2023 Family Xmas; 12/23/2023-12/25/2023 (Alicante - España): Second of three. Twenty-five years on top. Cork soaked in half. Aromas of lemon bark, ginger, spices such as cloves and vanilla, nuts, caramel essence, roasted chestnuts, limestone mineral and even rose water. Tremendous complexity. On the palate its viscous texture is totally by a still impressive acidity that cleans the entire mouth. Good length, excellent depth, already solved tannins and a citrusy post-taste. My kingdom for bottles like this. Indescribable pleasure. My last bottle in ten years. Don’t stop the party. Eternal bottle. LdH always an exciting experience. Merry Christmas!
Segunda de tres. Veinticinco años encima. Corcho empapado a la mitad. Aromas a corteza de limón, jengibre, especias como el clavo y la vainilla, frutos secos, esencia de caramelo, castañas asadas, mineral calizo e incluso agua de rosas. Tremenda complejidad. Al paladar su textura viscosa queda totalmente por una todavía impresionante acidez que limpia la boca entera. Buena longitud, excelente profundidad, taninos ya resueltos y un cítrico postgusto. Mi reino por botellas como ésta. Indescriptible placer. Mi última botella para dentro de diez años. No pares de disfrutar. Botella eterna. LdH, siempre una experiencia emocionante. ¡Feliz Navidad!
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Spent på denne etter 2 dårlige flasker. Forsmak i stua med juleregn på glaset og julestjenenen fra TVstua. Fin nese med gulplomme, gammel kjeller. Fyldig neste oljete konsistens med rik smak med gulplomme gammel eik, salt ettersmak som sitter lenge. Vokser i glasset og går mot elegante noter med ferske nøtter. 1 dag: mer elegant i dag,
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Off list at Pappas Brothers. Brief impression. Aromas of nuts, lemon curd, tart apples and herbs. Palate with mild nuts, lemon curd, herbs, minerals. Seamless with lovely balance. Excellent concentration. Really lovely. 93+
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A fascinating wine. I was a little worried that it was over the hill when I first opened it, but it really freshened up with 30 mins in the glass.
This is my first aged White Rioja, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. So I was very surprised when my first instinct upon smelling it was aged German Riesling; it had that petrol character and yellow fruits of Riesling. But there was also a nuttiness that distinguished it as something different. Aromas of petrol, red apple, pear, pineapple, limes, almonds, mixed nuts- this is a wild nose!
Bone dry in the mouth. Acid is medium high. Body is medium. Tastes like lime juice, bruised orchard fruits, yellow peaches, all wrapped in a distinct nuttiness that is kind of like Fino Sherry. It’s interesting, there is this off-note that I associate with white wine that is just too old for its own good, that comes and goes. I’ve never experienced this before. One minute, “this would have been better 5 years ago”, the next minute “fresh as a daisy”. And this went back and forth over three days! No idea what to make of it.
But all in all, a great experience. I need to get more White Rioja!
Took 20 minutes to open up. Perhaps poured too cold. Yellow almost golden Intense nose - caramelised fruit, apple possibly pineapple, pepper, hint of petrol High acidity Palate is dry but with rich fruit flavours, slightly salty. Long finish.
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Much more oxidized than the ‘91 Gran Reserva we tried it with. Petrol on the nose and not a ton of acid. Still very nice to try white wines with this kind of age.
Oxidized style but not in a way that makes this tired at all. Notes of yellow peach, hazelnut and lime zest, with vegetal overtones. Fat and lingering, and delicious.
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The wine is clear and looks deep golden/amber in colour. There is no sediment in the bottle.
On the nose: very fresh on the nose, citrus fruit, (apple, pear) some fresh grass and slight grapefruit to finish.
On the palate: pear, apple citrus fruit slight honey. Quite astringent on the secondary pallette.
The body is medium/full. The wine has a sharp texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has fresh smooth to tart/crisp acidity
Conclusion Quite a savoury wine and lacking sweetness. Overall a very dry white wine and for me too acidic to be fully balanced. Nevertheless a very interesting
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Birth year wine for eldest and brought it to restaurant to celebrate her birthday. Deep color almost Sauternes in appearance. It's been almost 4 years since my last bottle and this is still cruising along. Actually needed air and to come up in temp to really show its stuff. Lanolin, honey, bits of melon, clove, cantaloupe and white flowers. Was not showing the slight oxidation I'd expect. Acids were still prevalent and at times quite zippy. One more bottle to go and will see how it tastes at 25 years of age.
Cool, fun, interesting wine!
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Blind tasting with buds (Washington, DC): Light orange color. Aromas show an interesting mix of lemon, quince, orange peel, with sea salt, white tea, candle wax, but the oxidation elements are woven in well. Zippy on the palate with a pleasant creaminess. Orange peel, candied lemon, mixed with salt brine, green olives, hay, honey. This was decanted and got more and more expressive with air. Tastes "natty" but clean and vibrant. This bottle was in a great place, although I assume variation is quite a thing with this wine. Tasted blind, I wasn't convinced of anything (Chenin? Random Italian natural wine? A less crazy Jura Chard?) but should've known it was Heredia. So good.
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Eastside Tasting Group End of Year Extravaganza (Newcastle, WA): No one seemed to grab this in their pictures. I would have thought this was Rose from the color. Quite oxidative. Someone said it was a proper example and typical. This deserved more mindshare than I could give it.
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18 ct. Golden color; beguiling nose: lanolin, bees wax a touch of acidity. On the palate not quite as round and smooth as the nose promised but still quite pleasant; medium weight, good middle palate, a touch of fyrn and the acidity is a bit out of balance. All in all quite pleasant but does not get close to the glorious old white Riojas like Castillo Ygay Reserva Especial etc... At least there is somebody still in Rioja who makes old style whites...
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Long ago I expressed my preferences go to wines like this. Despite that traditional austerity of Tondonia red, Lopez de Heredia still makes magnificent whites along side a delicious Bosconia cuvée. In my view twenty years is a good moment to open this kind of bottles. Once again 1998 shows its potential to develop a wine of long runner personality but at the same time quite ready always at the austere way of the road. On the nose those predominant aromas of honey, leather, clove, nutmeg, hawthorn flower and candied lemon peel. Very Chenin Blanc-like. Multilayered. Oxidatively elegant. Decadent yet delicious style. Jura reminiscent. On the palate conserves its proverbial character with a light texture, right acidity and a good length. I would like more complexity anyway. There's room to expand its beauty. Next bottle in five years or so (mainly because I am getting old)
Hace tiempo ya expresé mis preferencias por vinos como este. A pesar de la tradicional austeridad del tinto de Tondonia, López de Heredia todavía hace magníficos blancos junto a una deliciosa cuvée Bosconia. En mi opinión, veinte años es un buen momento para abrir este tipo de botellas. Una vez más, 1998 muestra su potencial para desarrollar un vino de personalidad de largo recorrido pero, al mismo tiempo, bastante listo siempre al lado austero de la carretera. En nariz los aromas predominantes de la miel, el cuero, el clavo, la nuez moscada, la flor de espino y la cáscara de limón confitada. Muy parecido a Chenin Blanc. Multifacético. Oxidativamente elegante. Estilo decadente pero delicioso. Reminiscencias a Jura. Al paladar conserva su carácter proverbial con una textura ligera, acidez correcta y una buena longitud. Me gustaría más complejidad de todos modos. Hay espacio para expandir su belleza. Siguiente botella en unos cinco años (principalmente porque me hago abuelo).
Color has further darkened, now 18ct. gold to light amber. On the nose: bee's wax, lanolin, wood polish with underlying acidity. On the palate this impression continues, on the front and middle palate it is nicely balanced, round with good complexity; then a sharper acidic note creeps it which stays and the wine develops pronounced age notes with some bitter tones. Unless there is considerable bottle variation it looks like this wine is fully mature and needs to be drunk.
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Sampled by 15 wine club members. Most were not fans of the wine by itself. But once paired with home paella, it was magic. The combination as amazing. Was not the best of the 20 wines served, but certainly the most interesting.
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MNB: White Rioja and laterals (Home (Noe st)): (blind) Medium plus gold. Deeply oxidized nose with savory apple-butter and toast notes from age. Slight toasted almond. Notable buttercream, butterscotch, and apple pastry nose. Well-integrated oak. Still a bit of rawness - it's not completely tertiary. Palate: Dry, medium plus body, 13.5% alcohol, high+ acid.
The oak is pretty prominent, but the acid is also high. It has a distinctly sherried quality (almond skins on the finish) that speaks to intentional oxidation.
Laterals: - White rioja - Arbois Chardonnay or savagnin - Older Chardonnay.
Given the prominence of oak, I think this is a Rioja Gran Reserva, 2003. More modern producer - french oak - not LDH or La Rioja Alta.
Actually 1998 Tondonia LdH Reserva!
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An amazing white with succulence and just a bit of oxidative characteristics. Still just golden in color with a baked apple nose. Medium bodied with a super long finish. This will be great for years to come or have it tonight. Delicious!
