This is open and singing from the getgo. Seamless and effortless, beautifully fresh and exciting, lots of things goin on. This is sitting comfortably on the plateau of its maturity. Flavors of dark yellow fruits, almonds, wild strawberries, peach and more. Oxygen and hints of iron, which in the context of this wine is a feature and a part of the deal, very Tondonia. Long, mouthwatering finish. Perfection in a bottle. I didn’t know us mere mortals were allowed to drink these, apparently we are. Thank you.
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Lorne Rangers 2024 (Lorne): Cor, what a wine! Fresher and with more pizazz than the '92, but not particularly less complex and tertiary in flavour profile. More orange peel than its flight-mate's lemon, with additional aromas of dill, Wrigley's Spearmint and a mellow, smoky rubber note reminiscent of a pre-war bus at a transport museum. Juicy, chewy and so, so long on the palate, and also refreshing and moreish, with a clean, yeasty finish and other fun notes like savoury sourdough, mushroom and lapsang souchong. Really exciting stuff.
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Lorne Rangers 2024 - Rioja (Lorne Restaurant, London): Tangerine and ginger nose with some flecks of spearmint. With air some subtle smokiness too. Palate really in a good place with an acid core and savoury structure around it. With an hour in the glass there are all sorts of other aromas spotted around the table; some dill a little Lapsang Souchong, hints of marzipan and pine resin. Very hard to separate from the '92 it is served with; by the finest of margins I prefer that.
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Honeycomb, lanolin, lemon drops, white flowers, hay, and a hint of dried herbs in the traditional, slightly oxidized LdH style. Wow. What a stunning bottle of wine. Can easily go another ten years, or more.
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A blend of Viura aka. Macabeo (90%) and Malvasia Riojana aka. Alarije (10%). After the spontaneous fermentation, the wine is aged for 6 years in predominantly old American oak barrels, bottled unfiltered and aged for a further 5-6 years in the bottles before release. 12,5% alcohol. Tasted in Tondonia Blanco 1999-2005 vertical.
Luminous burnished golden color - very similar to the 2000 vintage and more youthful than the darker 1999 and 2002 vintages. The nose feels complex, slightly evolved and quite powerful with somewhat concentrated aromas of slivered almonds, some resinous tones, a little bit of hay, light creamy oak nuances, a sweet evolved hint of wizened peach, a touch of smoke and a toasty whiff of brioche. The wine feels remarkably concentrated, moderately full-bodied and even slightly oily on the palate with intense and remarkably dry, layered flavors of ripe red apple and tart lemony citrus fruits, tangy salinity, some savory wood spice, a little bit of oxidative nutty complexity, light creamy nuances, a sweet hint of dried yellow fruits and a touch of chalky mineral bitterness. Although the wine shows some sense of concentration and weight, the prominent, remarkably high acidity makes the wine feel very balanced and structure-driven. The finish is long, complex and tangy with bright, dry flavors of lemony citrus fruits, sharp saline mineral notes, some crisp Granny Smith apple, a little bit of chalky minerality, light evolved nuances of hay and chopped nuts, a developed hint of creamy oak and a touch of bruised or baked apple.
This has been consistently an outstanding vintage of Tondonia Blanco Reserva, but as I've tasted the wine previously only soon after release, I really haven't been able to glimpse the full potential of the wine. Now, in a vertical tasting, the wine really stood head and shoulders above the surrounding vintages, showing some evolved complexity, yet coming across as remarkably youthful, focused and structure-driven, even for a Tondonia Reserva. I really wish I would've purchased more of this upon release - at 20,95€ this was a screaming bargain. A very singular wine that is offering tons of complexity already now, yet still manages to show some additional potential for future evolution. I'd say this was my WotN in out Tondonia Blanco vertical and probably my favorite vintage of the Heredia Reservas vintages from the past 25 years - it is really difficult to make a white Rioja any better than this.
Big Al & Janelle's Spanish Inspired Blowout (Big Al & Janelle's, St. Anthony, MN): Medium golden color. Drank a glass over an hour plus. This was in great shape tonight showing a vibrant nose with lemon oil, lacquer, dried oranges, lanolin, smoke infused bees wax and fusil. The palate is robust and layered, oily textured with an array of citrus oils from mandarin orange to grapefruit, citrus zest, flinty and smoky minerals and loads of dry extract on a long vigorous finish. Loved it. 94+pts.
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Very special wine, dry and slightly bitter (meant as a compliment), did not work at all with the cod and hollandaise. But was fantastic to the Etivaz hard cheese with fig/date marmalade! Wonderful combination. Very good wine - but match it carefully with the right food. Probably good to charcuterie as an aperitif as well.
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Youthful a bit resinous oxidised nose which gives the impression of a young but promising wine, the palate is tightly knit, profound and full of future promise, a dense and complex package of resin, peach, citrus tones, almonds, nuts, apricot and more, oily and savoury, the usual suspects oak, vanilla, fudge and hints of iron are there but deeply buried underneath the bone dry fruit component. Quite enjoyable now but - despite the age of 19 years - the best years are clearly yet to come. Also the firm acidity reveals that this vintage has a long future ahead. The excellent vintages -04 and -05 are really good and drinking well now but the unbelievable -01 is still at the beginning of its drinking curve and in a class of its own, maybe even reminiscent of a good vintage of Blanco Gran Reserva. I will wait several years before opening the next bottle.
