mature
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2013 - DonalOB wrote: 92 Points
Italian and Spanish tasting (Watson's, Hong Kong): Light colour with some tawny at edge: first bottle was off - tried second bottle.
Bright garnet with pale edge - lively fruit and spice but still plenty of tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2013 - kenv Likes this wine: 91 Points
WCC Rioja Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Decanted for about 30 minutes; back in bottle about 90 minutes before drinking.] Beautiful bright red fruit in a Grenache-like nose. Smooth and silky in the mouth with some dry tannin on the finish. Awkward with the Shrimp Cake. May improve with more time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2013 - jcomm wrote: 95 Points
This is showing quite well presently but yet it can probably evolve to be better in time!!!
Nose shows mostly black berries, cherries and some cassis with a bit of an animal or gamy component!
Nice plush tannins with some minerals and nice clean acidity.
Finish is quite long & persistant!
Super classic RIOJA with mistyfying potential, this is winemaking that has been forgotten by many...kudos!!!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2013 - Magno wrote:
Cereja, ameixa metálica, couro e especiarias. Evoluiu bastante no decanter, merece guarda.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2013 - yofog wrote: 93 Points
Brought one of my magnums to a company dinner at a steakhouse, and it was just beautiful. Gorgeously complex, classic nose of hearth and spices, rusty red fruits, herbs, very delicate but works powerfully with food (in this case a 1st course of thick bacon), still young, it's entering its drinking phase for sure but isn't going anywhere. Made a stark contrast with the young, high-end napa cabs that everyone else brought (and it came out distinctly superior).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2013 - nschmidt wrote: 93 Points
Adrianne served the first half of the bottle to her friends and put the remainder in the fridge. I drank that 1 week later. Beautiful dark fruit flavors with just enough sweet tannin to make a nice dry mouthfeel. Loved it with my rack of lamb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2013 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very light red with a copper tinge. Sweet nose of dried, red fruit with cherry, sandalwood, and tar that seemed rich, but very much in check. Definitely showing some age. Surprised not to see any American oak- would be curious of the treatment to this bottling. Tiny amounts of tannin and fresh cherry on the palate. A little simple. Thought it could have been a ripe, soft Barbaresco. Tasty.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2013 - maxima wrote: 92 Points
Encore une fois superbe vin de cette maison "mythique"!
Robe assez pâle encore une fois!
Un nez sur des fruits rouges avec un peu de goudron et de l'élevage à peine perceptible.
En bouche, c'est complexe et raffiné. Des petites cerises avec des tannins au grain fin, quel beau vin bien équlibré.
Finale assez longue et fort persistante.
Un très beau Rioja dans la plus pure tradition, encore bon et ce pour bine des années!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2013 - Sevencircles wrote: 80 Points
Nose: Tar, lemon and stable. A distinct nose of a mature wine.
Attack: Lemonjuice mixed with earth
Midpalete: lemon, oak and earth. This wine is past prime for sure. The body is ok still though.
Finish: A bit of sweet and sour. Very short
This wine is not a great wine today. I don´t think it has ever been a great wine actually.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2013 - Arch57 wrote: 91 Points
A wonderful mature Rioja that is a classy wine that you can serve to affiicionados and novices alike. Very pronounced nose of raspberries and a touch of oak even from the almost empty glass. A beguiling wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2013 - skp88 wrote: 92 Points
fragrant nose, restrained on the palate and beautifully balanced and remarkably fresh. this is drinking beautifully noe
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2013 - LoireFan wrote: 87 Points
Disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2013 - yofog wrote: 90 Points
From 375, noticeably paler and more evolved than the magnum I tried a year ago. Still awesome.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2013 - rcg62 wrote: 89 Points
I'd love to love this wine. I think what this producer does is awesome. They literally store ridiculous quantities of bottles in their own cellars until ready for release. I've been there. It is OLD SCHOOL with gigantic foudres aging wine, cobwebs and mold everywhere. But to me, the wines taste weedy and moldy. I may simply not get it. There is none of the beautiful upfront fruit of the more typical Rioja. I do give them credit though for the age worthiness of the wine, and I think this 2001 has many years left, with potential to develop many secondary aromas. And btw I paid $35 for this newly released 2001, was thinking it was good value (eg the 95 pt Neil Martin review). But no, I don't see it.