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Briefly decanted: color of 18 carat gold; soft nose with bees' wax, lanolin and touch of acidity which makes it lively. As the wine opens up, some nuttiness appears and the wine becomes more complex. Soft on the palate, good mouthfeel and volume, mineral feel, some age notes and again the acidity which becomes less noticeable as the wine warms up in the glass. This wine needs to be drunk not below 14-15 degrees C to do it justice and bring out the flavors ; drink it too cold and it becomes thin with too much of an acid grip. Holding up well and with a good number of years of life left. I like these old style Rioja wines; they are really age-worthy. On day 2 the wine, left overnight in the decanter. has become more sherry-like. Still pleasant but now slightly oxidized
.
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Restaurant purchase. This was awesome tonight. The acid keeps this alive I think. Oxidative style but not tired in any way. Amazing w Spanish fare. Plenty of time in hand too
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I knew what I was getting into, but this was still a weird and striking wine. Medium gold color. Nose shows almonds, white and green tea, quince paste, lemon zest, melted candle wax. Medium-bodied, obviously oxidized but seems a bit heavy on that front, some moderate acidity. Oily, dried wax, sea salt, almond, walnuts, honeyed tea. Funky, earthy undertones with hay, clover and spiced teas. Still fascinating and fun but super nerdy. The wife did NOT like it, but I did. Even more provocative on day two.
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Seawater, wood polish, honeycomb, preserved lemon, cantaloupe, pear, and almonds on the nose. A slight sense of sweetness on the palate with dried yellow fruits, nuts, butter, and salty minerals. Nice acidity, drinking wonderfully now, but no rush.
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served cold and not decanted and wasn't all that interesting at first. Forgot about this and moved onto the red and this sat open and warmed up to room temp 2 hours later and this was fantastic. Such vivacity and complexity it was striking. all that nutty flavors, but there was an equal amount of very intense unsweetened yellow fruits and exotic tea flavors. wish i had more...
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My first visit to Bern's Steakhouse (Tampa): I had ordered a Tuna Tartar with a toasted sesame drizzle as an appetizer and this paired so well it was seamless. Colorwas pale golden. White flowers and sweet caramel on the nose. It started reserved but as time passed and the wine came up closer to room temp it was more expansive. Great waxy texture, tart green apple, pear and a note of freshly sliced almonds. Medium plus bodied with bright/racy acidity that pushed through the finish. I really enjoyed this and combined with the fact that it paired so well with the food it just made it an even better experience. Wonderful aging potential here.
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Deep gold color, clear, thick, viscous legs. Smells are honey, pear, orange zest, wool, some almond aroma. Tastes are almonds, Mandarin orange, sea salt, citrus notes, and tropical fruit. The finish is long and the body is weighty.
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this bottle was much better than the last one opened in summer 2016; dark golden color, going towards amber. On the nose a touch of "rancio" , wax and wood polish with a touch of sweetness. On the palate very harmonious and long with fair amount of complexity. Acidity gives it live and balance but is not protruding. A fine, old style, white Rioja. Top marks . why do they not make this style of wine anymore? (the other producers, I mean, like Ygay etc)
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Spanish at Costa Blanca (Costa Blanca, Mpls, MN): Light gold color. PNP, drank 1 glass over a n hour. Drank this side by side with the '96. Both were outstanding wines and were not showing the sometimes quite overt oxidative character that can mask or tone down the freshness of these wines. The '96 showed a touch more age, but still remained remarkably fresh and vibrant. The '98 had a remarkable nose and palate. The intensity of the perfume here was amazing. Bright white flowers, lemon, lemon oil, waxy, brisk minerals, exotic spices with a hint of pine. The palate is marked by it brightness and fresh lively feel that seems to be consistent with its light youthful color; citrus, tangerine oil, dried yellow fruits, mineral, spice, honey, almond paste I favored the '98 by a bit for its overall brightness and complexity. 93+ to 94pts.
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This surprised and flummoxed me. Just a hint of oxidation (on the nose) I usually associate with older Lopez whites. Deepening yellow in color, this had lemon, cantaloupe, honey and white flower notes all over it. Crisp to moderate acids carried throughout the wine. Drinking incredibly well.
World class wine that can age at $40. Excellent!
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Fast Times at the Frey's: Quite complex, nutty, and oxidized. This is fairly accessible, and was better received by a group of 10 of us than I anticipated.
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Fast Times at the Frey's: Medium gold color. PNP, drank a 2.5oz pour over 40 minutes. It's always fun to drink these "old" Lopez wines. They are just so interesting and complex. This was no different. It had that slightly oxidative character, though not too much so in this instance. A bit candied on the nose too, complex phenols, high toned with a candied lemon sweetness. the palate shows the same oxidative, nutty quality, full bodied, lemon, and a medium plus finish.
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herbaceous honeycomb with just hints of some floral elements. intact acidity. Seems quite ready after 1 hour decant and at its peak. Not a full throttle Blanco, but correct and pleasurable.
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My opinion about this wine was see-sawing as the wine developed in the glass and got a bit warmer: The color is a glorious and warm 18carat gold. At first it had a fragrant but reticent bouquet and on the palate was rather acidic and a bit on the lean side. As it warmed up it became fuller, and more balanced and the acidity receded a bit, but was always there. It has notes of lanolin and bees wax and the tertiary notes of barrel/bottle age (what the Germans call "Firne"). On the whole it was pleasant and reasonably complex - went well with the pan fried halibut too - but definitively not great. For greatness it lacked substance on the middle palate and the finish was too short and had too much acidity. Several grades below the 1978 Ygay Gran Reserva consumed a couple of years ago An interesting experience (my first bottle of the Viña Tononia blanco reserva). Will the Gran Reserva show more complexity? Will need to try out....
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Popped and poured, consumed over 4 hours. Nose: Medium-plus expressiveness, cantaloupe, canned pears, lemon, dank earth, and butter - some would find the dank earth scent off putting but it seemed to add to the character of the nose to me. Palate: Medium bodied, tart citrus fruit attack with melon undertones, plenty of acidic back-bone keeps this 18 year old wine feeling youthful, back-end is dominated by melon, lemon, and earthiness which dominates a medium-plus length finish.
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Wonderful wine, high toned citrus fruit with subtle juicy tropical fruit, white and yellow flowers, limestone, secondary flavors but little oxidation. Very lively on the palate, amazing freshness for a wine of 18 years. Will seek more out. Great QPR.
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A private lunch (Restaurant Coque **, Humanes de Madrid, Spain): Youthful straw yellow with a green tinge; pure and fresh nose, crisp viura and the warmth of old (and attractively resinous) wood, citrus and aromatic herbs and flowers, not oxidative at all; incredibly fresh on the palate, crisp and tight even, light flavours, hint of cream, very elegant bitters, linear and precise; good length. Unique in its style, frozen in time, a treat.
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Quite deep golden yellow color with a developed honeyed overtone. The nose feels somewhat restrained, quite developed and pretty oxidative with very nuanced aromas of creamy richness, slightly wizened stone fruits, some chopped nuts, a little bit of fresh apple, light beeswaxy tones and a hint of vanilla. The wine is remarkably complex, relatively light-bodied and noticeably acid-driven on the palate with dry, layered and lively flavors of tangy citrus fruits, creamy richness, some stony minerality, a little bit of wizened yellow fruits, light oxidative nutty tones, a hint of butter and a touch of honey. The wine isn't big or unctuous, but the age seems to have granted the wine some lovely viscosity and there's a lot of understated richness underneath the surface. The high acidity keeps the wine remarkably fresh, intense and structured. The finish is surprisingly light and delicate but also very nicely fresh, crisp and lengthy with lively, complex flavors of tart green apples, creaminess, some vanilla, a little bit of tangy citrus fruits, light mineral tones of wet stones and a hint of butter.
A surprisingly light and restrained vintage of Tondonia Reserva - making me think more of Viña Gravonia - but showing also the remarkable freshness, intensity and complexity this idiosyncratic wine so often does. Very, very lovely effort. There's still some room for further development, so I wouldn't be surprised if the wine turned out to be even better in the future, but it is drinking very wonderfully right now. Despite its rather delicate nature, this is an outstanding example of white Rioja by all accounts. Highly recommended.
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After drinking this, I can understand the mixed reviews. This is a fascinating and complex wine that doesn't fit easily into any of the common categories. At the same time, it is incredibly light and almost watery, sharply tart, richly perfumed, and evolving in the glass and on the palate. Significantly better on day 2 than day 1. Rich nose of plums/tamarind; very light texture; taste of sweet Meyer lemon, mineral water, light rosewater; long honeyed prune/tamarind finish matches the perfume. Too nuanced to pair well with spicy Indian as a Riesling might; i will try lemon/caper sauce next time
oxidative nose with some hints of oak, grilled hazelnuts, good freshness, dry finish. perhaps the fruit is on the thin side come mid-palate, but all in all just a very nice wine experience. Went well with a fish soup that included some smoked jalapenos, and a ramen broth with a lot of intensity.
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A stunningly good white. Fresh, acidic and briney. Plenty of darker flavors like wax, almond, bark and a certain Fino/Manzanilla funk to it, but with a touch of sweetness in the backbone that makes this come across as almost youthful. Though the color is flaxen, the wine doesn't have an oxidized quality that one would expect from other wines this age. Very long finish with a progressive complexity that is remarkable. Simply a pleasure to sip and enjoy.
