WTN: López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia 1994

Lockdown Wine #36. Depressing news as we had 2 days of very high numbers for new cases. Hope we don't go back to a more severe lockdown which would ruin the economy.

Had a tasting of 3 different versions of Callos Madrileña from friends so this wine was appropriate. Brick rim appropriate to its age. A little earthy and dried herbs on the nose. Palate was rather acidic. Woody notes, earth, and dried herbs as observed on the nose. Dried red fruit. Sour cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Good length, but not especially long. A great match with the food. Easy to drink - great food wine. Drank it a lot faster than I usually do. Fully mature and probably at peak. No need to cellar further. Better than the '91, I think.

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks. I have a single bottle, so very useful info.

Tondonias never die.

I had an interesting experience a few years ago. A friend organized a Gevrey-Chambertin a few years ago. He hunted down an Armand Rosseau in a wine shop and when he picked it up he saw a 68 Tondonia GR standing upright at the cashier. He asked about it an was told that it's a wine that owner brought back from a trip twenty years ago and kept it standing there since. So my friend asked if it was for sale and they gave him the Tondonia and an Armand Rousseau, Clos des Ruchottes, 2000 for a little over 200 dollars.

The Tondonia was still going strong, an ethereal nose and great present on the palate.

Does Lopez de Heredia still make that old-school Rioja, or have they gone over to the dark side?

-Paul W.

Definitely old school.

[David M. Bueker]

Does Lopez de Heredia still make that old-school Rioja, or have they gone over to the dark side?

-Paul W.

I have had multiple new Reserva releases, and all have remained traditional.

I think if a modernist tried to enter the cellars, he/she would not emerge alive.