Btw these guys have some amazing older whites. Saw a new release of 96 In the store today! (But still, I think as much as I love their approach, none of the wineS will wow! (30 views)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2013 - Henrycastro wrote: 88 Points
Good QPR. Showing age. Not as exciting but good acidity and Carmel notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2013 - PC73 wrote: 92 Points
Very consistent with prior notes. I continue to think this wine offers great value for money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2013 - Mr T wrote:
I've now followed this over 3 nights and can't say this one does much for me. Strong caramel oak influence and fruit not really up to the task. Admittedly not fair night 1 after 1990 Canon La Gafelliere, but wine never really opened to deliver more than traces of pleasure. Hopefully weak bottle or the proverbial "in a bad place right now"
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2013 - Cphofmann wrote: 89 Points
Ruby with significant bricking. Pleasant nose after it opened up and better on day two. Cedar, spice and vanilla with earthy notes. Palate not as exciting as the nose, some bright cherry, oak. Soft tannin with a sour acidic finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2013 - ELSandIF wrote: 93 Points
great body and fruits
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2013 - honest bob wrote: 91 Points
From 75cl, fine cork. Decanted 90 minutes before serving, a good idea as the wine was closed and crabby on drawing the cork. With sufficient air this is pretty much a model old-school Rioja Reserva, which brings it stylistically much closer to Beaune than to Bordeaux. If you wanted more excitement in this style, you'd need to look to a fully mature Gran Reserva from LdH or perhaps Ygay in a great vintage... Fragrant, light red-fruit aroma (redcurrant, underripe raspberry etc) and a decisively acidic entry, mid-palate and mouth-watering finish. Tannins fully resolved, utterly pure and linear from the first to the last taste impression in the mouth, from the first to the last drop in the decanter. A sterling value at 20 EUR retail, probably a lot less mortal in the cellar than I am on this earth. So (hopefully) no hurry at all. 91P
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2013 - Topper wrote: 86 Points
I have more experience with the older Gran Reservas so the comparison may not be fair but I found this to be disappointing. Slightly murky in color and the fruit was marred by a bit of sour acidity. Balanced out with food but not particularly memorable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2012 - sharonandroland Likes this wine: 91 Points
Showing very well - opening the bottle 10h ahead of drinking permitted to bring out the best of this wine, as after opening it was completely closed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2012 - kevincheng Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drunk out of a half bottle, this was a surprisingly nice wine for 9 euros. Ruby coloured with nose of ripe cherries, raspberries, star anise and cinnamon and a hint of green peppers and meat at the end. Flavour was more on the punchy, ripe red berries, mixed spices and some oak. Nice wine to drink and has a good medium length to it, soft, rounded tannins which should carry this on for a few years. Drinkable now though!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2012 - pifcho Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful wine, which is really elegant and nicely made like the best LdH, but unfortunately not giving it all at this point. Still enjoyable today with no rough edges, but the fruit is tightly packed and hiding a lot of potential. 91+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2012 - johnnyrichardson Likes this wine: 92 Points
delicious now, will keep for years
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2012 - prof b Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank over three hours without decanting. The nose reveals a range of smokey red fruits, eucalyptus, cedar and perhaps dill. The fruits dominate the palate followed by the oak induced components. Overall this is a nicely balanced wine that is predominantly showing primary flavors. Given its clear structure and moderate acidity, I anticipate this will only improve with age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2012 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of pepper, perfume and mixed dakr fruits. Flavors of berries, cherries and raspberries. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold. No rush.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2012 - yobuddy16 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2012 - ashegedyn wrote: 89 Points
Nice macerated cherry nose, perfumed, spice. Excellent flavors of cherry and spice, great balance, good acidity and tannins. Great finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2012 - dbkitc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful brick/garnet color. Red Fruits and caressing oak on the classic, but in no way stogy nose that shows good ripeness and elegance at the same time. Medium body with wonderful precision of flavor. Shows some maturity but also good concentration. I am just learning about these wines and am frankly amazed at their value. Serious, world class wine for those who like balanced intensity. Really like it. (93)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2012 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light, semi-transparent lambs' blood colour. Nose is lifted, perfumed high tones of red cherry, light tar and subtle oak. Palate is medium-light bodied, packed with wild strawberry fruit and acidity and a fairly subtle but noticeable oaky finish. Still some tannin to resolve but only in the same way as a good Burgundy that has just entered its drinking window. This is very harmonious and enjoyable wine....and great QPR. Will only improve but is already lovely lightweight drinking.....a tribute to the 2001 vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2012 - mdefreitas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely wine that straddles the threshold between youth and maturity. The fruit is still very evident, but mellow and accessable. The complexities that come with age appear: cinnamin, leather, dried flowers. Not marred by coconut or too much dill, as some traditional Riojas can be. Burgundian texture and silky smooth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2012 - VinoPKM wrote: 93 Points
I could smell this wine all night!!! Nose of red fruits, cedar and herbal spices (another reviewer nailed this one). Tasted red fruits- plum and cherry, some slight oak and spice. Very tasty wine and a killer QPR. Very food friendly; however, can be over powered by stronger foods.
Will definitely purchase more.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2012 - VTCellarDweller Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was the first bottle opened from two cases acquired over the last 18 months. It was decanted for two hours with minimal sediment. It was consumed several days ago with dinner but I did not take notes at that time. The descriptions proved in earlier notes by Flamengo and several others are consistent with my recollection so I will restrict comment to my overall impression.
It was beautifully balanced, elegant, and nuanced hitting all the high notes I look for. The last bottle to give this much enjoyment was a 1999 Musar. That said, it clearly hinted at even more potential. It will be a challenge to keep my hands off this for another 5+ years. Patience presumed, I can then look forward to another 15+ years of extraordinary drinking pleasure. I eagerly await release of the 2001 Gran Reserva.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/3/2012 - maxima wrote: 91 Points
Bu avec Denis en même temps que le Baron de Ley 2001.
Voilà un beau Rioja de style traditionnel de cette maison "mythique"...pour quelques dollars de plus très bien investi, y'a pas photo, nous avons apprécié ce vin, a beaucoup mieux paru que le Baron de Ley bu en parralel!!!
Robe assez pâle encore une fois!
Un nez sur des cerises et des mures avec des épices et un beau boisé bien maitrisé.
