1934 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 96.5 points

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  3/23/2023 - honest bob wrote: 93 Points

  Tondonia Gran Reserva 1934 - 1973 - 1994: [Duplicate TN, posted initially on the CT page for 1934 LdH Rioja Vina Tondonia, on which page I have also posted photos of the label on this bottle, the Haro bottling in my cellar mentioned below, and a third bottle seen at the Bodega on a visit some years ago. The label on this bottle does not explicitly state "Gran Reserva" despite several indications that it is one, including the label design, the residual wax capsule and the long cork.]
  
  From 75cl, Madrid bottling (photo of label together with a Haro bottling uploaded to CT gallery) bought at auction in Hamburg in 2014, low shoulder. The bottle is heavy, old glass, irregularly shaped punt. Remains of wax seal covering cork end; neck of bottle removed with port tongs revealing a long cork of evidently excellent quality, badly corroded/mumified/shriveled and charred-black-coloured from the air end right down to 1,5cm above the wine end, but thereafter clean, stable and effective. Decanted off light deposit and followed over 3 hours. Dark red with mahogony flashes and (duh) evident orange fading to rim. Stunning scent, evidently a great old Rioja, with high notes of varnish, some volatility, but a solid base of aromatic beef consommée... astonishing persistence hours after opening. Bright, piercing acidity on the entry leads onto an unexpectedly concentrated, full-bodied, lush-textured mid-palate with ripe, juicy, dark red/purple fruit and more than a hint of the sweetness, ripeness and brute power this must have had in previous decades. Obviously a superb, hot year. Utterly delicious, and a total surprise. 93P in this condition, once this might well have been a 100P bottle of wine...

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  12/15/2018 - ekessler wrote:

  Wonderful, excellent, amazingly fruity and fresh with lots of chocolate and leather and spice flavors. I wish I had more.

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  12/15/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:

  1986 Marques de Murrieta Whites and Red, Ancient Lopez de Heredia Tondonia (Los Gatos, California): Poor fill, but impossibly deep ruby almost to the rim. Wow, amazing burst of ripe fruit on the nose and an enveloping scent of chocolate, that is, like being in the midst of a chocolate factory. Lovely cinnamon spice as well. Full bodied for a Lopez de Heredia wine, and an incredible sense of fruit (at the tender age of 84!!!). This must have been massively ripe and undrinkable for many years if it showed like this tonight. It held up really well and provided great pleasure for about an hour and a half until maderization appeared and ended the fun. Quite a treat, though.

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  3/23/2011 - Seth Rosenberg wrote: 100 Points

  Dark ruby color. Amazing nose of brown sugar, mocha, coffee, treacle. Almost creamy aromas - a real toe-curling bouquet. Similar on the palate, but a touch bitter. Elegant, with mocha and crushed malt balls like the old DP Oenotheques. Nose - 7/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 6/6, Je Ne Sais Quoi - 2/2 = 20/20.

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