Opened and slow oxed for 3 hours. This is a clear gold. Orange peel, high acidity, medium to full body floral character, an oily texture. A great mouthfeel that pairs well with roast pork. Balanced. Ready to drink. Drink now to 2031+
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Showing a golden slightly amber color with lovely savory, lemony, and stony elements all in balance - with food. Just perfect for a rich shellfish-based paella or the nutty hard Spanish cheeses and Serrano/Iberico as I believe this only shows really well with a meal. The acidity/minerality takes over for me if this is tasted on it's own.
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Intense, clean, pure, delicate and yet so complex and powerfull - this was all I expected and I am happy that I have been so patiened to open the first bottle. This is really a special wine with an enormous complexity. Bright and fresh with those wonderfull integrated oxydative notes. Salty, very dry with a lot of minerality but also very etheral lemon flavours and a lot of floral hints. Still young, allready a big delight, also a lot of time to improve or better: grow!
Opened this bottle 4 days ago and there was absolutely no development. This will last for ages I guess.
Nose is filled with bee-wax and caramel On the palate it’s like flesh of a ripe lemon without the hard acidity. Pure and elegant in-mouth feeling with precise structure and mouthwatering flow. Gripping and chasing for the next sip. Should drink this more often I guess Worth any search (high range in price; pays out to look closely)
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Golden yellow, honey and butterscotch, fresh and lively, still young even after being opened since morning and a lengthy decant, this needs to be served at the right temperature, not too cold I would say around 16 degrees 93+
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Traditional Rioja (RSJ, London): Slightly musty on the nose initially, but this blows off to reveal a classic Tondo profile. Pale to mid straw. Lemony, waxy and a touch of lanolin. Lovely. ****
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Deep yellow/gold in colour. Honey, almonds, pear and melon are just some of the notes one picks up in this incredibly complex and delicious white wine. One thing of particular note was just how much it changed in the glass. With a bit of air it became richer and the floral notes became more accentuated. Medium + to full in body, the unctuous texture was perfectly balanced by the crisp acidity. On the finish there are citrus notes and hints of grapefruit. Made from 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia, it spent 6 years in 25 year old oak barrels. A unique and amazing wine. www.advinetures.ca
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Quite oxidative, notes of (wal)nuts, dried fruit, citrus fruit, flowers, minerality. Quite edgy and a little angular on the palate at first, but with some time in the glass much rounder and smoother. Fresh, bright, great weight and intensity, fine length. Drink or keep. 91-93
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Spanish Wines (Craigs group) (The Kenwood): Drank a small pour at a tasting. This is one of my favorite Spanish producers, and this wine did not disappoint. Beeswax, slight oxidization, caramel, zippy acidity, a linger creamyness. There is still nice golden fruit here. A solid 91.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Small pour. This was really fun to drink next to the '91 Gran Reserva. A baby version of the '91, this shows the same orange and grapefruit, though not to the same overall depth and length. Quite outstanding in its own right. Should get better too. I hope to see this again down the road. 92+pts.
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Medium gold. Slight oxidation that adds to the complexity. Grapefruit, cement, dried apricots. Rich dried apricot and citrus flavours and a very dry finish. Refreshing acidity.
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Two very consistent bottles. Having tried the 91 and 81 gran reservas the day before ( Papies 95&96) it was quite interesting to try their "lesser" sibling. Quite oxitative, firm, good acidity, not as elegant as the GRs of course but still with a presence and character. A pretty solid wine. 89-90
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As so often, this is an extraordinary exprerience, deep, mineral, a bit smoky. vibrant and complex. Carries the wisdom ef experience, yet it seems to have a very long future. Exciting wine in a world with so many boring ones... #SøllerødKro#nomineringsmiddag
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Golden yellow, white flowers, still young, impeccable balance, fresh, still acidic so I would say cellar for few more years, at the end after almost 3 hours in the decanter it evolved with a more open nose of bees wax, almonds, this would easily warrant 1-2 more points with more age, drank also along with 09 burlotto Barolo and easily stood up 93+
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During a tasting lunch. Initially a bit skeptical about the prospect of a white Rioja, but this wine was very nice. Golden yellow. Expressive nose of citrus, oyster with an slight surmature touch. Lively acidity keeps it interesting and makes it a great partner for the seafood.
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Our first real taste of "oxidation" style white wine - quite an experience. Needed about 15 mins after PnP to even begin to open up. If time is available, recommend an hour decant. Drank over 2 hours and the best was last. The first second on the palate has some resemblance to the first second of drinking a Sauternes (before any sweetness & botrytis kicks in). Some presence of fruits follows, bright acidity, nutty, minerals. Long mineral finish. Initially I crave of some more fruits, yet by the end, i appreciate this style. There's long life ahead, and would like to try again in future.
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Nice acidity. White pulp fruits + dried citrus, salty note. Slight vanilla oak. Very long finish. Just a slight touch of oxidation which adds to the balance & complexity. A bit more depth and length vs gravonia. Otherwise, very similar.
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I love the whites from Lopez de Heredia, and this is no exception. Dark yellow color that accompanies its age. Scents of peach and lichee. Fresh tantalising taste, good acidity. Notes of oak. Simply delicious. Good with seafood like lobster, or scampi. Very curious how this will evolve as professional reviewers claim this will evolve/hold until the mid 2020's.
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Graceful tropical fruits. Nutty. Long aftertaste. Slightly oxidised feel to it - reminiscent of sherry (though quite subtle). This paired well with asparagus and mushroom risotto (which was a challenging dish to pari..). I rarely drink white Rioja and this was an interesting experience. Difficult to rate - in terms of quality I would probably put a score in line with the rest of the CT community 91-92. If this is something I would like to drink often? Probably not.