En bouche, belle complexité et profondeur. Des cerises et une pointe de chocolat avec de beaux tannins fins et anguleux, quel beau vin bien équlibré.
Finale tout en douceur et fort persistante.
On en redemande, un classique pour nous et pour encore longtemps!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2012 - Kelliepeterson Likes this wine:
Reliably delicious. If you ever want to experience a true old style Rioja look no further than R. Lopez de Heredia. Medium bodied, earthy, subtle oak. Wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2012 - hackey37 wrote: 91 Points
The color is somewhat dense but see through garnet that lightens to the edge. The smells are currant, soy, cedar, and herbal spices. The tastes are tobacco, black olive, currant, sour cherry, pepper, licorice, and spices. The body is light and the finish is long. The tannins are velvety and this is a nice old world, complex wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2012 - Flamengo wrote: 94 Points
This bodega makes a style of wine that is not very comon anymore nowadays (unfortunatelly) . This is old style rioja at its best! A piece of art from Lopez de Heredia, one of the oldest bodegas at rioja/spain. This is a wine that spent at least 8 years in barrels before going to bottle and to the market! Light colour, something like a burgundy piece. The nose smells like very, very ripen fruits, a little decadent, and oaky, with some ( riped) cherry and red berries. This is very diferent from most of the available wines on the market these days. It s definately not an obvious wine, and you have to search its greatness in the glass, and if you do find it, you ll be very rewarded. Good tannins, medium body, balanced acidity, fresh and delicious, great and easy to drink alone, but it can also be paired with food. it has a long finish and you keep missing it and asking for another sip. I really recommend this wine for everyone! Theres no mistake here! If you' re searching old fashioned rioja, you got it!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2012 - PC73 wrote: 91 Points
As before.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2012 - PC73 wrote: 91 Points
Very easy to drink this wine.
Light. Fruity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2012 - ckinv368 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Rich, pleasant on the very start of the palate. But acidic, tannic, and a bit thin on the middle and end of the palate. Very young, certainly needs some time for sure. Somewhat acidic and astringent at the end of the palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2012 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 91 Points
Friday after Thanksgiving Double Blind (Farnatchi, Dallas, Texas): WIML91
Tasted double blind.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of pepper, flowers, talc and plums. Rich berries flavors with added flavors of cherries and raspberries. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold.
My guess was a 2007 Bordeaux. He shoots, he misses.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2012 - Frank&Steph wrote: 90 Points
comme les premières notes
très bien
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2012 - PC73 wrote:
Lovely. Light in colour. So pleased I have lots of these!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2012 - vespasian wrote: 92 Points
Lively nose of complex savoury and warm spice and warm fruits with some herbal complexity; lovely silky tannins, very good balance and interesting savoury fruit. Nice medium to full mouthful. Good wine. Fresh and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2012 - loegaute wrote: 91 Points
Tight, men sammensatt nese av kirsebær, mineraler, selleri, mynte, kjøtt og lær. Fokusert i munnen, med moden frukt, og en veldig flott og frisk syre. Noe tanniner. God lengde og balanse, selv om syren er litt dominerende. Denne vil drikke godt i mange år fremover, og trenger en del luft nå. Lekkert. 91p.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2012 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 90 Points
Dried red cherry and rose petal on the nose. Palate opened up after an hour or so revealing bright red fruits of red cherry and subtle raspberry. Secondary favors of mulled spices and red floral components. Definitely decant for a bit before drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2012 - hkoben wrote: 91 Points
An all around, five-tool player. Nose, color, mouthfeel, complexity, ability to linger. Not, perhaps, exceptional in any one area, just a great combination. Definitely decant for 45 minutes or more. Opens up beautifully. Strangely, not as good the next night, so push yourself to drink more upon opening!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2012 - grafstrb wrote: 92 Points
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over 8 hours --
NOSE: initially quite expressive, but this did tighten-up considerably over the last 3 hours; juicy, baked cherry; strong underlying mineral/ashy note – reminds me a *little* of a Pauillac; Hoisin sauce; at a pleasant primary/tertiary point of its life.
BODY: ruby core with some tawny coloring at the edges; color is of medium depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: good acidity; tannins are fine and only slightly drying; baked cherry flavor with an underlying leathery note; long finish of moderate intensity; 13% alc. is not noticeable. After a few hours: strong acidity; moderate to moderate+ concentration of fruit; baked red fruits; fruit leather; hint of oak spice emerging now, but does not come across as oaky. Drinking very well now --- I’d say in the beginning of its prime time. Fantastic QPR at $38.
