Wine: Viña Tondonia 2000 Blanco Reserva
Winery: R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Viura, 10% Malvasía
ABV: 12% vol.
Winery: R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Viura, 10% Malvasía
ABV: 12% vol.
Winemaking:
Vineyards located on the right bank of the Ebro River (438–489m altitude) on alluvial and clay-limestone soils with gravel and pebbles. Manual harvest transported in traditional comportas. Fermentation in 60-hectoliter seasoned oak vats without temperature control. The wine matured for 6 years in used 225-liter American oak barrels, with two manual rackings per year. Fined with fresh egg whites and bottled directly from the cask without filtration. Limited production of 9,500 bottles. It rested for a minimum of 9 years in the winery's underground cellars before commercial release.
Vineyards located on the right bank of the Ebro River (438–489m altitude) on alluvial and clay-limestone soils with gravel and pebbles. Manual harvest transported in traditional comportas. Fermentation in 60-hectoliter seasoned oak vats without temperature control. The wine matured for 6 years in used 225-liter American oak barrels, with two manual rackings per year. Fined with fresh egg whites and bottled directly from the cask without filtration. Limited production of 9,500 bottles. It rested for a minimum of 9 years in the winery's underground cellars before commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Vivid golden yellow; brilliant and remarkably clean. Radiant with
golden and coppery reflections. Significant viscosity and persistent
tearing.
Nose:
Poised, aromatic, and profoundly serious. It exudes a rare perfumed
intensity—slightly honeyed and creamy, with hints of dried apricots and
acacia suspended over an exquisite background of non-intrusive oak. This
vintage appears less jammy than previous ones, showing unprecedented
complexity and freshness. It interweaves sweet nuances with bitter
hazelnuts and citrus (bitter orange compote, lemon brine). Methodical
and orderly, it gains intensity and fullness with aeration, revealing
notes of laurel, turmeric, and vanilla. Immense balance and finesse.
Palate:
Persistent and intense, displaying high-quality bitterness and optimal
ripeness. It remains youthfully "raw" and very dry, with perfectly
integrated wood and a piercing acidity that promises decades of life.
Tonnes of finesse.
Commentary:
Recently released and already showcasing all its expected attributes, this 2001 is simply immense. The current trajectory of López de Heredia’s white Reservas is unparalleled in Spain; each vintage seems to gain further purity and depth. While the legendary releases of the late 90s set a high bar, this 2000 pushes the boundaries even further. Given its limited production, it is a definitive "buy" before it disappears. We eagerly await the 2001, but for now, this is the great Spanish white.
Recently released and already showcasing all its expected attributes, this 2001 is simply immense. The current trajectory of López de Heredia’s white Reservas is unparalleled in Spain; each vintage seems to gain further purity and depth. While the legendary releases of the late 90s set a high bar, this 2000 pushes the boundaries even further. Given its limited production, it is a definitive "buy" before it disappears. We eagerly await the 2001, but for now, this is the great Spanish white.
Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Average: 93
Tasting Group Average: 93
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