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Mitt första möte med denna ultra-konservativa legendariska producent. Dito första gången jag provar vit Rioja. Härligt gyllengul skapelse, Rioja karaktären är omisskänlig med kraftfulla fattoner, inslag av vanilj. Fin fruktighet med aprikos och lite grape toner på slutet. Höga syra, upplevs trots åldern som ung fortfarande. Torr, rund och fyllig. Riktigt trevligt vin!!
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Nose shows big and mature, with dry wood/dry oak, vanilla, mint and some fresh oak too, with some oxidized tones present. Palate with mature and somewhat oxidized notes, Madeira, oak spices with some bitterness, dry with sherry notes present, mushrooms and fat nuts. Mature and quite complex & interesting, but perhaps not my favorite style of white wine? (89 – 90?)
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Man am I'm falling in love with rioja blancs. Fresh tropical fruit with white tea, honey, almonds, a hint of fresh vanilla bean and minerals. The entry on the palate is loaded with complexities and great back end acids.
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Fino, complejo, elegantísimo, abierto desde un primer momento pero sin dejar de ganar en intensidad al ir tomando aire. Hay una pátina de fruta madura y cítricos dulces que va dando paso a una mayor presencia de ahumados, pimienta blanca, cúrcuma, vainilla y un fondo mineral (polvorilla) de grandísima calidad. Ordenado, del todo perfilado, y sin ningún elemento sobrante. Vinazo!!!
En boca es grueso, muy serio, con la barrica integradísima, como pocas veces hemos visto... Sabroso y austero al tiempo, con suaves notas cítricas que se funden en su perfecta acidez. La fruta tiene un arranque dulzoso que se queda ahí, sin ir a más, dejando un final larguísimo. Vinazo!!!
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 90% viura, 10% malvasía - 12.5% vol. - Viñedo situado en la margen derecho del Río Ebro, con una altitud entre 438 y 489 metros sobre suelos aluviales hasta arcillo-calcáreos con presencia de gravas y cantos rodados. Vendimia manual a partir del 8 de octubre. Transporte a bodega en comportas. Fermentación en viejas tinas de madera de roble de 60 hectolitros sin control de temperatura. Permanece durante 6 años en barricas usadas de roble americano de 225 litros. Sometido a 2 trasiegas manuales cada año. Clarificado con claras de huevos frescos. Embotellado directamente de la barrica sin filtrar. Producción limitada a 11.000 botellas de 75 cl. Permanece durante un mínimo de 6 años en botellero en los calados de la bodega antes de ser comercializado. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Not really my kind of wine. Felt like an orange wine except with no tannins. Oxidized, petrol, fermented apple and a hint of cheese. Breathed for 2 hours.
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Medium straw. Aromatic, bright fruit, some cream, touch of mint, slight (but attractive) oxidative edge. Medium bodied, bright orangey fruit, slight creaminess, touch of leather, complex, crisp acids, orangey on long finish. Excellent ****1/2.
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A really enjoyable and unique wine for those of us who do not get an opportunity to drink many white La Rioja wines. Very smooth with a nice mouth coating viscosity.
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Complejo, muy complejo, profundo, repleto de pequeños detalles. Sugerente aunque ligeramente esquivo y sin acabar de explosionar. Parece que lo hemos abierto unos años antes de lo que tocaba... Se entremezcla una nota de fruta pasa (orejones) con confitura de nísperos, mondadura de naranja, cítricos (pomelo, citronella), anises estrellados, pimienta blanca y un fondo entre vainilla y ahumados. Impecable, limpio, nada redundante.
En boca viene con empaque, dotado de armazón de gran vino, serio, grueso, estructurado, aunque se repite lo ya visto inicialmente: algo hermético y austero en conjunto. Afilado, vivo, punzante, con una acidez intensa, gran nervio, sin dejar de fluir, fresco, acídulo, persistiendo obstinadamente.
Un blanco por pulir, cargado de futuro, que apenas está dando sus primeros pasos. Se intuye un potencial extremo de crecimiento y una materia prima de inmensa calidad; a lo que hay que sumar una añada expléndida en Rioja que está aún por confirmarse en los pocos vinos de larguísima guarda que se elabora en la actualidad. Otros blancos de Todonia se han mostrado más accesibles y brillantes, más entregados en sus primeros años, pero no recuerdo otro que tuviera las mismas posibilidades de ir a más. Merece ser comprado en grandes cantidades.
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 90% viura, 10% malvasía - 12.5% vol. - Viñedo situado en la margen derecho del Río Ebro, con una altitud entre 438 y 489 metros sobre suelos aluviales hasta arcillo-calcáreos con presencia de gravas y cantos rodados. Vendimia manual a partir del 8 de octubre. Transporte a bodega en comportas. Fermentación en viejas tinas de madera de roble de 60 hectolitros sin control de temperatura. Permanece durante 6 años en barricas usadas de roble americano de 225 litros. Sometido a 2 trasiegas manuales cada año. Clarificado con claras de huevos frescos. Embotellado directamente de la barrica sin filtrar. Producción limitada a 11.000 botellas de 75 cl. Permanece durante un mínimo de 6 años en botellero en los calados de la bodega antes de ser comercializado. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Classic white Tondonia, but more mellow, vanilla and cream than I rememeber. So pleasurable, soft and caressing on the palate, such an enticing nose. Excellent, interesting, even intellectual wine.
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Consistent with my previous tasting note (June 2015). This is a bloody brilliant old-school Rioja white. It is rich and concentrated, yet remarkably fresh with bright acidity and lean mineral core. Layers upon layers of aromas and flavors. Truly an outstanding wine.