B: 50, 4, 13, 17, 8 = 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2012 - Biggsy wrote: 92 Points
Still very youthful and primary, but already showing perfect balance and lovely depth of flavour. The nose is bright and open, full of sweet red berries with the lightest hint of spicy oak. Like the nose, the palate is still dominated by the berry fruit, the the long finish reveals hints of roasted spices, old polished wood, leather and herbs. Can't wait to try this again in ten years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2012 - Arch57 wrote: 92 Points
With a relatively young cellar, I was glad to score a few of these from an email offer. Had a mature red-garnet color. Old world nose of red fruit and leather. On the palate it was balanced and crisp and paired well with stuffed peppers. Medium finish and drinking well now but seems built to last many years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2012 - Colima74 wrote: 92 Points
Red tart berries and spice, with a hint of mandarin orange. Maybe a bit of leather too. Lean and bright, this got better the longer it was open. At a nice mature stage and perfect for drinking now. With tamales. 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha 5%, Graciano, 5% Mazuelo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2012 - DonalOB wrote: 93 Points
Highly-rated Spanish wine-tasting (Watson's, Hong Kong): Brown tinge. Complex nose - plum, cherry, earth, spice; some oak evident but well integrated. Medium acid and body. Good food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2012 - Jona wrote: 89 Points
Really special, elegant and long with nice fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2012 - baroloboy55 wrote: 92 Points
Very earth driven, restrained but well balanced, red fruits tending to cranberry notes. Leather and spice. I don't get the brighter red core I associate with wines with more maturity, eg the 91 Gran Riserva. This one is lighter, perhpas shut down. Very good example of the house style and oh so traditional. Enjoyed over three days but did not see that it iopned up. Great value
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2012 - elledeca wrote:
still too young. nose of leather and tobacco, only faint notes of fruit. very acidic, needs time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2012 - Lipsman wrote: 89 Points
Crystal ruby in color. Juicy fruit flavors with fresh acidity, but lacking depth and complexity--which is the consistent house style for a Tondonia. A good wine, but my least favorite of the reservas.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2012 - pjaines wrote:
Acidic and quite hard right now - shutting down and needs some tine. A fantastic wine but it needs food and 5 years+ in the cellar at least.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Whew. Amazing to me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2012 - Magno wrote:
Bouquet intenso de violetas, cereja, couro, cedro, canela. Fruta metalica jovem, mas deep, layered, delineada por acidez de arrepiar e com taninos ainda presentes. Fica melhor a cada minuto que passa. Looongo. Proxima garrafa daqui a 5 anos.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2012 - RyanJames wrote: 91 Points
This is quite good, but will probably never hit "greatness" (although who knows what another 10 years will do to this as it definitely has the acidity and freshness to go 10+ more). Dark red berries, some vanilla, dill (not overdone), mushrooms, new leather, but overly funky/earthy. Very refreshing on the palate, and the tannins are still there so this may have room to run. This got a lot better over the course of a few hours (bigger nose, tannins backed off, better mid-palate). Great producer. 2+ points of upside. Not much downside. Give it 2 hours in the decanter and you'll like it a lot more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2012 - Rollerball wrote: 91 Points
Tastes like a spy in an orange dress. Sweet morsles in a tart custard. Such persistence!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2012 - cosmin_grozea wrote: 90 Points
Saturated ruby color with a minimal orange rim. Well developed, youthful and intense nose. The red fruit represented in various forms is highly celebrated on the nose: cranberries, red and black cherry, strawberries, together with complex aromas of orange peel, blood orange, spices, tobacco and game. There is a stunning purity of red fruit on the nose that I enjoyed tremendously. Full bodied, lively and balanced, this wine has a great drink-ability. Assertive but smooth tannins and a killer acidity provide a long lasting structure to this wine. Medium plus finish, always on the red fruit profile and fresh. (90-91/100)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2012 - d-D Likes this wine: 90 Points
Le bois est encore bien présent. Les tannins sont assez rudes (bu à la toute fin du repas; le boire en mangeant aurait été préférable). Malgré son âge et étant donné son long vieillissement en fût de chêne, quelques années d'attente seraient pertinentes pour ceux qui ont la chance d'en avoir encore quelques bouteilles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2012 - gordoyflaca wrote: 91 Points
Very nice, clean and smooth dusty leathery cherry, with tarragon, smoke, dark earth, tickly acidity that hits late
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2012 - Harley1199 wrote:
My favourites in the Estación quarter (Barrio de la Estación- Haro - Rioja): Pure ruby colour with orange rims.
Biscuit punch at first also with citrus peel and almonds aromas. Very fine and balanced.
On the other hand, a muted palate is showed.
Short, quite acidic...disliked!
Because have a nice pack laying down in my own cellar, hope I'm not totally wrong....those confronted feelings!
Puro color a rubí con bordes naranja.
Golpe a bizcochos al principio, también con aromas a piel de cítricos y almendras. Muy rico y equilibrado.
De la otra parte en boca se muestra mudo.
Cortito, bastante ácido...me desagradó. Espero que es solo por ser joven.
