Wine: Viña Tondonia 1954 Gran ReservaWinery: R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, 10% Mazuelo and Graciano
ABV: 12%
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, 10% Mazuelo and Graciano
ABV: 12%
Winemaking
Grapes sourced from the estate's own vineyards. The wine spent 6 months in wooden tuns followed by 10 years of aging in 225-liter American oak barrels, with two manual rackings performed annually. Clarified with fresh egg whites and bottled directly from the cask without filtration. At the time of bottling, a wax capsule was applied to the neck, later replaced by a lead capsule during labeling. It rested for a minimum of 44 months in the bottle prior to its commercial release.
Grapes sourced from the estate's own vineyards. The wine spent 6 months in wooden tuns followed by 10 years of aging in 225-liter American oak barrels, with two manual rackings performed annually. Clarified with fresh egg whites and bottled directly from the cask without filtration. At the time of bottling, a wax capsule was applied to the neck, later replaced by a lead capsule during labeling. It rested for a minimum of 44 months in the bottle prior to its commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Very pale ruby of medium-low depth; clean with orange highlights and a brick-colored rim.
Nose:
Initially somewhat shy and sluggish. The wine was allowed to rest in
the bottle for one hour before serving. Upon pouring, it shows medium
intensity—soft, poised, and extraordinarily tertiary. However, with the
slightest aeration, it "explodes" in the glass, perfuming the air with a
burst of leather, humus, walnut bark, exotic woods, cedar, and fine
leather goods backed by botanical hints of star anise and fennel. While the fruit
remains somewhat concealed, flashes of orange marmalade and ripe red
berries emerge. It continuously gains finesse and elegance throughout
the tasting. The ensemble is rounded off by an extraordinary perfumed
note of withered flowers, petals, smoke, and aromatic coffee that
envelops the whole. Breathtaking.
Palate:
Balance, roundness, and integrity—everything is in its place. It offers
a rare sense of "plenitude" on the palate. The wine seems suspended in
time, held together by its vibrant acidity and tannins sculpted in silk.
The overall profile is fresh and fluid, spiced, and filled with a
sensation of reduced fruit that coats the mouth. Each sip brings a
deeper sense of elegance and admiration. A historic Gran Reserva with
plenty of life still ahead.
Personal Score: 96
Tasting Group Score: 95
Tasting Group Score: 95
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