An insane wine, per the established wisdom for dry white wines, which is to bottle them young and release them out of the winery as fresh as possible. When I bought this a few years ago, 1998 was the current release of this wine, whose grapes are 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia, made as a reserva, maximally aged in oak barrels. This wine simply defies all expectations. Most white wines released anywhere near 17 years after being harvested would be dead on arrival. The color is the same light yellow of most all 3 year old white wines. The ethereally perfumed nose has zero of the butterscotch which is a typical give away that a white wine is older. The mouth entry has the firmness one would expect from a wine that extracted tannins from the grape skins. Bright acidity accompanies the taste all the way out though an almost endless finish. The wine goes magnificently with foods ranging from salads to meats. I bought this as a defiant oddity, but it won me over for its wonderful quality.
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Beautiful golden color. Expressive nose of vinous petrol, peach pits, and floral notes. An undercurrent of energy expressed in its breadth, but still light on its feet. Crisp, complex fruit with a durable finish. I continue to find viura one of the most versatile whites for difficult food pairings, and this LdH is an excellent viura (10% malvasía). Outstanding tonight with seafood and asparagus.
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Rich and round without weighing too heavily on the palate. This wine has entered a secondary phase as all the baby fat is long gone. Notes are earthier with hints of spice and more subtle. A solid wine and very pleasurable but perhaps missing some depth. I'd say this one is ready to drink up.
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better than the 99 from yesterday, still not so good as I remembered the bottle of a friend last christmas. I don't like the acidity of the wine, but it helps the wine to keep alive. The wine needs air, i will decant the next bottle for at least one hour.
Restaurant purchase. This had the secondary nutty flavors w acid supporting florals and fruit. This was versatile and matched all of our tapas except for duck legs. Great stuff
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Light yellow in color. Nice notes of hazelnut, citrus, and some oily petrol aromas that dissipated with time. Rich and full in texture but not heavy due to the acidic lift. Quite delicious now and with plenty of life ahead of it.
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Golden-yellow color. Candle wax, floral perfume, vintage leather in the smell. Citrus rind and rustic, almost smoky qualities in the taste. Beautiful, lingering aftertaste. Medium body. High acidity. What can I say...? It's really, really good.
Wow, what an interesting, yet unusual wine. At first very funky on the nose with a distinct oxidation that fortunately blew off. After that the nose was full of minerals, citrus and nuts (hazelnut?). the mid palate was smooth and warm with some pear and apricot and wet stones, but the finish was long and elegant and full of citrus. It went great with anything truffle, of which we had several small appetizers. It also accentuated the flavors of things like a sourdough roll and a Vermont French-style cultured butter. This was a great accompaniment to almost half our meal at Restaurant Lorena in Maplewood, NJ...Superb
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Coravined a glass. Gold color. Very strong acetone notes on the nose that did not blow off over two hours. Also orange, oily notes. Citrus and nutty, oily on the palate. High acidity, full body. Hard to get past that nose of acetone.... 5 1/2 months later - opened bottle. No acetone this time - maybe allergies or something was effecting me... Some almost sherry-like oxidative flavors, along with orange, peach, and almond. Interesting, but it's expensive for a sherry wanna-be...
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Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of mixed yellow fruits, talc and wet stones. Flavors of lemon, yellow pears and minerals. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Light nose of mixed yellow fruits and wet stones. Flavors of yellow pears, yellow apples and a hint of apricot. Bright acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Deep gold color, with nice clarity. The smells are ginger, vanilla, figs, and floral notes. The tastes are mandarin orange, sweet grapefruit, sweet wood, ginger, lanolin, and hints of olive. Nice lush body and a hint of spice on the finish.
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Extraordinarily youthful of course. Plenty of acidity still and just beginning to get to an expansive mature Tondonia style. Years of life ahead........................
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Good freshness, both on nose and palate. Nose is acute with salinity, orange, marmalade and oil. Hefty palate with oily nature. Some nuttiness, olive oil, secondary fruit of lemon curd and wood. Very good qpr at under $40.
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1998 Rioja by Lopez, definitely not a typical white wine due to the 16 years of aging. Complex nose of Meyer lemon, limestone and clearly distinguishable notes of Palo Cortado. On the palate more ripe but still fresh lemons, limes, dry Sherry notes, citrus scented lanolin, petrichor and that crunchy lemon/limestone taste and sensation combination. Very young and fresh acidity that confirms it has just recently entered it's drinking window. The primary grape is Viura which is also known as Macabeo.
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For a Rioja rather crisp. Very nice elaborate fruit flavours, light structure, a bit salty - by far not as oxi freaky as other vintages resp. bottles. Nice one
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Great oxidation notes with ginger honey hazel nuts and floral perfume. Dense with a long finish. Great acidity and freshness that cleanses the pallet. Intense honey comb and spice notes. Lots left to go in this one.
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even though I have had LdH whites before, I was taken a bit by surprise by it tonight. this was as fresh and youthful as any bottle that I have tried, with delicate almost floral notes defined by citrusy fruit and minerals. the last bottle I had was much more secondary and evolved. this one was dynamite and by my estimation just getting started.
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Classic LdH nose, rich with nutty and floral aromas. Similarly oxidative elements on the palate, which managed the usual high-wire act of oily texture and lovely acidic freshness with an almost-metallic minerality to accompany the sherry-ish nutty flavors.
Nariz de gran intensidad, abierto, directo, expresivo y con una dosis de complejidad notable. Hay una cantidad impresionante de fruta madura, orejones, miel, confitura de naranja que se complementa con una expresión de crianza muy clásica y que aún tiene que ir suavizándose. Aparecen notas de especias exóticas y vainilla, cítricos dulces. Muy "joven" aún, con un potencial de crecimiento que da miedo.
Gran equilibrio en boca, preciso, ordenado, con una acidez viva y una integración de la madera fantástica. Redondo, sabroso, lleno, muy largo, con finos amargosos y una clase espectacular. Tendrá que ir ganando en profundidad con mayor tiempo pero lo tiene todo. Está en sus primeros años y promete ser uno de los mejores blancos de la bodega. Todavía no ha adquirido matices reductivos y tiene mucha tela para cortar. Lleno de futuro!!! Un Tondonia blanco de gran añada que en unos años, con un poco de paciencia por nuestra parte, y buena guarda, no tendrá mucho que envidiar al Gran Reserva. El nivel de calidad de estos blancos de LDH sigue a la alza cosecha tras cosechas y a un precio de derribo difícil de igualar. Chapeau!!!!
Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 90% viura, 10% malvasía - 12.5% vol. Vendimia manual. Fermentación en viejas tinas de roble de 60 hectolitros sin control de temperatura. Permanece durante 6 años en barricas 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. Permanece durante un mínimo de 9 años en los calados de la bodega antes de ser comercializado. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
another evening on the terraces with grilled salmon, lamb and steak: very luminous light golden colour, intense nose of american oak, nutty, herbs, tobacco, on the palate very dry appearance, some candied fruit, overripeness, earthy, north sea aromas, finishes with strong but integrated acidity, complex, very elegant and balanced, midweight body, long finish, a special wine type and very good with all kinds of this grilled stuff, but to enjoy this type of botttle alone, hmm....not mine in this condition of evaluation of this bottle, maybe I am lacking the experience.......will try again, 86- 90+?
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We love this style of wines and its important to have that perspective in mind. This was close to a rhone white, like an ermitage blanc at times. Less oxidative than the gran reservas, more waxy, ripe, nutty feel. Firm and long and has a lot of life ahead of it. lacks a bit the depth and complexity of the gran reservas though, however more approachable than the GRs at this stage.91-92
Nutty, almonds, and pear nose. Slightly oxidative. PAlate is clean, and precise with little wisps of acid to keep things edgy. Slight hints of oyster shell and grass. Polished. Just fine if you like the style. I do.
A private dinner (Restaurant London House, London, UK): Not very expressive but incredibly fresh and harmonious, elegant, mineral and energetic, oyster shell, slender, supported by some warmth from the oak, more about structure than about fruit, just a hint of nuttiness, citrus, lovely flavours and length.
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This is bone dry and certanly a fine white Rioja. Much improvemt day two with a honey, nutty nose. Almost Sauternes like but without the sweetness. Special wine.
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Chicago Rotating Dinner Series - March 2014 (Aged Rioja) (Paris Club - Chicago, IL): Tasted single-blind. Had some pear and melon notes on the nose, but thought this was a bit quiet and closed. The palate had more soft melon and some lemony/lime notes. Acid was medium. Pretty nice wine that I pegged for the 2003 Blanco Vina Gravonia.
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This was an interesting wine. It had good acidity. The wine was softer than I expected, but it seemed to have good balance. I would not seek out this style personally, but it was a good wine.
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A selection of serious Spanish whites (at Martin's): Golden color. Marzipan, butter and oxidized apple on the nose. Very high acidity, sharp. Sherry-like aftertaste. I really like this wine, but rate the 96-vintage even higher.
