1984 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Tondonia

Community Tasting Notes (8) Avg Score: 88.4 points

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  8/26/2022 - Peter Spijker Likes this wine: 92 Points

  This was a great experience, and the oldest white wine I have drunk to date. Beautiful deep yellow color, lots of hazelnut, bees wax, lemon, mushrooms, some even noted coffee (which I don't drink). Still quite some freshness left (medium acidity) and a long finish. The only thing that distracted me a bit was a tad of bitterness. This seemed to be a bottle in good condition.

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  6/11/2019 - grapenomad wrote: 90 Points

  The time has come to finally crack open a bottle of this iconic Spanish producer. Thank you Jan for the bountiful generosity, it was great renewing years of friendship with this all-time classic. For those that don't know, López de Heredia is one of the historic bodegas in Rioja, with a rich lineage dating back well over a century. The estate produces age-worthy, traditional Riojas of the highest level. By "traditional" it is meant that maceration is shorter (lighter color) and the wine evolves longer in American oak to get a sumptuous oxidative richness, while keeping a significantly softer, more delicate texture than its modern counterparts.
  
  If you've ever wondered how a fully developed white tastes, this is a prime example. Deep amber in the glass, reminiscent of old Sauternes. Aromas of chrysanthemum, jasmine, dried apricot, sourdough, hazelnut, overripe lemon and ginger. The palate is muted on the first few sips, but it opens up properly after an hour or so. Waxy/oily, but rather soft texture. Think a bucket of feathers mixed with petroleum. The medium acidity and alcohol let the fruit and heavy nutty character grab the spotlight here, building ground for a lingering aftertaste. A very interesting and enjoyable wine that I'd like to research much deeper, so if you have some Tondonia stashed, hit me up!

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  2/11/2015 - honest bob wrote: 87 Points

  From 75cl, neck of bottle removed using port tongs. Bright gold. One of the fresher bottles so far, with a distinct and attractive underripe apricot note. 2 hours after decanting that good ol' lemon action over a candied fruit core finally started to kick in. The last drop was the best. If you are fortunate enough to have some well preserved bottles of this in the cellar, I do recommend decanting and giving it plenty of time to open up. 87(-88)P

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  1/1/2015 - honest bob wrote: 82 Points

  From 75cl, neck of bottle removed using port tongs. Dark gold, like a similarly old Sauternes. Benefited from decanting 1 hour, but still muted, lacking the lemon action of some previous bottles. The decaying remains of a once-excellent wine. 82P(?)

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  12/6/2014 - honest bob wrote: 88 Points

  Collective note for 3 bottles. All corks rotten and extracted with effort, some profanity and my ah-so. Colour: 1) dark brown, 2) and 3) bright gold. 1) oxidised, spoiled, undrinkable. 2) and 3): As previously noted, but major inconsistency between the bottles regarding degree of acidity and lemon aromatic potential. Pleasure and considerable interest around the table. 1) NR; 2) 86P; 3) 89P. This vintage is being dumped on the German market at auction right now, I have now bought two cases at just over 5 EUR/75cl, which, despite the extreme bottle variation and the knowledge that this is one to drink soon, feels like a sound investment in pleasure over the next year or so.

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