Wine: Viña Tondonia 1964 Blanco Gran Reserva
Winery: R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Viura, 10% Malvasía
ABV: 12%
Winery: R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Viura, 10% Malvasía
ABV: 12%
Winemaking
The wine spent 6 months in wooden vats before undergoing 9 years of aging in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels, crafted by the winery’s own cooperage. A total of 18 manual rackings were performed. Clarified with fresh egg whites and bottled directly from the cask in July 1973 without filtration. Sealed with a special wax capsule to ensure optimal bottle evolution and protect against contamination. Limited production of 16,000 bottles. It rested for a minimum of 44 months in the bottle prior to its commercial release. A significant portion of this vintage was held back from sale and was first presented at the winery's centenary celebration in 1977.
The wine spent 6 months in wooden vats before undergoing 9 years of aging in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels, crafted by the winery’s own cooperage. A total of 18 manual rackings were performed. Clarified with fresh egg whites and bottled directly from the cask in July 1973 without filtration. Sealed with a special wax capsule to ensure optimal bottle evolution and protect against contamination. Limited production of 16,000 bottles. It rested for a minimum of 44 months in the bottle prior to its commercial release. A significant portion of this vintage was held back from sale and was first presented at the winery's centenary celebration in 1977.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Old gold hue, nearing amber; clean and bright with a pronounced sense
of viscosity, forming dense tears in the glass. Luminous with golden and
orange highlights.
Nose:
Indisputably the finest nose of any Rioja white. It possesses
everything expected of an exceptional wine from an exceptional vintage.
Half of the bottle was decanted an hour before tasting to compare, yet it
remained remarkably stable from the start. The aromas are
all-encompassing. Powerful notes of beeswax, honeycomb, stone fruit
compote, and toasted cereal fill the air, followed by nuances of fine
pastry, Werther's Original caramel, honey, and old soleras.
It gains intensity gradually and patiently, revealing elegant hints of
leather, walnuts, candied orange, oriental spices, and turmeric.
Refined, elegant, and of immense depth.
Palate:
Maintains the same extraordinary quality on the palate. Savory, broad,
and full-bodied, with a creamy and unctuous texture that delivers ripe
fruit, syrups, fleshy fruit, and stone fruit notes. A refreshing acidity
with a citrus edge and a subtle hint of sweetness balances the profile.
To call it "elegant" is an understatement. A monumental white, vibrant
and persistent, a wine that continues to demand excellence (and a
significant investment).
Personal Score: 96
Tasting Group Score: 96
Tasting Group Score: 96
No comments:
Post a Comment