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Nose with ginger ale with oxidative notes. Balanced and long. Nutty finish with almond, butterscotch, honey comb and salty brine flavours. Lots left in the tank here. Its like its holding back and that it opens with air tells you something.
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This is one of the most interesting whites I have ever tasted. And consistently so. A drink to ponder. It pairs amazingly well with black licorice. Lopez de Heredia is such a great producer.
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Very interesting. Not for newbies. Dry. No viscosity. Floral. Vanilla. Like a southern rhone. Not an everyday drinker. Definitely enjoyable but not for the faint of heart.
Citrus, pears, wax, salt, vanilla oak. Just a shade more oak than 03 Gravonia and yet seems lighter bodied, overall taste is quite similar. 03 Gravonia is better value.
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Curious nose, reminiscent of pumpkin seed oil along with notes of asian pear, lamp oil, and vanilla bean. The palate opens with acorn, yam, cumin flavor packaged in a round, grenache-blanc like texture pivoting into a fresh seashore / green parsley element. Structure on the finish on both day 1 and 2. Not for everyday consumption. This was an odd but good wine that made me want to roast a chicken with 40 cloves of garlic.
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Pretty light color. lemon on the nose with some crisp acidity and a bit of oxidation. really nice smoke and flint on the palate, eventually showing a tiny bit of mushrooms to go along with the lemon on the finish. excellent.
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A medium lemon hue. Distinctly old-chool nose with aromas of beeswax and tree resin, candied lemon peel, fino sherry, old cellars and moist wood, only slightly dirty. On the palate bone-dry and medium-bodied, waxy yet lean, with firm yet rounded acidity, zesty flavours, a hint of oak tannins and nice length. Performs best in the company of food: steamed cod and chanterelle sauce.
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Mixed wines with Munskänkarna (Stockholm): Medium yellow colour. Definitely an elegant nose, flowery and perfumed, with pronounced beeswax and honey notes, yellow fruit with yellow plums and apples, zest, and vanilla. The palate is medium bodied+, slightly oily, with a hint of wax, strong notes of citrus and zest, high acidity and a hint of grapefruit bitterness. The aftertaste is long, with freshness of citrus and some mineral. Very fresh and elegant, still rather young, 91 p.
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Wednesday wine dinner with fellow HWZ and visitors from US (Jade Palace Restaurant): 90% Viura and 10% Malvasía. Tasted blind and the colour is rich and bright honey yellow, which may due to the aged as well as 6 years of oak barrel aging. Subtle nose of pineapple, pear, a little sweet and savoury with hints of vanilla oak. A little oily, round and smooth on the palate, balance mouthfeel, rich but not fat, along with citrus and pineapple with a nice hints of oak. Long and drying finish. This is a nice white from Spain that surprised me with the name of the varietal can hardly remember by me.
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Light gold color. Lots of wax, scruffy acidity and a touch of saline. Oak is evident as is the caramel/sherry-like finish. Still tightly wound-up after two hours (although we didn't decant). A fun wine that pairs well with food. Many years of vibrancy ahead.
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Ian's Blind @ Medlar (Medlar, London): Mid gold. Bordeaux nose initially, Semillon with just a hint of Sauvignon. Rich but nicely balanced. With air I'm persuaded towards Rioja. Fresher and a little brighter than my last bottle of this. ****
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Mature, maturing and immature Rioja eve (Ulf and Maria S, Umeå, Sweden): Yellow. Elegance in the nose and on the palate. Wet rocks with a lemon twist and towards garrigue. Oaked as expected and a great boost on the finish. Still very young. An old school tight white that is still very young and will live long and prosper. Want to get one for drinking ~2023.
Lovely waxy nose with an acetone touch. Ripe yellow fruit accompanied by notes of leather, butter, aniseed, crystallized lemon, tobacco and chestnut. Dry medium bodied palate with good concentration of oxidative golden apple to yellow plum fruit and carrying grainy acidity cutting the weight. Florals, caramel and vanillary touch towards the good length finish. Very nice. Ripe and approachable with fine structure to back it up.
This was very nice and I expect it will only get better with age. Lighter weight and showing seemingly less oak than many LdH's, this had the classic acidic backbone, with some salinity and toffee notes as well. Another excellent LdH.
Golden light straw yellow. Not that giving on the nose and very subtle almost like it is still a little young. That's my take. Caramel, lime with a little oxidative notes. Great density and weight. There is nice acidity that keeps this fresh. long salty buttery finish. Give this a little time, surprisingly. Neat wine.
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Utterly fantastic stuff, I like this even more than the 96 that I tried at the same tasting last year, but I do think it's just that the 96 is tighter while this is more open right now. It's showing tons of classic tondonia notes, so much so that for the first time ever I'm sure I can clearly tell the similarity between a red and white wine from the same vineyard--this is *just* like the red tondonia. It could probably even pass for a red wine blind to some tasters. There's some oxidation in the background, too, but not more than usual.
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12/24/2023 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
2023 Family Xmas; 12/23/2023-12/25/2023 (Alicante - España): Second of three. Twenty-five years on top. Cork soaked in half. Aromas of lemon bark, ginger, spices such as cloves and vanilla, nuts, caramel essence, roasted chestnuts, limestone mineral and even rose water. Tremendous complexity. On the palate its viscous texture is totally by a still impressive acidity that cleans the entire mouth. Good length, excellent depth, already solved tannins and a citrusy post-taste. My kingdom for bottles like this. Indescribable pleasure. My last bottle in ten years. Don’t stop the party.
Eternal bottle. LdH always an exciting experience. Merry Christmas!
Segunda de tres. Veinticinco años encima. Corcho empapado a la mitad. Aromas a corteza de limón, jengibre, especias como el clavo y la vainilla, frutos secos, esencia de caramelo, castañas asadas, mineral calizo e incluso agua de rosas. Tremenda complejidad. Al paladar su textura viscosa queda totalmente por una todavía impresionante acidez que limpia la boca entera. Buena longitud, excelente profundidad, taninos ya resueltos y un cítrico postgusto. Mi reino por botellas como ésta. Indescriptible placer. Mi última botella para dentro de diez años. No pares de disfrutar. Botella eterna. LdH, siempre una experiencia emocionante. ¡Feliz Navidad!
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12/24/2023 - FjordogFjell wrote: 91 Points
Spent på denne etter 2 dårlige flasker. Forsmak i stua med juleregn på glaset og julestjenenen fra TVstua. Fin nese med gulplomme, gammel kjeller. Fyldig neste oljete konsistens med rik smak med gulplomme gammel eik, salt ettersmak som sitter lenge. Vokser i glasset og går mot elegante noter med ferske nøtter. 1 dag: mer elegant i dag,
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3/2/2023 - FjordogFjell wrote:
Vinterferie og pinnekjøtt. Våt papp på kork og nese. Rik frukt og fyldig kropp men skjemmes av urein lukt. 2 dårlige 98-flaske på rad.
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12/24/2022 - James Kim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Off list at Pappas Brothers. Brief impression. Aromas of nuts, lemon curd, tart apples and herbs. Palate with mild nuts, lemon curd, herbs, minerals. Seamless with lovely balance. Excellent concentration. Really lovely. 93+
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12/24/2022 - FjordogFjell wrote: flawed
PnP forsmak ved peisen, bestå kvile. Zalto universal. Lit urein luktbog våt papp. Kort smak. Kork :-(
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8/18/2022 - NoahCap wrote:
A fascinating wine. I was a little worried that it was over the hill when I first opened it, but it really freshened up with 30 mins in the glass.
This is my first aged White Rioja, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. So I was very surprised when my first instinct upon smelling it was aged German Riesling; it had that petrol character and yellow fruits of Riesling. But there was also a nuttiness that distinguished it as something different. Aromas of petrol, red apple, pear, pineapple, limes, almonds, mixed nuts- this is a wild nose!
Bone dry in the mouth. Acid is medium high. Body is medium. Tastes like lime juice, bruised orchard fruits, yellow peaches, all wrapped in a distinct nuttiness that is kind of like Fino Sherry. It’s interesting, there is this off-note that I associate with white wine that is just too old for its own good, that comes and goes. I’ve never experienced this before. One minute, “this would have been better 5 years ago”, the next minute “fresh as a daisy”. And this went back and forth over three days! No idea what to make of it.
But all in all, a great experience. I need to get more White Rioja!
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3/30/2022 - maranoli Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took 20 minutes to open up. Perhaps poured too cold. Yellow almost golden
Intense nose - caramelised fruit, apple possibly pineapple, pepper, hint of petrol
High acidity
Palate is dry but with rich fruit flavours, slightly salty.
Long finish.
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3/19/2022 - danseng wrote: 90 Points
Much more oxidized than the ‘91 Gran Reserva we tried it with. Petrol on the nose and not a ton of acid. Still very nice to try white wines with this kind of age.
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1/7/2022 - Rani Likes this wine: 92 Points
Oxidized style but not in a way that makes this tired at all. Notes of yellow peach, hazelnut and lime zest, with vegetal overtones. Fat and lingering, and delicious.
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11/10/2021 - diggydan wrote: 92 Points
Yellow stone fruits and almonds preserved in lanolin. $57.50 at Jose's new place.