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Medium yellow. Almond and orange, some aldehydes. Medium weight, mouth coating, slightly nutty. Sometimes I can take the oxidative style of this wine, sometimes not. This vintage was too much for me.
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UWS (@ JB): Ripe yellow fruits, melon and almonds in the bouquet. On the palate the slightly oxidized style is clear. Yellow fruits, butter, some nuts, firm and good acidity. Some pleasant bitterness in the finish. Full bodied and special wine with a great length.
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93 Amarillo dorado. Nariz oxidativa, muchos frutos secos (avellanas, almendras), ceras, membrillo. En boca tiene mucho peso, volúmen y amplitud. Equilibrado, con una acidez fantástica. Larguísimo. Un gran vino, de una gran bodega.
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By the glass at Etapes in Barcelona. Medium golden color. Again this oxidative note on the nose but unlike the red 02 Tondonia a few days ago, I really like this wine. Almonds on the palate, complexity and texture remind me of a Sauternes but without the sweetness I am not too keen on. Long finish. Great white.
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A blend of Viura aka. Macabeo (90%) and Malvasia Riojana aka. Alarije (10%). Aged for a whopping 6 years in mainly old American barriques, bottled unfiltered and aged for a further 5-6 years in the bottles before release.
Quite deep golden yellow color with slightly green highlights. Upon opening American oak characteristics dominate the rich nose with aromas of cream, sweet wood, tropical yellow fruits, smoke, some beeswax and a hint of vanilla. After a few hours the nose seems to get it all together; the oak feels a lot more integrated and notes of pineapple, peach, honey and orange blossom have become more prominent. Initially the wine is very rich and quite full-bodied with flavors of ripe citrus fruits, sweet woody oak, cream, some vanilla and a hint of dried pineapple. Though the wine is quite voluminous, it doesn't feel heavy or ponderous at all, thanks to the good, bright acidity and some crisp minerality that give structure and keep the body in check. After some aeration, the wine sheds some fatty oak and appears lighter and more elegant with more prominent acidity and lovely notes of roasted herbs, green apple and some mature characteristics of baked apple and nutty toast. The long, rich and crisp finish follows the midpalate seamlessly with complex nuances of spicy oak, cream, vanilla, citrus fruits, some minerality, a hint of butterscotch and mature hints of oxidative hazelnut and biscuit.
A remarkable, old-school white Rioja with extended oxidative aging; although the characteristics from oak aging are evident immediately after opening, they quickly blow away and integrate to the wine, revealing a stunning, utterly complex and infinitely nuanced white wine. It is baffling how fresh and structured the wine appears to be even after such extended aging. Truly a spectacular wine of unique character. Decanting of more than an hour recommended, just so that the wine has enough time to pull itself together. More than an excellent purchase at 20,95€. Very, very recommended.
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3/30/2024 - Lype Likes this wine:
This is open and singing from the getgo. Seamless and effortless, beautifully fresh and exciting, lots of things goin on. This is sitting comfortably on the plateau of its maturity. Flavors of dark yellow fruits, almonds, wild strawberries, peach and more. Oxygen and hints of iron, which in the context of this wine is a feature and a part of the deal, very Tondonia. Long, mouthwatering finish. Perfection in a bottle. I didn’t know us mere mortals were allowed to drink these, apparently we are. Thank you.
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1/31/2024 - NickA Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lorne Rangers 2024 (Lorne): Cor, what a wine! Fresher and with more pizazz than the '92, but not particularly less complex and tertiary in flavour profile. More orange peel than its flight-mate's lemon, with additional aromas of dill, Wrigley's Spearmint and a mellow, smoky rubber note reminiscent of a pre-war bus at a transport museum. Juicy, chewy and so, so long on the palate, and also refreshing and moreish, with a clean, yeasty finish and other fun notes like savoury sourdough, mushroom and lapsang souchong. Really exciting stuff.
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1/31/2024 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lorne Rangers 2024 - Rioja (Lorne Restaurant, London): Tangerine and ginger nose with some flecks of spearmint. With air some subtle smokiness too. Palate really in a good place with an acid core and savoury structure around it. With an hour in the glass there are all sorts of other aromas spotted around the table; some dill a little Lapsang Souchong, hints of marzipan and pine resin. Very hard to separate from the '92 it is served with; by the finest of margins I prefer that.
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8/16/2023 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
Revisiting a favourite of mine, oxidative style with rich full bodied palate, at its peak I believe
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6/24/2022 - futronic wrote: 95 Points
Honeycomb, lanolin, lemon drops, white flowers, hay, and a hint of dried herbs in the traditional, slightly oxidized LdH style. Wow. What a stunning bottle of wine. Can easily go another ten years, or more.
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1/15/2022 - forceberry wrote: 97 Points
A blend of Viura aka. Macabeo (90%) and Malvasia Riojana aka. Alarije (10%). After the spontaneous fermentation, the wine is aged for 6 years in predominantly old American oak barrels, bottled unfiltered and aged for a further 5-6 years in the bottles before release. 12,5% alcohol. Tasted in Tondonia Blanco 1999-2005 vertical.