Porque ya tengo unas cuantas botellas, espero no estar totalmente equivocado....¡Estos sentimientos confrontados!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2012 - Man in Black wrote:
Medium intensity cherry red with light brick rim. Medium intensity nose, notes of candied cherries, licorice, tobacco leaf, cedar, cinnamon, vanilla, mushrooms and a hint of coffee. Soft attack, marked acidity, it lacks amplitude, medium evolution, low body, medium-low structure. Medium duration aftertaste of medium intensity. Better in the nose than in the mouth, but overall a good old style Rioja if you like this kind of wines. However I would recommend not to decant it and to drink it quickly after opening the bottle, I drank it along four hours, and after about 30-45 minutes or so it started to decline.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Walnut and smoke, right in the pocket. Really in place and ready to go. Wow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2012 - Periko wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Red ruby color with some brown flashes, brown rim. Nose initially shows clear aromas of raspberries, evolving to dried red fruit. Behind all the fruit we can find a bouquet of cedar, old wood, leather and dried orange peel. Overall it has medium intensity and seems a bit too young at the moment, with all that red fruit. On palate it's fresh, with plenty of red fresh fruit along with some leather. It has medium body, a notable high acidity and good balance with rounded, integrated sweets tannins. The finish is medium with some smoky aromas, dried fruit and forrest floor. It drinks very well with food... actually with that acidity screams to have it with food. Seems it can improve with more time (88-90).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2012 - unrelenting wrote: 90 Points
there are better values for $40: a chunky, poorly-integrated palate of flavors with a modest finish. 1 hr decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2012 - Frank&Steph wrote: 92 Points
très bien, bleuets, pâtisserie
belle longueur
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2012 - Riccardo Malocchio wrote: 93 Points
4hr decant. Much too young, but quite good already. Of the 2001 Reservas I've tasted, certainly among my very favorites. The nose was effusive upon opening, retreating a bit by mealtime and then re-emerging with vigor. Dusky cherry, cigar skin, leather, dried fruits, smoke, cedar - all the elements of classic Rioja. The mouthfeel is elegant and refined, though the structure quite dominates the finish. Few secondary characteristics thusfar, but the oak is already very well integrated. Nonetheless, most of this Tondonia's charms remain buried beneath a thick veneer of acid and tannin. Yet and still almost irresistable, my wife practically begging to open another bottle as we drained this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2012 - maxima wrote: 91 Points
Ce vin de cette maison fameuse est composé de 75% Tempranillo, 15% Grenache et le reste composé de raisins Graciano et Mazuelo.
L'oeil: La robe montre un peu de cuivre mais c’est un rouge brique assez foncé tout de même.
Le nez: On sent les cerises confites avec un peu de champignons et de fumée.
La bouche: Il y a un bel équilibre et la texture du vin est soyeuse. On goute un peu les cerises, de l'anis, surtout des notes de terre humide et des épices avec une belle acidité et un peu de boisé. Les tannins sont bien intégrés et le tout est harmonieux.
Finale assez longue sur des relents de petits fruits rouges.
Un très beau vin digeste et élégant, un vin qui demande de la nourriture pour s'exprimer encore plu selon moi!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2012 - Billigan wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with my previous experience, including the slight imbalance stemming from the high acidity, but serve it at the dinner table, and you've got no worries. This complex, savory wine make it such a versatile Old World companion to any meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2012 - JJKinch wrote: 92 Points
Hi toned red fruit (cherry, raspberry), slight leather, slight spice, nice minerality, acidity, slight tobacco, really well integrated. Nice, lingering finish. Opened an hour before, but better with more air. Really gets better and better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2012 - gcarrillo wrote: 92 Points
delicia de vino sin duda mi riojano favorito, fruta fresca, especias, cerezas en licor muy muy agradable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2012 - brooklynguy wrote:
Clean aromatics that still show some wood influence, but there is ripe fruit and a smoky undertone. The wine is powerful, kind of beefy, but with a good deal of finesse on the palate. Good balance and the acidity is bright. Lovely wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2012 - Jason Rzutkiewicz wrote: 90 Points
(12.5%) 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha (Grenache), 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo (Carignan) – Sublime, lean and and seemingly in its infancy. This starts with tart, dry red berries and finely grained tannins upfront backed by an iron-streaked minerality. From there black pepper emerges on a lifted mid-palate leading to a soft, oaked and spiced finish that lingers for quite some time. Pure and focused throughout. My first date with Heredia and a good one at that. My sense is I need to spend more time getting to know this one (as my budget allows)…
Wine Geek Notes: Imported by Winewise, 6 years in bottle, unfiltered, ~25,000 cases made
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2012 - sharonandroland wrote:
Very closed and muted initially. Opened up after decanting and some time in the glass. Still not as good as the Ardanza RE 01.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2012 - gutt22 wrote:
From half bottle. Bright red color. Beautiful nose of red fruit, leather, and spice. In the mouth, seamless and elegant, with pretty red fruit, spicy notes, earth, and leather. Bright acidity is blunted by the wine's glorious texture. Long, smooth finish. A very complete and pretty wine. A-/A
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2012 - cos82 wrote: 91 Points
Pale mature ruby in color. Glorious nose of cherry, licorice, floral and cedar. Nice sour cherry on the palate with a tad of oak and spice. Much better than bottle tried 9 months ago. I thought this very ready to drink and didn't find the tannins that others have found in this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2012 - Barnaby33 wrote:
PnP wine bar in new York. At first extremely tight almost nothing on the nose and acidic on the palette. After an hour the noise opens up a nose of cherry liqueur and cola. Almost a blood orange scent following. On the palette, spice cherry still assertive tannin. A very nice strong aftertaste. Coming back there is almost a bourbon note on the nose. I'll be curios to see of anyone else gets that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2012 - itadome wrote: 88 Points
not impressed. good tannins, typically oxidized. not much else going on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2012 - Wcondon wrote:
.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2012 - Wineson Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Toast, and Cinnamon. It tastes like Cinnamon. The body is Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2012 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Lopez de Heredia Vertical, with Maria Jose Lopez de Heredia (The Sampler, South Ken, London): Smoky, red fruit, light cocoa. Textbook Rioja sweet core. Good tannin. No harshness. Quite elegant but a touch too sweet at the moment. 91 and drink at will.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Dinner with 1985 Focus (Nopa Restaurant, San Francisco): Light ruby. Cedary nose. Young, held hostage to the wood austerity and astringency at this point, but a hint of underlying sweetness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2012 - GlassHalfFull wrote: 91 Points
Suave
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2012 - cpsmith33 wrote: 91 Points
Tasting with Maria Jose of Lopez de Heredia and Jose Manuel of Perez Pascuas; 5/8/2012-5/9/2012 (Union Square Wine): According to Maria Jose, her grandfather's favorite vineyard. 6 years in barrel. Nice fruit, smoke and spice. Well balanced and smooth finish. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2012 - manonthemoon wrote: 91 Points
Heredia Tasting; 5/7/2012-5/8/2012 (Palena, Washington, DC): This was served with the third group of wines.
