Viña Tondonia 1981 Blanco Reserva

Wine: Viña Tondonia 1981 Blanco Reserva

Winery: R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Viura, 10% Malvasía
ABV: 11.5%
Winemaking

Hand-harvested. Fermentation took place in old 60-hectoliter oak vats without temperature control for 6 months, completing malolactic fermentation and settling before racking. It was aged for 5 years in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels, undergoing two manual rackings per year. Fined with fresh egg whites and bottled directly from the cask without filtration. Aged in the winery’s underground cellars for a minimum of 6 months prior to release.
Information of Interest

This is the first vintage labeled as Viña Tondonia Blanco Reserva after decades of being designated as 6º Año. While aging times remained the same, this vintage saw a drastic reduction in the percentage of Malvasía Riojana (which previously shared equal prominence with Viura at 50%). 

 

Tasting Notes:
 

Appearance: Bright, fairly dark amber; pristine. It displays orange and golden highlights with a sturdy viscosity and thick, permanent legs (tears).

 

Nose: Medium intensity—highly mature and stewed—featuring notes of wine-soaked staves, solera nuances, bitter hazelnuts, and intense toasted notes. There is a great sense of candied fruit, sweet citrus (lemon brine, citronella), quince, and orange zest, with a liqueur-like edge. Herbaceous and aromatic notes gain prominence in the background: star anise, bay leaf, sage, chamomile, and herbal infusions. Its years of bottle age are clearly evident. 

 

Palate: Fleshy with a honeyed texture; it shows a marked reductive sensation and a powerful acidity that breathes life into the ensemble. Bitter nuances, toasted notes, and oxidative (enranciados) traits are joined by candied fruit and honey-eucalyptus candies. It bears little to no resemblance to the 1981 Blanco Gran Reserva. It has held up to the present day and can be enjoyed without issue, but it is now approaching its end.

 

Personal Score: 87
Tasting Group Score: 90