Luminous burnished golden color - very similar to the 2000 vintage and more youthful than the darker 1999 and 2002 vintages. The nose feels complex, slightly evolved and quite powerful with somewhat concentrated aromas of slivered almonds, some resinous tones, a little bit of hay, light creamy oak nuances, a sweet evolved hint of wizened peach, a touch of smoke and a toasty whiff of brioche. The wine feels remarkably concentrated, moderately full-bodied and even slightly oily on the palate with intense and remarkably dry, layered flavors of ripe red apple and tart lemony citrus fruits, tangy salinity, some savory wood spice, a little bit of oxidative nutty complexity, light creamy nuances, a sweet hint of dried yellow fruits and a touch of chalky mineral bitterness. Although the wine shows some sense of concentration and weight, the prominent, remarkably high acidity makes the wine feel very balanced and structure-driven. The finish is long, complex and tangy with bright, dry flavors of lemony citrus fruits, sharp saline mineral notes, some crisp Granny Smith apple, a little bit of chalky minerality, light evolved nuances of hay and chopped nuts, a developed hint of creamy oak and a touch of bruised or baked apple.
This has been consistently an outstanding vintage of Tondonia Blanco Reserva, but as I've tasted the wine previously only soon after release, I really haven't been able to glimpse the full potential of the wine. Now, in a vertical tasting, the wine really stood head and shoulders above the surrounding vintages, showing some evolved complexity, yet coming across as remarkably youthful, focused and structure-driven, even for a Tondonia Reserva. I really wish I would've purchased more of this upon release - at 20,95€ this was a screaming bargain. A very singular wine that is offering tons of complexity already now, yet still manages to show some additional potential for future evolution. I'd say this was my WotN in out Tondonia Blanco vertical and probably my favorite vintage of the Heredia Reservas vintages from the past 25 years - it is really difficult to make a white Rioja any better than this.
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11/20/2021 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Big Al & Janelle's Spanish Inspired Blowout (Big Al & Janelle's, St. Anthony, MN): Medium golden color. Drank a glass over an hour plus. This was in great shape tonight showing a vibrant nose with lemon oil, lacquer, dried oranges, lanolin, smoke infused bees wax and fusil. The palate is robust and layered, oily textured with an array of citrus oils from mandarin orange to grapefruit, citrus zest, flinty and smoky minerals and loads of dry extract on a long vigorous finish. Loved it. 94+pts.
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11/12/2021 - Chasse_spleen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very special wine, dry and slightly bitter (meant as a compliment), did not work at all with the cod and hollandaise. But was fantastic to the Etivaz hard cheese with fig/date marmalade! Wonderful combination. Very good wine - but match it carefully with the right food. Probably good to charcuterie as an aperitif as well.
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1/3/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
A stunning wine hands down, and then even more stunning with porchetta sandwhiches and a meyer lemon / almond remoulade.
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12/5/2020 - Winestwit Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still seems young, golden in colour, orange peel and some notes of honey on the nose and palate. Simply delicious and could last for many more years.
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8/7/2020 - Lype Likes this wine:
Youthful a bit resinous oxidised nose which gives the impression of a young but promising wine, the palate is tightly knit, profound and full of future promise, a dense and complex package of resin, peach, citrus tones, almonds, nuts, apricot and more, oily and savoury, the usual suspects oak, vanilla, fudge and hints of iron are there but deeply buried underneath the bone dry fruit component. Quite enjoyable now but - despite the age of 19 years - the best years are clearly yet to come. Also the firm acidity reveals that this vintage has a long future ahead. The excellent vintages -04 and -05 are really good and drinking well now but the unbelievable -01 is still at the beginning of its drinking curve and in a class of its own, maybe even reminiscent of a good vintage of Blanco Gran Reserva. I will wait several years before opening the next bottle.
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7/14/2020 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
Sushi/sashimi omakase lunch, dark golden yellow, salty, complex, distinctive, will be long lived
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1/13/2019 - europat55 wrote: 88 Points
Modest nose (B+)
Long finish (B+)
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11/9/2018 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened and slow oxed for 3 hours. This is a clear gold. Orange peel, high acidity, medium to full body floral character, an oily texture. A great mouthfeel that pairs well with roast pork. Balanced. Ready to drink. Drink now to 2031+
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10/9/2018 - portman63 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Showing a golden slightly amber color with lovely savory, lemony, and stony elements all in balance - with food. Just perfect for a rich shellfish-based paella or the nutty hard Spanish cheeses and Serrano/Iberico as I believe this only shows really well with a meal. The acidity/minerality takes over for me if this is tasted on it's own.
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9/11/2018 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Golden. Rich, vibrant. Waxy, caramel, curry, savory. Salty, with bracing acidity. Beautifully distinctive. Smoother than the 2004s we’ve recently had. Super wine. (At Kaia Kaipe.)
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9/7/2018 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Straw in colour. Oily, buttery, and creamy. Much nicer than a bottle of 2004 vina gravonia I had a few years earlier.
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9/7/2018 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Creamy, oily, wazy, quite ready, unique & singular, a good Tondonia
92
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8/27/2018 - Christian von Dresky Likes this wine: 96 Points
Intense, clean, pure, delicate and yet so complex and powerfull - this was all I expected and I am happy that I have been so patiened to open the first bottle. This is really a special wine with an enormous complexity. Bright and fresh with those wonderfull integrated oxydative notes. Salty, very dry with a lot of minerality but also very etheral lemon flavours and a lot of floral hints. Still young, allready a big delight, also a lot of time to improve or better: grow!
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7/21/2018 - David J Cooper wrote: 88 Points
Clear medium yellow. Fresher then the 2000 Gravonia, pear, cement, and bruised apple nose. Dry apple sauce flavours and a very dry refreshing finish.
Probably needs more time.
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2/10/2018 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
Dark yellow, waxy and buttery, distinct & unique, full bodied white, delicious!