N mixed raspberries, earth, and spice
P Red cranberry, plum, earth, spice.
Good finish, solid structure.
90-91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2012 - yofog wrote: 91 Points
From magnum! Lovely piquillo-tinged dusty fruit, good length, but still needs a good deal of time, another 5-10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2012 - sharonandroland wrote: 91 Points
Not as fruity and complex as the 2001 Ardanza
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2012 - Rechrom wrote: 92 Points
Very nice. Nice plum fruit an a somewhat tannic palate, good acidity, some wood notes but not obtrusive, clean finish. Many years left but enjoyable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2012 - cepageyakima wrote: 87 Points
Not quite enough fruit to balance the acid out at the finish. Not bad but truly not good enough for (A) rating..
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2012 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Lovely old-style Rioja. Discreet nose, opens up beautifully but remains subtle, plums and warm wood, very good depth; elegant, medium weight, very harmonious, lovely ripe, soft, tannins; excellent savoury finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2012 - Biskuit wrote: 92 Points
Lopez de Heredia tasting with Maria Lopez de Heredia (Tower Wine, ATL): Wow nose to get things rolling, nice fruit and floral rose, some musty funk behind. On the lighter/more elegant side for sure vs. Bosconia.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2012 - gnosis wrote:
For a Tondonia, more supple red fruit than usual. This vintage needs more time, even though you can drink it today. I was surprised at its youth though. Better second day, but again would let it go longer. Very nice and has such potential. The traditional Tondonia stylings all showing themselves here, only a strong vintage in a young state.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2012 - lowereastscott wrote:
The Wines of López de Heredia with María José López de Heredia (Cork Market Tasting Room, Washington, DC): Medium red; nose of cherry mint, like an Altoids; good acidity, more mint/menthol and bright cherry flavors; medium-long finish. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
So much more integrated than when I first tasted the bottle. Man do these bottles need time to settle. Much more cherry fruit and grip, texture, vibrancy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2012 - nzinkgraf wrote:
this has been open for about 4 hours now. red fruit that's turning towards earth and damp leaves. brown sugar. palate lets the herb ride really high in the mix, but a sexy palate feel on some nice acid. worchestershire sauce savory herb appeal on the palate. medium plus acid the more that I dig into this. at $36.99 this is an extraordinary value for the cellar, IMHO, but not for everyone.
DAY 2. loads of bouquet today and not that worchestershire note from yesterday. herb has settled in. fruit, earth, herb palate. loaded with spice on the finish today. medium (+) ruby with garnet hightlights.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2012 - WillersC wrote: 89 Points
Palate was getting a little fatigued at this stage. A little underwhelming after the Lambrays but it was still a nice wine in it's own right.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2012 - OpuMayaQuem wrote: 91 Points
A nice Rioja with a musty undertone. Definitely seemed older than it is, but was well balanced and very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2012 - willthethrill wrote: 88 Points
Musty nose, musty color...smells like an old Bordeaux...old world tampranillo...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2012 - abh wrote:
Good lord this bottle is closed. Could be very very low level corkiness, it smells of almost nothing, but the palate is both quite clean and has a wonderful texture. I really must forget about the rest of these.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2012 - wickedwax wrote:
Aromas of red fruit and herbs with dusty mineral notes. Medium-bodied with good acidity with high-toned pure cherry fruit on the palate. Velvety smooth with a little bit of tannins and good length. I think this merely needs more time to develop more complexity as the material here is quite good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2012 - WillersC wrote: 90 Points
Full of life and character. Super wine but needs time to develop
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2012 - bonjovibon wrote: 88 Points
Yes, it's a classic Rioja. I prefer this style: light and acid, than the new ones. But on the other hand vainilla and oak cover everything. I don't know if time will be enough to round the circle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2011 - Riccardo Malocchio wrote: 92 Points
1hr decant. Elegant nose of dusky cherry and cigarbox that carries over to the palate with a silky, vibrant mouthfeel and and still quite muscular tannins. Bright core of sweeter cherry emerges on finish along with fresh acidity, smoke, orange peel, nutskin, and traces of vanilla and cedar from very well integrated American oak. Young with scarcely a trace of secondary characteristics, should age well and in a very classical style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2011 - abh wrote:
Awfully young. Light bodied, very delicate and really quite acidic, but at the same time you just know this will flower into something amazing. There's fruit, and some iron and peppery notes, but it will all really sing with proper age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2011 - Tubulus wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful silky smooth texture. Dark fruits, dried cherries, some minty-ness. Tons of acidity on the finish makes it perfect for food. Perhaps a bit more complexity could make this perfect for me, but overall this is great stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2011 - Blauweiss wrote: 90 Points
