Decanted and poured. Even ruby. Medium body. Herbal and fennel scents, cedar, and quite tart red fruit to begin with. As it opened, the green notes receded and more smoky black cherry emerged. Very mineral at its core with a punchy tannic finish. This probably needs another 5 years to more fully relax. The quality and potential become more clear with air, but this is not very pleasurable tonight right out of the bottle.
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Was quite tart at opening, so I decided to decant it 3 hours before dinner and it still improved in the glass. On the nose ethereal (more tar than roses) and dark fruit, on the palate a load of smooth tannin and medium to high acidity, good mouthfeel and long finish. Great showing and as classic as Rioja can be, drink now or till 2040.
From 375ml, was sitting all dinner and thinking wow is the 2011 drinking like this all of a sudden. I have to buy more. The day after I realised I had opened a 2010. A couple of points ahead of the 2011 and an amazing QPR-wine. So vibrant, silky, and simply delicious. This is wonderful now and will be wonderful for many, many years to come. Decant for 2 hours.
1 hour decant. Mid-red with a hint of a fading rim. Delightful nose with notes of cherries, dark berries, tobacco and just a hint of cedar wood. Blackberries and cherries on the palate, supported by fine grained tannins and undertows of tobacco notes. Sweet long finish. Lovely wine.
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Mahogany in the glass with a touch of bricking at the rim. Aromas of cigar box, purple flowers, cherry, clove, light leather notes, balsamic, and tomato leaf. Palate carries over, bringing in some black pepper. Finish goes on for about a minute. Tannins are present, but not overriding. I think I prefer the 2008 so far, but this is a really nice bottle with many years of great drinking ahead. Was great PnP, drank over several hours decanted. If I opened another bottle tomorrow I'd probably decant for at least 2 hours. Last glass was the best.
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Vicki's. Straight from the bottle, fruit showing a lot more black than red right now with dusty earth and some baked tones. Not flawed, just not prepared to enter this world yet so it didn't come across with either Rioja or LdH typicity. Needs rest.
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Tasted blind in a flight of six Iberian wines. Dusty with some red and dark fruit on the nose. Modest. Fresh acidity. Feels like it’s in between phases. I would wait 5-10 years for this one because right now it’s a bit disappointing. Easy to pick as a Rioja.
Drak med Mussi. Flot farve. Alder. Duft efter kort tid. Sveske på fornuftig baggrundsmåde. Mørke bær. Dufter lidt Gevrey med alder. Smager som duft. Stadig god syre. God balance. Tannin på læberne. Køb gerne mere.
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On opening, lovely structure, velvety texture on the mouth, the fruit is contending well with the oak. A thrilling and balanced wine - only the slight baked character on the nose stops this from being a magnificent wine. With time, air, and medium cooked Marriott burger the nose starts to pull itself together, some red fruits, a hint of blueberry. Weirdly as the nose cleans up, the palate becomes more as you’d expect - American oak caramel coming back to the fore. Still a pup but this will be magnificent in time.
Drinking so beautifully at this young stage with classic Lopez character. Very smooth and elegant with an almost Burgundian texture. An expansive nose with flowers, pepper, and spice box wafting out of the glass. Cherry and cigar ash with a long finish. Very complex and savory with ripe tannins. It seems to get better with each bottle. Never had a bad bottle of tondonia, and this may be the best vintage yet. The Bosconia is also excellent in this vintage. Hard to decide which one I like better, but I’m looking forward to following their development over the next three decades.
Påskelam med Hombstabakk’s. Forsmak i sola, etter skitur. Åpen og tilgjengelig. blodappelsin. Skarp smak med rognebær, jern og tobakk. God syre og tanniner som sitter lenge.
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Dried herbs, blackberry and oaky nose with a surprisingly acidic palate that has alot of elegance to it but low complexity. Enjoyable drink but nothing too exciting. There's still some tannin here and additional bottle age would be beneficial.
Dusty red fruit and orange zest + a lot of tertiary in the nose like dried herbs and earth. / Medium Body, medium+ acidity but very well integrated / What makes this great for me is its length, complexity and above all: elegance.
