Viña Tondonia 1988 Blanco Reserva

Wine: Viña Tondonia 1988 Blanco Reserva

Winery: R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Viura, 10% Malvasía
ABV: 12%

Winemaking
Fermentation took place in traditional 60-hectoliter oak vats without temperature control. The wine was aged for 6 years 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. It rested for a minimum of 9 years in the winery’s subterranean cellars (calados) prior to its commercial release. Limited production of 16,800 bottles.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Dark golden-yellow, highly intense, with a pronounced sense of viscosity and highlights of orange and amber.

 

Nose: Open, clean, and honest, showing no excessive reduction or evident signs of senescence. Predominant notes of honey and beeswax are complemented by white fruit and very ripe pulp, all enveloped by a creamy backdrop with hints of vanilla. Extraordinarily youthful and jovial, its profile leans closer to the Gravonia range than to the winery’s older expressions. Upon aeration, it gains power, revealing fragrant notes of nut shells (walnuts, pine nuts, hazelnuts), dried fruits, dried apricots, orange marmalade, and creamy undertones.

 

Palate: Perfectly aligned with the aromatics. Fresh and spirited it displays intense acidity with notes of sweet citrus and elegant bitters. An excellent expression of Riojan Viura, showcasing the longevity and vigor it imparts to long-aged wines. Its youthfulness is overwhelming, filled with candied fruit, savory bitters, and the winery's characteristic full body. The consistency of López de Heredia’s wines, vintage after vintage, is unparalleled in Rioja. It is clear that the greatest skill of this estate is crafting grand whites capable of rivaling any of Europe’s finest without hesitation. Admirable.

 

Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Score: 93