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4/23/2021 - Fine wine Lad wrote: 86 Points
The wine is clear and looks deep golden/amber in colour.
There is no sediment in the bottle.
On the nose: very fresh on the nose, citrus fruit, (apple, pear) some fresh grass and slight grapefruit to finish.
On the palate: pear, apple citrus fruit slight honey. Quite astringent on the secondary pallette.
The body is medium/full.
The wine has a sharp texture.
The wine finishes medium.
The wine has fresh smooth to tart/crisp acidity
Conclusion
Quite a savoury wine and lacking sweetness. Overall a very dry white wine and for me too acidic to be fully balanced.
Nevertheless a very interesting
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10/10/2020 - MemorialWineFan wrote: 90 Points
Was even better two days later. You have to be able to appreciate the oxidized nature of white Rioja. Glad it was not corked.
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9/30/2020 - Bellissimo wrote:
Birth year wine for eldest and brought it to restaurant to celebrate her birthday. Deep color almost Sauternes in appearance. It's been almost 4 years since my last bottle and this is still cruising along. Actually needed air and to come up in temp to really show its stuff. Lanolin, honey, bits of melon, clove, cantaloupe and white flowers. Was not showing the slight oxidation I'd expect. Acids were still prevalent and at times quite zippy. One more bottle to go and will see how it tastes at 25 years of age.
Cool, fun, interesting wine!
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1/25/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 Points
Blind tasting with buds (Washington, DC): Light orange color. Aromas show an interesting mix of lemon, quince, orange peel, with sea salt, white tea, candle wax, but the oxidation elements are woven in well. Zippy on the palate with a pleasant creaminess. Orange peel, candied lemon, mixed with salt brine, green olives, hay, honey. This was decanted and got more and more expressive with air. Tastes "natty" but clean and vibrant. This bottle was in a great place, although I assume variation is quite a thing with this wine. Tasted blind, I wasn't convinced of anything (Chenin? Random Italian natural wine? A less crazy Jura Chard?) but should've known it was Heredia. So good.
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12/20/2019 - Eric wrote:
Eastside Tasting Group End of Year Extravaganza (Newcastle, WA): No one seemed to grab this in their pictures. I would have thought this was Rose from the color. Quite oxidative. Someone said it was a proper example and typical. This deserved more mindshare than I could give it.
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6/1/2019 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
18 ct. Golden color; beguiling nose: lanolin, bees wax a touch of acidity.
On the palate not quite as round and smooth as the nose promised but still quite pleasant; medium weight, good middle palate, a touch of fyrn and the acidity is a bit out of balance.
All in all quite pleasant but does not get close to the glorious old white Riojas like Castillo Ygay Reserva Especial etc...
At least there is somebody still in Rioja who makes old style whites...
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2/2/2019 - Enfant sauvage wrote: flawed
Big bowl of buttered popcorn. Malo gone bad. Boo.
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12/18/2018 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
Long ago I expressed my preferences go to wines like this. Despite that traditional austerity of Tondonia red, Lopez de Heredia still makes magnificent whites along side a delicious Bosconia cuvée. In my view twenty years is a good moment to open this kind of bottles.
Once again 1998 shows its potential to develop a wine of long runner personality but at the same time quite ready always at the austere way of the road.
On the nose those predominant aromas of honey, leather, clove, nutmeg, hawthorn flower and candied lemon peel. Very Chenin Blanc-like. Multilayered. Oxidatively elegant. Decadent yet delicious style. Jura reminiscent.
On the palate conserves its proverbial character with a light texture, right acidity and a good length. I would like more complexity anyway. There's room to expand its beauty. Next bottle in five years or so (mainly because I am getting old)
Hace tiempo ya expresé mis preferencias por vinos como este. A pesar de la tradicional austeridad del tinto de Tondonia, López de Heredia todavía hace magníficos blancos junto a una deliciosa cuvée Bosconia.
En mi opinión, veinte años es un buen momento para abrir este tipo de botellas.
Una vez más, 1998 muestra su potencial para desarrollar un vino de personalidad de largo recorrido pero, al mismo tiempo, bastante listo siempre al lado austero de la carretera.
En nariz los aromas predominantes de la miel, el cuero, el clavo, la nuez moscada, la flor de espino y la cáscara de limón confitada. Muy parecido a Chenin Blanc. Multifacético. Oxidativamente elegante. Estilo decadente pero delicioso. Reminiscencias a Jura.
Al paladar conserva su carácter proverbial con una textura ligera, acidez correcta y una buena longitud. Me gustaría más complejidad de todos modos. Hay espacio para expandir su belleza. Siguiente botella en unos cinco años (principalmente porque me hago abuelo).
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10/28/2018 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
Color has further darkened, now 18ct. gold to light amber.
On the nose: bee's wax, lanolin, wood polish with underlying acidity.
On the palate this impression continues, on the front and middle palate it is nicely balanced, round with good complexity; then a sharper acidic note creeps it which stays and the wine develops pronounced age notes with some bitter tones.
Unless there is considerable bottle variation it looks like this wine is fully mature and needs to be drunk.
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6/2/2018 - MemorialWineFan wrote: 90 Points
Sampled by 15 wine club members. Most were not fans of the wine by itself. But once paired with home paella, it was magic. The combination as amazing. Was not the best of the 20 wines served, but certainly the most interesting.
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5/3/2018 - chcook wrote: flawed
this was ever so slightly corked, but still alive. left it a little hollow and a disappointment compared to previous bottles
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1/22/2018 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 89 Points
MNB: White Rioja and laterals (Home (Noe st)): (blind)
Medium plus gold. Deeply oxidized nose with savory apple-butter and toast notes from age. Slight toasted almond. Notable buttercream, butterscotch, and apple pastry nose. Well-integrated oak. Still a bit of rawness - it's not completely tertiary.
Palate: Dry, medium plus body, 13.5% alcohol, high+ acid.
The oak is pretty prominent, but the acid is also high. It has a distinctly sherried quality (almond skins on the finish) that speaks to intentional oxidation.
Laterals:
- White rioja
- Arbois Chardonnay or savagnin
- Older Chardonnay.
Given the prominence of oak, I think this is a Rioja Gran Reserva, 2003. More modern producer - french oak - not LDH or La Rioja Alta.
Actually 1998 Tondonia LdH Reserva!
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11/26/2017 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 92 Points
So in love with white Tondonia Riojas. I could drink these exclusively. Petrol, herbs, nuts - Certainly a golden beauty.
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11/6/2017 - portman63 Likes this wine: 93 Points
An amazing white with succulence and just a bit of oxidative characteristics. Still just golden in color with a baked apple nose. Medium bodied with a super long finish. This will be great for years to come or have it tonight. Delicious!
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10/14/2017 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
Briefly decanted: color of 18 carat gold; soft nose with bees' wax, lanolin and touch of acidity which makes it lively. As the wine opens up, some nuttiness appears and the wine becomes more complex.
Soft on the palate, good mouthfeel and volume, mineral feel, some age notes and again the acidity which becomes less noticeable as the wine warms up in the glass.
This wine needs to be drunk not below 14-15 degrees C to do it justice and bring out the flavors ; drink it too cold and it becomes thin with too much of an acid grip.
Holding up well and with a good number of years of life left. I like these old style Rioja wines; they are really age-worthy.
On day 2 the wine, left overnight in the decanter. has become more sherry-like. Still pleasant but now slightly oxidized
.
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9/18/2017 - mtaczak wrote: 93 Points
drinking fabulously! super fascinating wine, sad that I didn't load up on these when i had the chance 4 years ago!
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7/13/2017 - chcook Likes this wine:
Restaurant purchase. This was awesome tonight. The acid keeps this alive I think. Oxidative style but not tired in any way. Amazing w Spanish fare. Plenty of time in hand too
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7/2/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 Points
I knew what I was getting into, but this was still a weird and striking wine. Medium gold color. Nose shows almonds, white and green tea, quince paste, lemon zest, melted candle wax. Medium-bodied, obviously oxidized but seems a bit heavy on that front, some moderate acidity. Oily, dried wax, sea salt, almond, walnuts, honeyed tea. Funky, earthy undertones with hay, clover and spiced teas. Still fascinating and fun but super nerdy. The wife did NOT like it, but I did. Even more provocative on day two.
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6/15/2017 - cartime Likes this wine: 94 Points
Seawater, wood polish, honeycomb, preserved lemon, cantaloupe, pear, and almonds on the nose. A slight sense of sweetness on the palate with dried yellow fruits, nuts, butter, and salty minerals. Nice acidity, drinking wonderfully now, but no rush.
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6/6/2017 - lolo66 wrote:
served cold and not decanted and wasn't all that interesting at first. Forgot about this and moved onto the red and this sat open and warmed up to room temp 2 hours later and this was fantastic. Such vivacity and complexity it was striking. all that nutty flavors, but there was an equal amount of very intense unsweetened yellow fruits and exotic tea flavors. wish i had more...