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2/9/2018 - Herr Big Ben Likes this wine: 94 Points
Feeling addicted to this classic Tondonia style.
Opened this bottle 4 days ago and there was absolutely no development. This will last for ages I guess.
Nose is filled with bee-wax and caramel
On the palate it’s like flesh of a ripe lemon without the hard acidity. Pure and elegant in-mouth feeling with precise structure and mouthwatering flow.
Gripping and chasing for the next sip.
Should drink this more often I guess
Worth any search (high range in price; pays out to look closely)
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7/14/2017 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Golden yellow, honey and butterscotch, fresh and lively, still young even after being opened since morning and a lengthy decant, this needs to be served at the right temperature, not too cold I would say around 16 degrees
93+
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3/2/2017 - SimonG wrote: 92 Points
Traditional Rioja (RSJ, London): Slightly musty on the nose initially, but this blows off to reveal a classic Tondo profile. Pale to mid straw. Lemony, waxy and a touch of lanolin. Lovely. ****
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2/24/2017 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 94 Points
Golden yellow, biscuits, creamy, white flowers, a stunner! Decanted for 3 hours & it needs it to open up, still young, long finish, will improve
94+
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2/9/2017 - Stirling Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep yellow/gold in colour. Honey, almonds, pear and melon are just some of the notes one picks up in this incredibly complex and delicious white wine. One thing of particular note was just how much it changed in the glass. With a bit of air it became richer and the floral notes became more accentuated. Medium + to full in body, the unctuous texture was perfectly balanced by the crisp acidity. On the finish there are citrus notes and hints of grapefruit. Made from 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia, it spent 6 years in 25 year old oak barrels. A unique and amazing wine. www.advinetures.ca
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2/6/2017 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Quite oxidative, notes of (wal)nuts, dried fruit, citrus fruit, flowers, minerality. Quite edgy and a little angular on the palate at first, but with some time in the glass much rounder and smoother. Fresh, bright, great weight and intensity, fine length. Drink or keep. 91-93
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1/26/2017 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
Spanish Wines (Craigs group) (The Kenwood): Drank a small pour at a tasting. This is one of my favorite Spanish producers, and this wine did not disappoint. Beeswax, slight oxidization, caramel, zippy acidity, a linger creamyness. There is still nice golden fruit here. A solid 91.
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1/22/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Small pour. This was really fun to drink next to the '91 Gran Reserva. A baby version of the '91, this shows the same orange and grapefruit, though not to the same overall depth and length. Quite outstanding in its own right. Should get better too. I hope to see this again down the road. 92+pts.
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10/29/2016 - David J Cooper wrote: 92 Points
Medium gold. Slight oxidation that adds to the complexity. Grapefruit, cement, dried apricots. Rich dried apricot and citrus flavours and a very dry finish. Refreshing acidity.
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8/28/2016 - Papies wrote: 90 Points
Two very consistent bottles. Having tried the 91 and 81 gran reservas the day before ( Papies 95&96) it was quite interesting to try their "lesser" sibling.
Quite oxitative, firm, good acidity, not as elegant as the GRs of course but still with a presence and character. A pretty solid wine. 89-90
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8/10/2016 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
As so often, this is an extraordinary exprerience, deep, mineral, a bit smoky. vibrant and complex. Carries the wisdom ef experience, yet it seems to have a very long future. Exciting wine in a world with so many boring ones...
#SøllerødKro#nomineringsmiddag
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7/7/2016 - Claret & CdP Gang wrote: 93 Points
Golden yellow, white flowers, still young, impeccable balance, fresh, still acidic so I would say cellar for few more years, at the end after almost 3 hours in the decanter it evolved with a more open nose of bees wax, almonds, this would easily warrant 1-2 more points with more age, drank also along with 09 burlotto Barolo and easily stood up
93+
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6/27/2016 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
During a tasting lunch. Initially a bit skeptical about the prospect of a white Rioja, but this wine was very nice. Golden yellow. Expressive nose of citrus, oyster with an slight surmature touch. Lively acidity keeps it interesting and makes it a great partner for the seafood.
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6/5/2016 - DrakkarNoir wrote:
Golden yellow. Nose of ripe pineapple and petrol. A hint of something medicinal. Full bodied, with lingering acidity. Overall a bit heavy. 12.5% abv.
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6/4/2016 - bboard Likes this wine:
Our first real taste of "oxidation" style white wine - quite an experience. Needed about 15 mins after PnP to even begin to open up. If time is available, recommend an hour decant. Drank over 2 hours and the best was last. The first second on the palate has some resemblance to the first second of drinking a Sauternes (before any sweetness & botrytis kicks in). Some presence of fruits follows, bright acidity, nutty, minerals. Long mineral finish. Initially I crave of some more fruits, yet by the end, i appreciate this style. There's long life ahead, and would like to try again in future.
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4/7/2016 - fanglangzhe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice acidity. White pulp fruits + dried citrus, salty note. Slight vanilla oak. Very long finish. Just a slight touch of oxidation which adds to the balance & complexity. A bit more depth and length vs gravonia. Otherwise, very similar.
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3/27/2016 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 93 Points
I love the whites from Lopez de Heredia, and this is no exception. Dark yellow color that accompanies its age. Scents of peach and lichee. Fresh tantalising taste, good acidity. Notes of oak. Simply delicious. Good with seafood like lobster, or scampi. Very curious how this will evolve as professional reviewers claim this will evolve/hold until the mid 2020's.
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3/25/2016 - Loekkeboe Likes this wine:
Very fine white Rioja. Very mature nose, almost madeiraized but still correct. A rather distinctive type of wine.