Soft ant gentle on the nose, with sweet oak and red fruit. Dry with nice acidic structure and velvety tannins. Primary fruit is gone and leaves a complex taste with dried fruits, choccolate. Altogether a classic rioja, old and fragile. Needs food!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 91 Points
A few wines at Monty (The Monterey): creamy currants and cassis and a little spice. Vibrant palate, quite acidic with a citrus element. Lengthy finish with some orange peel. Tannic and fine. Adds a little leather to the nose with time. Needs time to pull together.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2011 - Billigan wrote: 90 Points
I absolutely loved the combination of elegance and complexity in this wine. On the nose, it was a wonderful medley of scents that kept changing over two days. Leather, cedar, mushrooms, a whiff of cigar smoke, and others I couldn't keep count of, followed by purity and silkiness in the mouth. The acidity, which kept the wine feeling fresh and good with food, nonetheless seemed a shade too overpowering in the finish. But altogether, this is an excellent beverage and a solid value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2011 - dmitri wrote: 89 Points
Medium deep red with a delicate perfume resembling distant smell of crushed red overripe cherry. The palate is soft, almost devoid of tannins, fully developed with only a slight pleasant accidity. The flavours kept opening up including port-resembling light nutty taste without the strong alcohol kick. Pleasant light but long aftertaste. overall this wine is silky, gentle, fully ready to be enjoyed right now. Not sure about decanting time: it defeinitely needs some but an 1 hour that I had it probably started to loose some of its concentration.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2011 - atubbs wrote: 88 Points
Pale, but not watery, garnet. Oak, cherry, and leather on the nose. Nice latent acidity, cherry, smooth and balanced. No real tannins to speak of. Initial palate has strong iron flavors, but these dissipate rather quickly. This was rather nice and balanced but didn't wow me in any particular dimension. A lovely food wine but lacking a singular quality or two to separate it from the crowd.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2011 - frebro wrote: 85 Points
Needs more time in the cellar, also needs a lot of time for decanting. Didn't really open until five hours after pouring, Nose is promising, rich in black fuit but palate is a bit weak - long and decently complex taste, but frankly less concentrated than what 'I expected. Noticeable tannins, enjoyable with meat dishes but will likely improve with more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2011 - cos82 wrote: 88 Points
From my favorite Rioja Producer, a nice bottle, yet I was slightly disappointed with this wine. Popped and poured at Paloma, my current favorite Philly BYOB. Ruby red with a subtle nose of oak, cherry and vanilla. Missing that floral fragrance I usually get with Heredia reds. Soft palate of charcoal, leather, sour cherry and earth. Nice with food, but lacking fruit and the complexity I usually get from this producer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2011 - azahoner wrote: 90 Points
Good traditional Rioja at 13%. Leather and fig on the nose, smooth on the palate with a nice fresh acidity. Long but with a final touch of VA, so not sure this bottle had a long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Pronouced nose. Oak, fig and high cherry. Very soft and smooth across the palate. Seemless across the palate, finishing in tannins.
10 hours later: roasted walnut, smoked black pepper, out of Riedel's Tempranillo glasses this time. Some vanilla and coconut. Palate is soft, with almost no tannins, red fruits all the way through, lively finish with the fruit hanging on all the way through the acid character. Lengthy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2011 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
Quite easy, very slick oak helps it down, sweet fruit, nice but not for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2011 - rayq wrote:
Having had an aged Rioja I choose this from a restaurant list as the most suitable wine to follow.
However this didn't behave at all as I had expected. Lots of lovely vibrant fruit.
No real trace of(old) oak. Seemed almost 'modern' (heresy!) after the previous wine.
Lovely though. No rush obviously. (90-92)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2011 - igaf wrote:
Light to medium deep with noticeable orange rim. Not particularly strong, but compelling nose with red fruit, vanilla, cedar wood, light, almost ethereal. Med. body, nice balance. Very moderately tannic, fresh, nicely delineated. Some lingonberry and licorice on the palate. Quite long, elegant, slightly tannic aftertaste. Discreetly charming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2011 - Sisifo wrote: 96 Points
Spanish wine: *Open always a "CRIANZA", 2h before. a RESERVA, 4 hours before. A GRAN RESERVA, 6 hours before.
We drank this bottle with some professionals of wine. We were all amazed about its mature characteristics resembling any 40+ old vintage of top class burgundy.
Color: Light ruby. Tondonias are clarified with egg whites, and the color and texture is lighter than other Riojas.
Aroma: Very subtle, very elegant, easy on the nose. There's a good balance of tobacco, vanilla and yeast. A pleasure to smell again ad again during the tasting.
Taste: First impresion is a wow of acidity on the sides of the mouth. That acidity is very different from young wines. It becomes perfectly balanced and opens the mouth to the rest of the flavors that are all there packed, offering different faces at each sip. It has a pleasant finish. You may miss the tannins, the flower, the fruit, the wood... It's all there, in very subtle threads interwoven with each other, not one singing louder that others. That elegant balance is what a good wine aging perfectly is all about.
