Viña Tondonia 1991 Blanco Gran Reserva

Wine: Viña Tondonia 1991 Blanco Gran Reserva

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

Winemaking
The wine spent 6 months in wooden vats before undergoing 10 years of aging in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels, crafted by the winery’s own cooperage. Two manual rackings were performed annually. Clarified with fresh egg whites and bottled directly from the cask in 2001 without filtration. Sealed with a special wax capsule to ensure optimal bottle evolution and protect against contamination. Limited production of 15,000 bottles. It rested for a minimum of 44 months in the bottle prior to its commercial release.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Golden-yellow, clean and luminous, with orange and pomegranate highlights. This is the least evolved among all Tondonia Blanco Gran Reservas.

 

Nose: Perfumed, soft, and elegant, yet maintaining power and expressiveness. It reveals notes of very ripe fruit (pulp, Galia melon, stone fruit, and peach), honey, quince, and candied nuances with a hint of cocoa (reminiscent of Frutas de Aragón and syrup). A pronounced sense of vanilla oak forms the backdrop. It shows less reduction and depth than expected for its category.

 

Palate: Broad, creamy, expansive, and rounded, with immense freshness. Its profile is stylistically closer to the winery's Reserva range. It features fine bitters and an abundance of fruit compote (bitter orange, sweet citrus), alongside creamy undertones and vanilla. Long and pleasurable finish. While it lacks a certain degree of depth and does not quite rival the weight of more iconic vintages, it is a white wine that demands further cellaring. It showcases an extraordinary aging capacity, remaining in a state of youthfulness that only a López de Heredia wine can exhibit.

 

Personal Score: 90
Tasting Group Score: 91