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3/20/2016 - Mad Dog Mikey Likes this wine:
Graceful tropical fruits. Nutty. Long aftertaste. Slightly oxidised feel to it - reminiscent of sherry (though quite subtle). This paired well with asparagus and mushroom risotto (which was a challenging dish to pari..). I rarely drink white Rioja and this was an interesting experience. Difficult to rate - in terms of quality I would probably put a score in line with the rest of the CT community 91-92. If this is something I would like to drink often? Probably not.
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3/8/2016 - Markus IWC wrote: 91 Points
Mitt första möte med denna ultra-konservativa legendariska producent. Dito första gången jag provar vit Rioja. Härligt gyllengul skapelse, Rioja karaktären är omisskänlig med kraftfulla fattoner, inslag av vanilj. Fin fruktighet med aprikos och lite grape toner på slutet. Höga syra, upplevs trots åldern som ung fortfarande. Torr, rund och fyllig. Riktigt trevligt vin!!
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2/25/2016 - Ramberg wrote: 89 Points
Nose shows big and mature, with dry wood/dry oak, vanilla, mint and some fresh oak too, with some oxidized tones present.
Palate with mature and somewhat oxidized notes, Madeira, oak spices with some bitterness, dry with sherry notes present, mushrooms and fat nuts.
Mature and quite complex & interesting, but perhaps not my favorite style of white wine?
(89 – 90?)
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2/25/2016 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 91 Points
Ett väldigt speciellt vin med exotisk frukt, tryffel, aceton, mogna toner och väldigt låg syra. Lite madeiratoner i eftersmaken
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2/25/2016 - Patrik H wrote: 90 Points
On the nose: Fruit, ammonia, mint, acetone, oak, dry madeira.
On the palate: No acidity at all, honey, bee-wax, oak, vanilla.
Long finish
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2/11/2016 - bajayngo wrote:
Man am I'm falling in love with rioja blancs. Fresh tropical fruit with white tea, honey, almonds, a hint of fresh vanilla bean and minerals. The entry on the palate is loaded with complexities and great back end acids.
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2/11/2016 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 93 Points
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Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2016/01/vina-tondonia-2001-blanco-reserva.html
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De color amarillo dorado, intenso, limpio. Reflejos cobrizos y anaranjados, vivos, brillante. La misma sensación glicérica, mucha cantidad de lágrima, densa, permanente.
Fino, complejo, elegantísimo, abierto desde un primer momento pero sin dejar de ganar en intensidad al ir tomando aire. Hay una pátina de fruta madura y cítricos dulces que va dando paso a una mayor presencia de ahumados, pimienta blanca, cúrcuma, vainilla y un fondo mineral (polvorilla) de grandísima calidad. Ordenado, del todo perfilado, y sin ningún elemento sobrante. Vinazo!!!
En boca es grueso, muy serio, con la barrica integradísima, como pocas veces hemos visto... Sabroso y austero al tiempo, con suaves notas cítricas que se funden en su perfecta acidez. La fruta tiene un arranque dulzoso que se queda ahí, sin ir a más, dejando un final larguísimo. Vinazo!!!
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90% viura, 10% malvasía - 12.5% vol.
- Viñedo situado en la margen derecho del Río Ebro, con una altitud entre 438 y 489 metros sobre suelos aluviales hasta arcillo-calcáreos con presencia de gravas y cantos rodados. Vendimia manual a partir del 8 de octubre. Transporte a bodega en comportas. Fermentación en viejas tinas de madera de roble de 60 hectolitros sin control de temperatura. Permanece durante 6 años en barricas usadas de roble americano de 225 litros. Sometido a 2 trasiegas manuales cada año. Clarificado con claras de huevos frescos. Embotellado directamente de la barrica sin filtrar. Producción limitada a 11.000 botellas de 75 cl. Permanece durante un mínimo de 6 años en botellero en los calados de la bodega antes de ser comercializado.
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1/22/2016 - arvidpalmqvist Does not like this wine:
Not really my kind of wine. Felt like an orange wine except with no tannins. Oxidized, petrol, fermented apple and a hint of cheese. Breathed for 2 hours.
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1/11/2016 - Paul D wrote:
Medium straw. Aromatic, bright fruit, some cream, touch of mint, slight (but attractive) oxidative edge. Medium bodied, bright orangey fruit, slight creaminess, touch of leather, complex, crisp acids, orangey on long finish. Excellent ****1/2.
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1/9/2016 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 92 Points
A really enjoyable and unique wine for those of us who do not get an opportunity to drink many white La Rioja wines. Very smooth with a nice mouth coating viscosity.
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1/8/2016 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 93 Points
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Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2016/01/vina-tondonia-2001-blanco-reserva.html
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De color amarillo dorado, intenso, limpio. Reflejos cobrizos y anaranjados, vivos, brillante. Hay la habitual sensación glicérica, mucha cantidad de lágrima, densa, permanente.
Complejo, muy complejo, profundo, repleto de pequeños detalles. Sugerente aunque ligeramente esquivo y sin acabar de explosionar. Parece que lo hemos abierto unos años antes de lo que tocaba... Se entremezcla una nota de fruta pasa (orejones) con confitura de nísperos, mondadura de naranja, cítricos (pomelo, citronella), anises estrellados, pimienta blanca y un fondo entre vainilla y ahumados. Impecable, limpio, nada redundante.