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4/8/2017 - River Rat Likes this wine:
My first visit to Bern's Steakhouse (Tampa): I had ordered a Tuna Tartar with a toasted sesame drizzle as an appetizer and this paired so well it was seamless. Colorwas pale golden. White flowers and sweet caramel on the nose. It started reserved but as time passed and the wine came up closer to room temp it was more expansive. Great waxy texture, tart green apple, pear and a note of freshly sliced almonds. Medium plus bodied with bright/racy acidity that pushed through the finish. I really enjoyed this and combined with the fact that it paired so well with the food it just made it an even better experience. Wonderful aging potential here.
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2/5/2017 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep gold color, clear, thick, viscous legs. Smells are honey, pear, orange zest, wool, some almond aroma. Tastes are almonds, Mandarin orange, sea salt, citrus notes, and tropical fruit. The finish is long and the body is weighty.
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2/4/2017 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
this bottle was much better than the last one opened in summer 2016; dark golden color, going towards amber. On the nose a touch of "rancio" , wax and wood polish with a touch of sweetness.
On the palate very harmonious and long with fair amount of complexity. Acidity gives it live and balance but is not protruding.
A fine, old style, white Rioja. Top marks .
why do they not make this style of wine anymore? (the other producers, I mean, like Ygay etc)
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12/24/2016 - FjordogFjell wrote: 90 Points
Forsmak med mor etter gudstjeneste på Revheim. Flott fylde og balanse, vanilje, gulplommer med stein. Vanilje og sitrus :-9
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11/22/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Spanish at Costa Blanca (Costa Blanca, Mpls, MN): Light gold color. PNP, drank 1 glass over a n hour. Drank this side by side with the '96. Both were outstanding wines and were not showing the sometimes quite overt oxidative character that can mask or tone down the freshness of these wines. The '96 showed a touch more age, but still remained remarkably fresh and vibrant. The '98 had a remarkable nose and palate. The intensity of the perfume here was amazing. Bright white flowers, lemon, lemon oil, waxy, brisk minerals, exotic spices with a hint of pine. The palate is marked by it brightness and fresh lively feel that seems to be consistent with its light youthful color; citrus, tangerine oil, dried yellow fruits, mineral, spice, honey, almond paste I favored the '98 by a bit for its overall brightness and complexity. 93+ to 94pts.
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11/22/2016 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
This surprised and flummoxed me. Just a hint of oxidation (on the nose) I usually associate with older Lopez whites. Deepening yellow in color, this had lemon, cantaloupe, honey and white flower notes all over it. Crisp to moderate acids carried throughout the wine. Drinking incredibly well.
World class wine that can age at $40. Excellent!
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8/21/2016 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Fast Times at the Frey's: Quite complex, nutty, and oxidized. This is fairly accessible, and was better received by a group of 10 of us than I anticipated.
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8/20/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Fast Times at the Frey's: Medium gold color. PNP, drank a 2.5oz pour over 40 minutes. It's always fun to drink these "old" Lopez wines. They are just so interesting and complex. This was no different. It had that slightly oxidative character, though not too much so in this instance. A bit candied on the nose too, complex phenols, high toned with a candied lemon sweetness. the palate shows the same oxidative, nutty quality, full bodied, lemon, and a medium plus finish.
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8/2/2016 - lolo66 wrote:
herbaceous honeycomb with just hints of some floral elements. intact acidity. Seems quite ready after 1 hour decant and at its peak. Not a full throttle Blanco, but correct and pleasurable.
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7/8/2016 - Bandreas wrote: 85 Points
My opinion about this wine was see-sawing as the wine developed in the glass and got a bit warmer:
The color is a glorious and warm 18carat gold.
At first it had a fragrant but reticent bouquet and on the palate was rather acidic and a bit on the lean side.
As it warmed up it became fuller, and more balanced and the acidity receded a bit, but was always there.
It has notes of lanolin and bees wax and the tertiary notes of barrel/bottle age (what the Germans call "Firne").
On the whole it was pleasant and reasonably complex - went well with the pan fried halibut too - but definitively not great.
For greatness it lacked substance on the middle palate and the finish was too short and had too much acidity. Several grades below the 1978 Ygay Gran Reserva consumed a couple of years ago
An interesting experience (my first bottle of the Viña Tononia blanco reserva). Will the Gran Reserva show more complexity? Will need to try out....
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6/3/2016 - prasm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured, consumed over 4 hours. Nose: Medium-plus expressiveness, cantaloupe, canned pears, lemon, dank earth, and butter - some would find the dank earth scent off putting but it seemed to add to the character of the nose to me. Palate: Medium bodied, tart citrus fruit attack with melon undertones, plenty of acidic back-bone keeps this 18 year old wine feeling youthful, back-end is dominated by melon, lemon, and earthiness which dominates a medium-plus length finish.
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5/29/2016 - JOsgood wrote:
Was just okay, had a bit of a strange flavor profile. Less clean than I prefer.
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5/20/2016 - MemorialWineFan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very enjoyable. No signs of oxidation. Drank wonderfully.
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4/3/2016 - VDLT Wine wrote: flawed
5th LI Blind (Aperitif RVC): "Too cheesy," said one taster and that summed up this flawed specimen. Tant pis.
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2/16/2016 - grantsky wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful wine, high toned citrus fruit with subtle juicy tropical fruit, white and yellow flowers, limestone, secondary flavors but little oxidation. Very lively on the palate, amazing freshness for a wine of 18 years. Will seek more out. Great QPR.
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1/30/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
A private lunch (Restaurant Coque **, Humanes de Madrid, Spain): Youthful straw yellow with a green tinge; pure and fresh nose, crisp viura and the warmth of old (and attractively resinous) wood, citrus and aromatic herbs and flowers, not oxidative at all; incredibly fresh on the palate, crisp and tight even, light flavours, hint of cream, very elegant bitters, linear and precise; good length. Unique in its style, frozen in time, a treat.
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1/29/2016 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points
Quite deep golden yellow color with a developed honeyed overtone. The nose feels somewhat restrained, quite developed and pretty oxidative with very nuanced aromas of creamy richness, slightly wizened stone fruits, some chopped nuts, a little bit of fresh apple, light beeswaxy tones and a hint of vanilla. The wine is remarkably complex, relatively light-bodied and noticeably acid-driven on the palate with dry, layered and lively flavors of tangy citrus fruits, creamy richness, some stony minerality, a little bit of wizened yellow fruits, light oxidative nutty tones, a hint of butter and a touch of honey. The wine isn't big or unctuous, but the age seems to have granted the wine some lovely viscosity and there's a lot of understated richness underneath the surface. The high acidity keeps the wine remarkably fresh, intense and structured. The finish is surprisingly light and delicate but also very nicely fresh, crisp and lengthy with lively, complex flavors of tart green apples, creaminess, some vanilla, a little bit of tangy citrus fruits, light mineral tones of wet stones and a hint of butter.
A surprisingly light and restrained vintage of Tondonia Reserva - making me think more of Viña Gravonia - but showing also the remarkable freshness, intensity and complexity this idiosyncratic wine so often does. Very, very lovely effort. There's still some room for further development, so I wouldn't be surprised if the wine turned out to be even better in the future, but it is drinking very wonderfully right now. Despite its rather delicate nature, this is an outstanding example of white Rioja by all accounts. Highly recommended.
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10/5/2015 - WinePT wrote:
JMW17 said it very well and I can't summarize it any better. Had at Husk in Nashville.
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7/25/2015 - jmw17 Likes this wine:
After drinking this, I can understand the mixed reviews. This is a fascinating and complex wine that doesn't fit easily into any of the common categories. At the same time, it is incredibly light and almost watery, sharply tart, richly perfumed, and evolving in the glass and on the palate. Significantly better on day 2 than day 1. Rich nose of plums/tamarind; very light texture; taste of sweet Meyer lemon, mineral water, light rosewater; long honeyed prune/tamarind finish matches the perfume. Too nuanced to pair well with spicy Indian as a Riesling might; i will try lemon/caper sauce next time
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6/8/2015 - HandmadeHomemade Likes this wine: 91 Points
My thoughts echo that of Cristian_M, a damn nice wine.
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4/28/2015 - c-check wrote: 89 Points
Storng oak and vanilla. Notes of toasted oak are strong to the point of dirty. Tasteful finish.
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4/2/2015 - Omar Khayyam Likes this wine: 90 Points
oxidative nose with some hints of oak, grilled hazelnuts, good freshness, dry finish. perhaps the fruit is on the thin side come mid-palate, but all in all just a very nice wine experience. Went well with a fish soup that included some smoked jalapenos, and a ramen broth with a lot of intensity.
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3/28/2015 - cristian_m wrote: 93 Points
A stunningly good white. Fresh, acidic and briney. Plenty of darker flavors like wax, almond, bark and a certain Fino/Manzanilla funk to it, but with a touch of sweetness in the backbone that makes this come across as almost youthful. Though the color is flaxen, the wine doesn't have an oxidized quality that one would expect from other wines this age. Very long finish with a progressive complexity that is remarkable. Simply a pleasure to sip and enjoy.