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Stunning for its freshness and verve at 14 years old. Mouth puckering acidity, very tasty. After a few hours of air, the unresolved structure and tannin was more apparent, but I agree with Keith that this is now drinking on the early end, but is likely not in the preferred window for many. Glad to have a few more bottles. What a bargain.
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This was decanted for about an hour or so before drinking. This pours a lovely, deep ruby color with very little to no browning at the rim. Honestly, given how long LdH normally holds back wines, I was actually a bit shocked at how dark and vibrant this was in the glass. That vibrancy also comes through in a big way on the nose as balanced tones of sour red cherries, raspberries, fresh leather, violets, dill, sweet tobacco, red currants, vanilla bean, fresh herbs, and a touch of savory notes permeate beautifully together already. The Medium bodied feel is silky and balanced with just a touch of VA that adds intrigue along with tart, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. There is also a hint of rancio on the back end that works really well too. This is “drinking” in that the structure isn’t overbearing, but this does feel like it can really benefit from a few more years of aging just to let the rough edges smooth out.
I read some comments mentioning similatities with Sangiovese. I tottally agree. Pale ruby red showing a little bit of ageing on the rim. Nose with red and dried fruit, tobacco, leather, mushrooms, forrest floor and some spice. Just beautiful. The palate is perfectly balanced, the wood is there but quiet, tannins are so smooth and the acidity it's just spot on. People mentioned that would go for Sangiovese if blind. I think if blind the score would be a lot higher as well. Thinking that a wine at 30/40€ range and preoduced on this big quantity offers this quality it's just madness. Beautiful, beautiful wine.
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네병째 마시는 중인데 매번 더 맛있어지는 것 같다 뉘생, 지샹 1er 사이에서도 뒤지지 않았고 심지어 뉘생 1er과 잘 구분이 안가더라 블라인드로 마셨을 때 1er 다 뚫고 내 일픽... 그냥 내 취향일수도 있지만 잘만든 불곤 피노 못지않게 과실, 오크, 타닌 밸런스가 좋다
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The other 3 ppl in my tasting group all called this Italian Sangiovese and I can see why, it doesn’t hit you over the head with American oak like you might expect a rioja to. Very well balanced and with great acidity on this vintage.
I can't believe the price for this gem, it is perfectly balanced, smooth with a long finish, long legs and great aroma and color, outperforms wine that are even 3 times the price, if you like Rioja this the wine to try.
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Nose: Sweet oak, vanilla, red fruit, leather (?). Not as expressive as I had hoped.
Palate: Red and black fruit (primarily cherries), well-integrated oak, chocolate, savory and earthy qualities. Medium, firm tannins, medium+ acid, medium body, delicate mouthfeel, long finish. Not as complex as I had hoped.
Really well balanced and showing well. Could probably wait a few more years before it's drinking optimally. The mouthfeel for me was the highlight, super delicate and seemingly unique to certain aged wines. Despite being very well balanced and structured, I felt that the wine was lacking complexity.
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(Tasted after a 5-hour decant): Excellent, skillfully made, perfectly balanced, and now into its drinking window. Another great LdH bottle shows why LdH is my favorite Rioja producer.
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Tobacco and smoked meat on the aroma. The flavor is not as refined as the aroma. At 14 years it still seems like it needs at least a few years, maybe more to fully integrate.
this is drinking well now and undoubtedly has quite a few years of life ahead of it although there is not much tannic structure left - well made but not the most complex of wines
Garnet, medium intensity. Fully developed, medium(+) nose. Typical with oak, vanilla, dill. On the palate dry, high acidity, medium(-) silky tannins, medium(+) body. 13%. Red fruit, oak, vanilla, dill. Very long aftertaste with some meaty notes. Austere, interwoven. Lovely old school Rioja. (375 ml bottle)
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Decanted 2 hours before tasting. Rich nose full of tobacco, ripe red and black berries. Fresh fruit still very much there on the palate, backed up by a savoury, balanced, long finish. Drinking great but will be enjoyable to follow for another 20+. Most popular in the tasting. (@Tufa, Rioja tasting I 2024).