En boca viene con empaque, dotado de armazón de gran vino, serio, grueso, estructurado, aunque se repite lo ya visto inicialmente: algo hermético y austero en conjunto. Afilado, vivo, punzante, con una acidez intensa, gran nervio, sin dejar de fluir, fresco, acídulo, persistiendo obstinadamente.
Un blanco por pulir, cargado de futuro, que apenas está dando sus primeros pasos. Se intuye un potencial extremo de crecimiento y una materia prima de inmensa calidad; a lo que hay que sumar una añada expléndida en Rioja que está aún por confirmarse en los pocos vinos de larguísima guarda que se elabora en la actualidad. Otros blancos de Todonia se han mostrado más accesibles y brillantes, más entregados en sus primeros años, pero no recuerdo otro que tuviera las mismas posibilidades de ir a más. Merece ser comprado en grandes cantidades.
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90% viura, 10% malvasía - 12.5% vol.
- Viñedo situado en la margen derecho del Río Ebro, con una altitud entre 438 y 489 metros sobre suelos aluviales hasta arcillo-calcáreos con presencia de gravas y cantos rodados. Vendimia manual a partir del 8 de octubre. Transporte a bodega en comportas. Fermentación en viejas tinas de madera de roble de 60 hectolitros sin control de temperatura. Permanece durante 6 años en barricas usadas de roble americano de 225 litros. Sometido a 2 trasiegas manuales cada año. Clarificado con claras de huevos frescos. Embotellado directamente de la barrica sin filtrar. Producción limitada a 11.000 botellas de 75 cl. Permanece durante un mínimo de 6 años en botellero en los calados de la bodega antes de ser comercializado.
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12/30/2015 - hitechnomad wrote: 87 Points
good acidity, beautiful straw gold colour. But lacking much fruit or bouquet. An off bottle? Quite oxidative. Does it need more time?
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12/24/2015 - AV2012 wrote: 93 Points
Classic white Tondonia, but more mellow, vanilla and cream than I rememeber. So pleasurable, soft and caressing on the palate, such an enticing nose. Excellent, interesting, even intellectual wine.
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12/13/2015 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points
Consistent with my previous tasting note (June 2015). This is a bloody brilliant old-school Rioja white. It is rich and concentrated, yet remarkably fresh with bright acidity and lean mineral core. Layers upon layers of aromas and flavors. Truly an outstanding wine.
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11/28/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Medium yellow. Almond and orange, some aldehydes. Medium weight, mouth coating, slightly nutty. Sometimes I can take the oxidative style of this wine, sometimes not. This vintage was too much for me.
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10/4/2015 - AWBryce wrote:
Nice nose, good mouthfeel and acidity. Funky, butterscotch, light on the palate. Long finish.
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9/10/2015 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
UWS (@ JB): Ripe yellow fruits, melon and almonds in the bouquet. On the palate the slightly oxidized style is clear. Yellow fruits, butter, some nuts, firm and good acidity. Some pleasant bitterness in the finish. Full bodied and special wine with a great length.
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8/13/2015 - gallu wrote: 93 Points
93 Amarillo dorado. Nariz oxidativa, muchos frutos secos (avellanas, almendras), ceras, membrillo. En boca tiene mucho peso, volúmen y amplitud. Equilibrado, con una acidez fantástica. Larguísimo. Un gran vino, de una gran bodega.
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6/24/2015 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 93 Points
By the glass at Etapes in Barcelona. Medium golden color. Again this oxidative note on the nose but unlike the red 02 Tondonia a few days ago, I really like this wine. Almonds on the palate, complexity and texture remind me of a Sauternes but without the sweetness I am not too keen on. Long finish. Great white.
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6/21/2015 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points
A blend of Viura aka. Macabeo (90%) and Malvasia Riojana aka. Alarije (10%). Aged for a whopping 6 years in mainly old American barriques, bottled unfiltered and aged for a further 5-6 years in the bottles before release.
Quite deep golden yellow color with slightly green highlights. Upon opening American oak characteristics dominate the rich nose with aromas of cream, sweet wood, tropical yellow fruits, smoke, some beeswax and a hint of vanilla. After a few hours the nose seems to get it all together; the oak feels a lot more integrated and notes of pineapple, peach, honey and orange blossom have become more prominent. Initially the wine is very rich and quite full-bodied with flavors of ripe citrus fruits, sweet woody oak, cream, some vanilla and a hint of dried pineapple. Though the wine is quite voluminous, it doesn't feel heavy or ponderous at all, thanks to the good, bright acidity and some crisp minerality that give structure and keep the body in check. After some aeration, the wine sheds some fatty oak and appears lighter and more elegant with more prominent acidity and lovely notes of roasted herbs, green apple and some mature characteristics of baked apple and nutty toast. The long, rich and crisp finish follows the midpalate seamlessly with complex nuances of spicy oak, cream, vanilla, citrus fruits, some minerality, a hint of butterscotch and mature hints of oxidative hazelnut and biscuit.
A remarkable, old-school white Rioja with extended oxidative aging; although the characteristics from oak aging are evident immediately after opening, they quickly blow away and integrate to the wine, revealing a stunning, utterly complex and infinitely nuanced white wine. It is baffling how fresh and structured the wine appears to be even after such extended aging. Truly a spectacular wine of unique character. Decanting of more than an hour recommended, just so that the wine has enough time to pull itself together. More than an excellent purchase at 20,95€. Very, very recommended.
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10/30/2011 - drwine2001 wrote:
Going Away Celebration and Dinner for David (The Panhandle and Nopa, San Francisco): Light tulip color. Fascinating blend of citrus and vanilla. Round, average acidity, good minerality. Just the slightest oxidative note, terrific length.
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