1981 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 91 points

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  4/30/2019 - forceberry wrote:

  12% alcohol.
  
  Dark and quite developed brick-orange color with an aged mahogany hue. Very developed and tertiary nose with aromas of blackcurrant jam, some sweet raisiny fruits, a little bit of wilted flowers and a hint of beef jerky. The wine is medium-bodied, tertiary and quite intense on the palate with old flavors of raisins, some dried figs, a little bit of sour cherry bitterness and a rusty hint of iron. The overall feel is getting quite flat and dull and the metallic iron note seems only to grow with air. High in acidity with fully resolved, mellow tannins. The finish is very long, tertiary and slightly metallic with flavors of sour cherry bitterness, some rust, a little bit of wizened dark fruits and a lifted hint of VA.
  
  A Tondonia Reserva past its prime. I guess one of the key differences between Tondonia Reserva and Tondonia Gran Reserva is their different capability to age. Many of the Tondonia Reservas from the 90's seem to be drinking really well, but most of the 80's bottles seem to be going downhill by now. However, Tondonia Gran Reservas even from the 1960's are very much alive, even capable of further development. All in all, this was too tertiary for its own good and going downhill already. Drinkable, but lacks the charm one looks for in RLdH wines. Leaving it unrated.

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  10/14/2011 - Topper wrote: 93 Points

  Delicious, mid body but with a lurking depth and complexity that sneaks up on you. Red fruit profile. Finely balanced and pure. a delight with food. Love both but slightly prefer the nimbleness of the Tondonia relative to the Bosconia.

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  4/5/2010 - DaleW wrote:

  I've had (and loved) the 81 Tondonia GR, but wondered how the regular Reserva would have held out. Very well, as a matter of fact. Seems light and acidic on pouring, but quickly puts on body. Beautiful sweet red raspberry and strawberry fruit, lots of citrus zest, pretty and long. Wine is deceptive - seems lighter styled, yet when you pay attention it is concentrated and full. My Wine of Easter. A-

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  4/1/2010 - M5 wrote: 87 Points

  Unique acidic burn and light in nature....but seriously lacking any power or panache on the finish

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  9/17/1988 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points

  Very fragrant, complex, a lovely synthesis of fruit and wood, civilised, stylish, elegant, smooth and subtle, spicy, red fruit, vanilla, long, complete and harmonious, needs a lot of oxygen at this young stage. First bottle from a small cache of individual bottles purchased at Bodega Victor Bernad e Hijos in Antwerp. Victor Bernad died in 2006 at the age of 67 and the shop is no more, but his "El Valenciano" in the Zirkstraat 34 introduced me to authentic Spanish food and wine all these years ago, and I will never forget his name.

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