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3/20/2015 - Mossrose wrote: 94 Points
An insane wine, per the established wisdom for dry white wines, which is to bottle them young and release them out of the winery as fresh as possible. When I bought this a few years ago, 1998 was the current release of this wine, whose grapes are 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia, made as a reserva, maximally aged in oak barrels. This wine simply defies all expectations. Most white wines released anywhere near 17 years after being harvested would be dead on arrival. The color is the same light yellow of most all 3 year old white wines. The ethereally perfumed nose has zero of the butterscotch which is a typical give away that a white wine is older. The mouth entry has the firmness one would expect from a wine that extracted tannins from the grape skins. Bright acidity accompanies the taste all the way out though an almost endless finish. The wine goes magnificently with foods ranging from salads to meats. I bought this as a defiant oddity, but it won me over for its wonderful quality.
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3/15/2015 - Ron Van Holland wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful golden color. Expressive nose of vinous petrol, peach pits, and floral notes. An undercurrent of energy expressed in its breadth, but still light on its feet. Crisp, complex fruit with a durable finish. I continue to find viura one of the most versatile whites for difficult food pairings, and this LdH is an excellent viura (10% malvasía). Outstanding tonight with seafood and asparagus.
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3/15/2015 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rich and round without weighing too heavily on the palate. This wine has entered a secondary phase as all the baby fat is long gone. Notes are earthier with hints of spice and more subtle. A solid wine and very pleasurable but perhaps missing some depth. I'd say this one is ready to drink up.
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3/1/2015 - KCBrian wrote: 88 Points
Not something I would normally seek out. However a solid wine that was appreciated by most at the table.
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2/4/2015 - Thomas D. wrote: 89 Points
better than the 99 from yesterday, still not so good as I remembered the bottle of a friend last christmas. I don't like the acidity of the wine, but it helps the wine to keep alive. The wine needs air, i will decant the next bottle for at least one hour.
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1/21/2015 - chcook Likes this wine:
Restaurant purchase. This had the secondary nutty flavors w acid supporting florals and fruit. This was versatile and matched all of our tapas except for duck legs. Great stuff
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12/31/2014 - FYC wrote:
Light yellow in color. Nice notes of hazelnut, citrus, and some oily petrol aromas that dissipated with time. Rich and full in texture but not heavy due to the acidic lift. Quite delicious now and with plenty of life ahead of it.
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12/26/2014 - shleepy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Golden-yellow color. Candle wax, floral perfume, vintage leather in the smell. Citrus rind and rustic, almost smoky qualities in the taste. Beautiful, lingering aftertaste. Medium body. High acidity. What can I say...? It's really, really good.
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12/17/2014 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow, what an interesting, yet unusual wine. At first very funky on the nose with a distinct oxidation that fortunately blew off. After that the nose was full of minerals, citrus and nuts (hazelnut?). the mid palate was smooth and warm with some pear and apricot and wet stones, but the finish was long and elegant and full of citrus. It went great with anything truffle, of which we had several small appetizers. It also accentuated the flavors of things like a sourdough roll and a Vermont French-style cultured butter. This was a great accompaniment to almost half our meal at Restaurant Lorena in Maplewood, NJ...Superb
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11/17/2014 - WDSteers wrote: 91 Points
Drinks like a complex Orange wine. Stemy, petrol, and persimmon. Different in a good way. Perfect with shellfish and creamy wine pasta
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11/17/2014 - sharkarama wrote: 92 Points
Another super juicy, mellow but flavourfull old Rioja.
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11/15/2014 - budh wrote:
Coravined a glass. Gold color. Very strong acetone notes on the nose that did not blow off over two hours. Also orange, oily notes. Citrus and nutty, oily on the palate. High acidity, full body. Hard to get past that nose of acetone....
5 1/2 months later - opened bottle. No acetone this time - maybe allergies or something was effecting me... Some almost sherry-like oxidative flavors, along with orange, peach, and almond. Interesting, but it's expensive for a sherry wanna-be...
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11/9/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of mixed yellow fruits, talc and wet stones. Flavors of lemon, yellow pears and minerals. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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10/29/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind.
Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Light nose of mixed yellow fruits and wet stones. Flavors of yellow pears, yellow apples and a hint of apricot. Bright acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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10/12/2014 - hackey37 wrote: 93 Points
Deep gold color, with nice clarity. The smells are ginger, vanilla, figs, and floral notes. The tastes are mandarin orange, sweet grapefruit, sweet wood, ginger, lanolin, and hints of olive. Nice lush body and a hint of spice on the finish.
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9/13/2014 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 91 Points
Extraordinarily youthful of course. Plenty of acidity still and just beginning to get to an expansive mature Tondonia style. Years of life ahead........................
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9/6/2014 - T.E.D. wrote: 90 Points
Good freshness, both on nose and palate. Nose is acute with salinity, orange, marmalade and oil. Hefty palate with oily nature. Some nuttiness, olive oil, secondary fruit of lemon curd and wood. Very good qpr at under $40.
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8/29/2014 - Mario Peña Likes this wine: 93 Points
1998 Rioja by Lopez, definitely not a typical white wine due to the 16 years of aging. Complex nose of Meyer lemon, limestone and clearly distinguishable notes of Palo Cortado. On the palate more ripe but still fresh lemons, limes, dry Sherry notes, citrus scented lanolin, petrichor and that crunchy lemon/limestone taste and sensation combination. Very young and fresh acidity that confirms it has just recently entered it's drinking window. The primary grape is Viura which is also known as Macabeo.
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8/29/2014 - Oh Dae-su wrote: 90 Points
For a Rioja rather crisp. Very nice elaborate fruit flavours, light structure, a bit salty - by far not as oxi freaky as other vintages resp. bottles. Nice one
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8/14/2014 - Poisey Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great oxidation notes with ginger honey hazel nuts and floral perfume. Dense with a long finish. Great acidity and freshness that cleanses the pallet. Intense honey comb and spice notes. Lots left to go in this one.
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7/27/2014 - chcook Likes this wine:
even though I have had LdH whites before, I was taken a bit by surprise by it tonight. this was as fresh and youthful as any bottle that I have tried, with delicate almost floral notes defined by citrusy fruit and minerals. the last bottle I had was much more secondary and evolved. this one was dynamite and by my estimation just getting started.
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7/16/2014 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 94 Points
I love this. Waxy and floral notes with tangy lemon, vanilla, and fino-like salinity. Strong bitter almond notes on the finish.
More generally, I feel that the white Rioja of R. Lopez de Heredia is one of the best white wines in the world.
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6/29/2014 - Billigan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic LdH nose, rich with nutty and floral aromas. Similarly oxidative elements on the palate, which managed the usual high-wire act of oily texture and lovely acidic freshness with an almost-metallic minerality to accompany the sherry-ish nutty flavors.
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6/8/2014 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 91 Points
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Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2013/08/vina-tondonia-1998-blanco-reserva.html
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De color amarillo dorado, limpio, brillante, luminoso, con reflejos cobrizos y una menor sensación de grosor que otras añadas, lágrimas muy finas.
Nariz de gran intensidad, abierto, directo, expresivo y con una dosis de complejidad notable. Hay una cantidad impresionante de fruta madura, orejones, miel, confitura de naranja que se complementa con una expresión de crianza muy clásica y que aún tiene que ir suavizándose. Aparecen notas de especias exóticas y vainilla, cítricos dulces. Muy "joven" aún, con un potencial de crecimiento que da miedo.
Gran equilibrio en boca, preciso, ordenado, con una acidez viva y una integración de la madera fantástica. Redondo, sabroso, lleno, muy largo, con finos amargosos y una clase espectacular. Tendrá que ir ganando en profundidad con mayor tiempo pero lo tiene todo. Está en sus primeros años y promete ser uno de los mejores blancos de la bodega. Todavía no ha adquirido matices reductivos y tiene mucha tela para cortar. Lleno de futuro!!! Un Tondonia blanco de gran añada que en unos años, con un poco de paciencia por nuestra parte, y buena guarda, no tendrá mucho que envidiar al Gran Reserva. El nivel de calidad de estos blancos de LDH sigue a la alza cosecha tras cosechas y a un precio de derribo difícil de igualar. Chapeau!!!!
Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
90% viura, 10% malvasía - 12.5% vol.
Vendimia manual. Fermentación en viejas tinas de roble de 60 hectolitros sin control de temperatura. Permanece durante 6 años en barricas 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. Permanece durante un mínimo de 9 años en los calados de la bodega antes de ser comercializado.
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6/6/2014 - fc1910 wrote: 87 Points
another evening on the terraces with grilled salmon, lamb and steak: very luminous light golden colour, intense nose of american oak, nutty, herbs, tobacco, on the palate very dry appearance, some candied fruit, overripeness, earthy, north sea aromas, finishes with strong but integrated acidity, complex, very elegant and balanced, midweight body, long finish, a special wine type and very good with all kinds of this grilled stuff, but to enjoy this type of botttle alone, hmm....not mine in this condition of evaluation of this bottle, maybe I am lacking the experience.......will try again, 86- 90+?
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5/30/2014 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
We love this style of wines and its important to have that perspective in mind. This was close to a rhone white, like an ermitage blanc at times. Less oxidative than the gran reservas, more waxy, ripe, nutty feel. Firm and long and has a lot of life ahead of it. lacks a bit the depth and complexity of the gran reservas though, however more approachable than the GRs at this stage.91-92
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5/12/2014 - decaturwinedude wrote:
Nutty, almonds, and pear nose. Slightly oxidative. PAlate is clean, and precise with little wisps of acid to keep things edgy. Slight hints of oyster shell and grass. Polished. Just fine if you like the style. I do.