I leave room to add more points when It gets older... It is excellent now, it can get even better in 10 years!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2011 - ktrh Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent Reserva. Quite clean on the nose, correct Rioja Reserva but only beginning to mature. Great power and transparency in the mouth. Drinks excellent now, but will continue to improve for at least 15 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2011 - pjaines wrote:
Holiday in Spain - a glut of Spanish Wines; 5/28/2011-6/6/2011 (Southern Spain): Oh oh oh so young but such a serene and superb wine that sticks a finger up at those obsessed with power and ripe fruit. Light and whispy yet this has real potential that is just starting to show. Delicate cherries, grilled meat and a tickle of oak then that Tondonia style that you are not quite sure means the wine is spoiled or not. There is a lurking quality to this wine that is hard to describe, but you just know it has the stuffing to be quite fantastic if you have the patience to leave it alone. Brilliant stuff that has years and years ahead of it. Excellent - and for 17 euros quite simply amazing quality for the price. Not to everyone's taste.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/22/2011 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Mainly red fruits. Juicy. Some currant impressions. Good acidity. Medium to full bodied. A bit drying in the finish. Elegant and classical wine with good concentration and a good future. Already a pleasure and 4 - 7+ more years will not be a problem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2011 - ChateauTooting wrote:
Initially taking a few hours to open, and for the good well judged oak to blow off, my general thoughts are this is closed somewhat: Hints of shoe polish and and walnuts linger amongst bitterish dark smelling cherries and hints of roses, highish acidity on the palate that is slightly thin-ish yet carries a good elegant core of sour red fruits, and slight floral elements. Tannins, although not big, overbearing or dominant in anyway, are slightly unresolved and sort of "clunky". Drinking the remainder of a bottle of day two and the feminineness of it becomes apparent, becoming more floral with the rose hints more evident.
I would give this a few more years before opening another bottle. it's just getting into the secondary phase. Good, even better potentially with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2011 - FjordogFjell wrote: 93 Points
Påske i Erfjord, forsmak med broderen, 10 grader, Riedel Bx. Litt yogurt lukt rett etter åpning og litt søtlig honning lukt. Deilig nesten elegant søt/sur smak. :-D Einerbær, overraskende god. 1 dag i flaske, til lammeribbe: Deilig elegant sur/søt, særegen og fin :-D kan godt ha noen sånne på lager.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2011 - NJ BIG CHRIS wrote: 93 Points
excellent...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2011 - bonjovibon wrote: 88 Points
Traditional style Rioja. Good nose of mermaid red fruit. In the mouth acidity is decompensated. It can improve in the next years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2011 - heidoanddave wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours on night 1. Soft nose. Some cherry to aroma. Taste of sour red fruit. Long finish. Complex and enjoyable. Finished bottle a day later, and aromas and taste were more pronounced. Will lay down remaining bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2011 - torciaumana wrote: 90 Points
Terrific traditional style Rioja. Light ruby red, delicate nose of rose, red fruits over a mineral background. Very elegant in the mouth with nice acidity and silky tannins. Long finish. There is still space for improvement over the next 5-10 years.
Bellissimo questo Rioja tradizionale. A partire da un rosso rubino molto scarico e brillante mostra il suo carattere tradizionale. Il naso è delicatissimo, di fiori macerati, piccoli frutti rossi.In bocca colpisce per la sua eleganza e sapidità, supportato da una grande acidità che lascia pensare ad una lunghissima evoluzione e da tannini finissimi (ricorda qualcosa del rocce Rosse di ArPePe). Lunghissimo finale.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2010 - jan erik wrote: 87 Points
A little bit on the let down side. Rather thin
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2010 - Weston3220 Likes this wine: 90 Points
C: med+ Ruby, starting to show signs of bricking
A: med intensity, developed
showing Secondary Fruit Characteristic , dried sweet cranberry, Licorice,
T: med+ acid, med- tannin, med body, med+ finish, med+intensity
cranberry, licorice, vanilla
conc: very good, excellent with food, surprisingly well with spicy Habanaro
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2010 - SimonG wrote:
Lopez de Heredia Tour & Tasting (Haro, Rioja): Softer nose, Velvet rather than silk. Quite plush red fruit. A slightly mushroomy complexity. Showing a little volatility on the finish. ***1/2
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2010 - Cosini wrote: 90 Points
N Garrigue Kirsch Waldpilze tief Holz ist nach 2 Tagen weniger präsent
G überraschend fruchtig + teerig
T minim grün, fein, auskleidend
A 5 dezente Süße transparent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2010 - nalavigne wrote:
WSET Level 3, Vancouver BC, July 13/10
clear, deep garnet core.
Clean on the nose with medium intensity, developed notes of ripe cherries and other red fruits (almost like pie filling), vanilla, chocolate, rich earth, sweet cooking spices.
Dry on the palate with medium body, medium acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol and medium flavour. pretty much the same on the palate as on the nose with rich red fruits especially cherry and wood.
long finish
An outstanding wine. My favorite of the evening by far. complex and fantastic, truly a joyous wine :D
Can't hold much longer so drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2010 - Weston3220 Likes this wine: 93 Points
WSET Level 3 Part 2 Week 2 Spain (Downtown Vancouver [AI School]): Clear, Med Garnet moving to a wide rim
A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Developed
Spice Box, Warm/Candy, Dried Sour Cherry, Savoury, Tar, Whole Wheat grain/toast, Licorice
T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med Tannin, Med Body, med Alc, Med+ Intensity, Long Finish
Sour Cherry, Savoury/mineral, Licorice, Dried Flowers
Conc: Absolutely Gorgeous, this is where its at
Side Note: Teacher picked up a lot of oak notes not me tho
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment