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Heredia Tasting
Palena, Washington, DC
Tasted May 7, 2012 - May 8, 2012 by manonthemoon with 538 views
Introduction
Tim and Company set up a great dinner for his shop's staff at Palena. The food was amazing as always including the Frito Misto, cheese platter, Rhubarb Tart, Beef Cheek Tagliatella, Boudin blanc.
Flight 1 (2 notes)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Nathalie Falmet Champagne Cuvée Le Val Cornet
90 points
Nice nose of lemon peel, citrus, chalk showing.
Palate of white grapefruit, lemon peel, chalk.
Decent punch and decent cut, little less than I recall with the last bottle.
Palate of white grapefruit, lemon peel, chalk.
Decent punch and decent cut, little less than I recall with the last bottle.
White - Sparkling
2006 Recaredo Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva
89 points
Nose was a little shy with minerals, and chalk showing.
Palate of lemon, furry minerals, really nice chalk
Nice cut too, really solid for the price.
Palate of lemon, furry minerals, really nice chalk
Nice cut too, really solid for the price.
Flight 2 (1 note)
White
1981 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia
93 points
This was served as the first white of the group.
N Honeycomb, wax, seashells.
P Honeycomb, wax, rubber, seashells, and minerals.
F AA in length and still good acidity for a 31 year old bottle, actually improved with more air IMO.
92-93
N Honeycomb, wax, seashells.
P Honeycomb, wax, rubber, seashells, and minerals.
F AA in length and still good acidity for a 31 year old bottle, actually improved with more air IMO.
92-93
Flight 3 (3 notes)
White
1990 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia
91 points
This was served as the with the second group of wines.
N white flowers, grapefruit, minerals.
P Hint of Honey, lemon, white flowers, brine, minerals.
Good finish, my favorite of the flight.
N white flowers, grapefruit, minerals.
P Hint of Honey, lemon, white flowers, brine, minerals.
Good finish, my favorite of the flight.
White
1993 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia
85 points
This was served as the with the second group of wines.
N cheese, grapefruit, minerals.
P Faint Honey, light lemon, minerals.
Did not show well IMO.
85-86
N cheese, grapefruit, minerals.
P Faint Honey, light lemon, minerals.
Did not show well IMO.
85-86
White
1996 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia
90 points
This was served as the with the second group of wines.
N little floral, lemon, brine, petrol.
P light Honey, lemon, minerals.
Good finish, solid showing, but needs time.
90-91
N little floral, lemon, brine, petrol.
P light Honey, lemon, minerals.
Good finish, solid showing, but needs time.
90-91
Flight 4 (3 notes)
Red
1999 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia
90 points
This was served with the third group of wines.
N Black raspberry, little prune, floral, spice.
P Black raspberry, floral, earth, spice.
Good finish.
89-90
N Black raspberry, little prune, floral, spice.
P Black raspberry, floral, earth, spice.
Good finish.
89-90
Red
2000 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia
This was served with the third group of wines.
N red berries, musty earth.
P red cranberry, earth, and pepper.
This seemed slightly offed based on my previous tasting, so no official score.
84
N red berries, musty earth.
P red cranberry, earth, and pepper.
This seemed slightly offed based on my previous tasting, so no official score.
84
Red
2001 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia
91 points
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
N mixed raspberries, earth, and spice
P Red cranberry, plum, earth, spice.
Good finish, solid structure.
90-91
Flight 5 (2 notes)
Red
1981 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia
93 points
This was served with the fourth group of wines.
N funky earth, red cherry, some VA, pepper
P black cherry, barnyard earth, little leather pepper
Good finish, nice mouthfeel.
A pleasure to drink.
N funky earth, red cherry, some VA, pepper
P black cherry, barnyard earth, little leather pepper
Good finish, nice mouthfeel.
A pleasure to drink.
Red
1985 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia
90 points
This was served with the fourth group of wines.
N black raspberry, floral, only a little earth
P black raspberry, earth, barnyard, pepper
I didn't think this showed well in comparison to the others IMO.
89-90
N black raspberry, floral, only a little earth
P black raspberry, earth, barnyard, pepper
I didn't think this showed well in comparison to the others IMO.
89-90
Flight 6 (2 notes)
Red
1987 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia
92 points
This was served with the fifth group of wines.
N black cherry, earth, funk, spice
P black cherry, barnyard earth, pepper
Good finish, nice structure as welll.
Really a nice bottle of vino.
91-92
N black cherry, earth, funk, spice
P black cherry, barnyard earth, pepper
Good finish, nice structure as welll.
Really a nice bottle of vino.
91-92
Red
1991 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia
91 points
This was served with the fifth group of wines.
N red berries, pine, earth
P red raspberry, pine, barnyard, spice
Good structure and finish.
Not as impressed this time around.
90-91
N red berries, pine, earth
P red raspberry, pine, barnyard, spice
Good structure and finish.
Not as impressed this time around.
90-91
Closing
There were also a flight of three after dinner wines, including 2 sherrys, but my palate was fried by that point. The wines were great as well, really enjoyed them, and can't wait to do it again.