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4/19/2014 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
A private dinner (Restaurant London House, London, UK): Not very expressive but incredibly fresh and harmonious, elegant, mineral and energetic, oyster shell, slender, supported by some warmth from the oak, more about structure than about fruit, just a hint of nuttiness, citrus, lovely flavours and length.
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4/18/2014 - Tavastgatan wrote: 89 Points
This is bone dry and certanly a fine white Rioja. Much improvemt day two with a honey, nutty nose. Almost Sauternes like but without the sweetness. Special wine.
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3/18/2014 - tooch wrote: 89 Points
Chicago Rotating Dinner Series - March 2014 (Aged Rioja) (Paris Club - Chicago, IL): Tasted single-blind. Had some pear and melon notes on the nose, but thought this was a bit quiet and closed. The palate had more soft melon and some lemony/lime notes. Acid was medium. Pretty nice wine that I pegged for the 2003 Blanco Vina Gravonia.
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2/22/2014 - Troon wrote: 90 Points
This was an interesting wine. It had good acidity. The wine was softer than I expected, but it seemed to have good balance. I would not seek out this style personally, but it was a good wine.
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2/13/2014 - Votefordennis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very impressive, I popped and poured, but this must be awesome with seafood tapas...
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1/17/2014 - asheio wrote: 89 Points
A selection of serious Spanish whites (at Martin's): Golden color. Marzipan, butter and oxidized apple on the nose. Very high acidity, sharp. Sherry-like aftertaste.
I really like this wine, but rate the 96-vintage even higher.
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1/11/2014 - Poisey Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose with ginger ale with oxidative notes. Balanced and long. Nutty finish with almond, butterscotch, honey comb and salty brine flavours. Lots left in the tank here. Its like its holding back and that it opens with air tells you something.
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1/11/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is one of the most interesting whites I have ever tasted. And consistently so. A drink to ponder. It pairs amazingly well with black licorice. Lopez de Heredia is such a great producer.
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12/24/2013 - FjordogFjell wrote: 88 Points
Forsmak før vi skal i domkirken. Mye lukt, olje og kjeller. Fyldig nesten eike-søt smak
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12/19/2013 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very interesting. Not for newbies. Dry. No viscosity. Floral. Vanilla. Like a southern rhone. Not an everyday drinker. Definitely enjoyable but not for the faint of heart.
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12/12/2013 - PhilJ wrote:
Seemed a very different wine from previous bottle, much cleaner floral notes and no oily texture.
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11/26/2013 - andtheodor wrote: 91 Points
Salty, bruised, caramel covered apples. Hazelnuts, vanilla wax candles, smoke, butter, iron. Very hefty, fleshy palate. Peculiar and pretty enjoyable.
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11/22/2013 - PhilJ wrote:
Interesting wine. First impressions were of a slightly oily feel. Taste reminded me somewhat of Southern Rhone white blends.
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11/6/2013 - fanglangzhe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Citrus, pears, wax, salt, vanilla oak. Just a shade more oak than 03 Gravonia and yet seems lighter bodied, overall taste is quite similar. 03 Gravonia is better value.
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10/20/2013 - silton Likes this wine: 91 Points
Curious nose, reminiscent of pumpkin seed oil along with notes of asian pear, lamp oil, and vanilla bean. The palate opens with acorn, yam, cumin flavor packaged in a round, grenache-blanc like texture pivoting into a fresh seashore / green parsley element. Structure on the finish on both day 1 and 2. Not for everyday consumption. This was an odd but good wine that made me want to roast a chicken with 40 cloves of garlic.
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10/15/2013 - aagrawal wrote: 95 Points
Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting (City Walk @ Metreon, San Francisco, CA): Intoxicating, dense, orange, lovely nose; rich but flavorful nose with great acid, orange fruit; med to long finish. Superb. 94-97
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9/29/2013 - pwillen1 wrote:
Pretty light color. lemon on the nose with some crisp acidity and a bit of oxidation. really nice smoke and flint on the palate, eventually showing a tiny bit of mushrooms to go along with the lemon on the finish. excellent.
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9/21/2013 - Finare Vinare wrote: 91 Points
A medium lemon hue. Distinctly old-chool nose with aromas of beeswax and tree resin, candied lemon peel, fino sherry, old cellars and moist wood, only slightly dirty. On the palate bone-dry and medium-bodied, waxy yet lean, with firm yet rounded acidity, zesty flavours, a hint of oak tannins and nice length. Performs best in the company of food: steamed cod and chanterelle sauce.
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9/2/2013 - Vintomas wrote: 91 Points
Mixed wines with Munskänkarna (Stockholm): Medium yellow colour. Definitely an elegant nose, flowery and perfumed, with pronounced beeswax and honey notes, yellow fruit with yellow plums and apples, zest, and vanilla. The palate is medium bodied+, slightly oily, with a hint of wax, strong notes of citrus and zest, high acidity and a hint of grapefruit bitterness. The aftertaste is long, with freshness of citrus and some mineral. Very fresh and elegant, still rather young, 91 p.
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8/21/2013 - hkm520240 wrote: 91 Points
Wednesday wine dinner with fellow HWZ and visitors from US (Jade Palace Restaurant): 90% Viura and 10% Malvasía.
Tasted blind and the colour is rich and bright honey yellow, which may due to the aged as well as 6 years of oak barrel aging.
Subtle nose of pineapple, pear, a little sweet and savoury with hints of vanilla oak.
A little oily, round and smooth on the palate, balance mouthfeel, rich but not fat, along with citrus and pineapple with a nice hints of oak. Long and drying finish.
This is a nice white from Spain that surprised me with the name of the varietal can hardly remember by me.
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8/16/2013 - EhrlichDY wrote:
Clean and surprisingly fresh (not at all oxidative). Slightly waxy on the palate. Rich and well balanced.
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7/9/2013 - esh44 wrote: 89 Points
Light gold color. Lots of wax, scruffy acidity and a touch of saline. Oak is evident as is the caramel/sherry-like finish. Still tightly wound-up after two hours (although we didn't decant). A fun wine that pairs well with food. Many years of vibrancy ahead.
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7/7/2013 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely waxy nose with sherry-like finish.
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7/3/2013 - SimonG wrote: 92 Points
Ian's Blind @ Medlar (Medlar, London): Mid gold. Bordeaux nose initially, Semillon with just a hint of Sauvignon. Rich but nicely balanced. With air I'm persuaded towards Rioja. Fresher and a little brighter than my last bottle of this. ****
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6/14/2013 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mature, maturing and immature Rioja eve (Ulf and Maria S, Umeå, Sweden): Yellow. Elegance in the nose and on the palate. Wet rocks with a lemon twist and towards garrigue. Oaked as expected and a great boost on the finish. Still very young. An old school tight white that is still very young and will live long and prosper.
Want to get one for drinking ~2023.
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5/17/2013 - avp wrote:
Lovely waxy nose with an acetone touch. Ripe yellow fruit accompanied by notes of leather, butter, aniseed, crystallized lemon, tobacco and chestnut.
Dry medium bodied palate with good concentration of oxidative golden apple to yellow plum fruit and carrying grainy acidity cutting the weight. Florals, caramel and vanillary touch towards the good length finish.
Very nice. Ripe and approachable with fine structure to back it up.
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5/14/2013 - Enfant sauvage Likes this wine:
This was very nice and I expect it will only get better with age. Lighter weight and showing seemingly less oak than many LdH's, this had the classic acidic backbone, with some salinity and toffee notes as well. Another excellent LdH.
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5/13/2013 - SimonG wrote: 90 Points
Drinking in Rioja; 5/8/2013-5/14/2013 (Rioja, various bars and restaurants): Mid gold. Nicely oxidative but with a fresh minerality. An interesting comparison with the 87 reserva last night – this is less intense and expressive, albeit very decent. ***1/2
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4/8/2013 - Poisey Likes this wine: 92 Points
Golden light straw yellow. Not that giving on the nose and very subtle almost like it is still a little young. That's my take. Caramel, lime with a little oxidative notes. Great density and weight. There is nice acidity that keeps this fresh. long salty buttery finish. Give this a little time, surprisingly. Neat wine.
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3/14/2013 - drwine2001 wrote:
Young Lopez de Heredia Whites and Reds (Arlequin Wine Merchant, San Francisco): Medium yellow. Lighter weight than the 2003 Gravonia. Mineral and lemony with an herbal edge. Much less obvious wood. Dry, tight, long and very young.
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3/5/2013 - yofog wrote: 93 Points
Utterly fantastic stuff, I like this even more than the 96 that I tried at the same tasting last year, but I do think it's just that the 96 is tighter while this is more open right now. It's showing tons of classic tondonia notes, so much so that for the first time ever I'm sure I can clearly tell the similarity between a red and white wine from the same vineyard--this is *just* like the red tondonia. It could probably even pass for a red wine blind to some tasters. There's some oxidation in the background, too, but not more than usual.
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