Viña Tondonia 1981 Gran Reserva

Wine: Viña Tondonia 1981 Gran Reserva
Winery: R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo
ABV: 12.5%
Winemaking

The wine spent 6 months in large oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation. It was then aged for 8 years in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels, handcrafted by the winery's own coopers. The wine underwent two manual rackings (trasiegas) per year. Fined with fresh egg whites and bottled directly from the cask without filtration. It features a special wax seal to ensure optimal bottle evolution and protect it from contamination. Limited production of 9,600 bottles. It was aged in the bottle for a minimum of 44 months prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Stable, luminous reddish-ruby with medium depth; showing brownish and copper highlights. It is pristine and bright. The rim is broad and tawny (tile-red), contrasting sharply with the core.

 

Nose: The pinnacle of all things ethereal and fragrant. This is an extremely classic Tondonia, featuring a liqueur-like edge and aromas of macerated fruit, plums, and orange zest, with an aromatic trail of ultra-fine vanilla that gains intensity minutes after uncorking. Notes of star anise, withered flowers, green tea leaves, and sage emerge, alongside an endless array of sweet registers: molasses and blonde tobacco. Increasingly complex and intact; profound and of immense purity.

 

Palate: On the palate, it is perfectly orderly and possesses an unbelievable degree of roundness. Fresh, mature, and expansive, with silky tannins and a distant trace of highly concentrated red fruit—almost nonexistent. Simply beautiful! Its apparent lightness is a mirage; this wine comes "fully loaded" from the winery. We were captivated by this 1981 Gran Reserva—a wine to be savored, currently at its peak and showcasing the winery’s true identity. It sits among the best reds of recent decades, already very accessible and showing flashes of supreme quality. It may not possess the legendary aging potential of the 1985 or 1994 vintages, but who cares!

 

Personal Score: 95
Tasting Group Score: 95