Viña Tondonia 1991 Blanco Reserva

Wine: Viña Tondonia 1991 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 18,000 bottles.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Intense golden color with a pronounced sense of viscosity, showing orange and copper highlights.

 

Nose: Initial notes of wine-soaked staves, beeswax, and vanilla. It takes a moment to awaken, gradually revealing citrus notes of preserved lemon, marmalade-like English orange, and dried apricots, alongside a subtle "rancio" trace that dissipates with aeration. As it softens, stone fruit, quince, honey, and peaches in syrup become more prominent. The internal machinery of this wine works flawlessly; like a clock finding its rhythm, it begins to mark time with absolute precision. It grows increasingly complex, deep, creamy, and expressive.

 

Palate: Serious and bone-dry, yet with a rich, unctuous texture and a faint hint of sweetness that melds seamlessly with old wood, creamy undertones, and ripe fruit. Concentrated, savory, and complex, it remains vibrant with excellent acidity and is replete with high-quality nuances. At this stage, it arguably surpasses the 1991 Gran Reserva Blanco in its development; it could be considered the finest Reserva produced since the discontinuation of the "6th year" bottling. This wine leaves behind the uncertainty of the late 1980s, renewing the winery’s "magic formula" without deviating from its classic script. A true gem and arguably the finest Spanish white wine from a vintage for the ages.

 

Personal Score: 94
Tasting Group Score: 94