Decanted approximately 2 hours and drunk over the subsequent 3. The oak was still prominent on the nose at this point, with dark fruit peeking out a bit. The palate is medium light and velvety textured, with pitch perfect acid integration and impressive flavor intensity. There's some firm but fine tannin framing the finish. Between the evident structure, balance, and oak still unintegrated, this seems well set up for a good aging curve, though I don't personally have long experience with this wine. But I would trust it.
13%. A fantastic blueberry lightly clovey infused a little bit Bourguinon wine with lovely depth, nice freshness and good zingy length. Drink now with 7-8hrs aeration for the blue fruits to come out or Lay down 10-15 years.
Rich, long, subtle oak, vanilla, blackcurrant, elegant and medium bodied. I felt it was a tiny bit prunish…which surprised me because it’s quite young. Decanted for 2 hrs.
93-95 Great complexity. Fresh, vivid but restrained. Tons of savoury notes, but the fruit is still fresh. Still needs a few years for the firm tannins to soften, and become a bit more cohesive.
Medium garnet colour.
Pronounced intensity aromas of sour cherry, cassis, red currant, blackberry, licorice, cedar, leather, vanilla, christmas spices, dried pine needles, dried herbs, dried violet, chili powder, tobacco, mushroom.
Pronounced palate.
Medium (+) body, high acidity, high firm tannins, long finish.
Spain at Rincon38. Mt btl. I gave it a 2 hr decant & back in btl. Removed cork again at Rincon38 This has terrific balance, depth & weightless elegance. Delicious & classy! Red fruit, spice, earth, mineral on both the nose & palate. A very complete ethereal red. Ready to go now but should last for decades. 13% alc. Great tonight slightly eclipsed by Matt B's '08 CVNE Rioja Gran Reserva which was my WOTN vs any other wines from both tables. Thrilled to own 5 more.
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Rincon 38, Mpls, MN): Just got a small taste of this. Denser, black cherry, quite dry with firm tannins, came off young for me tonight. Quite different from a bottle we had out in Santa Fe right after release. That was beguiling and made me look for some.
Lovely Rioja, quite light overall, meaty, lovely light lip smacking acidity and tannins. Vanilla is well integrated and not too christmas candle like as you get with the ardanza
Another great LdH experience. I refer to my tasting note from 27 January 2023. The color turned a little to garnet. This time I used the Zalto Universal which is in general my favorite glass for the red Tondonias.
Deep garnet, fig, date, earth, with plum, iron, and pencil lead underneath, medium acidity with lean and dry fruit, earth, and well integrated tannins, finishes is a little short with more dried fruits, orange rind, earth, and lingering salty pomegranate notes
Note: Fun wine for the price but the super high scores (96 by Parker) confound me a bit, I think the CT community is closer to reality
Already starting to develop quite a bit, has an interesting Negroni like bitter citrus note to it, lots of leather and earth, but lots of pent up energy. Was better on day 2.
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위클리하는 사람은 각종 행사때문에라도 한 병 이상은 가지고 있다는 그 와인. 오늘은 이 와인이 열화되어 오면서 마실 수 있었다. 결론부터 말하자면 열화까지 이겨내는 가성비 와인.
처음에는 코에서 버섯향같은 느낌과 입에서도 빡빡한 탄닌이 느껴지면서 꽤 고급 보르도 비슷한 느낌이 난다. 이내 산도가 올라오면서 다른 음식과 더 마시고 싶다는 생각을 자연스럽게 하게 되었다. 다만, 아쉬운 건 2시간 정도 지나니 와인에서 느껴지는 풍미가 절반 수준으로 줄어든 것.
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By the bottle at Myriel in Minneapolis. Nose is quite subtle, almost not even there. It might be the restaurant which is extremely tight and full of strong burning smells but I really don’t think there is much there right now. Palate is bursting with red berries, lifted, violet notes, this is not what I expected for a Rioja but I love it. So much acidity and freshness. Vaguest hint of something green and savory on the finish. Strong but subtle tannins balance the copious acidity. I can only assume this is just entering its window but it’s so good now I wouldn’t be able to hold it.
Awesome quality per cost. Great balance among body, acidity and tannins. Notes of red fruit, wood, olives and leather. At 14 years old it’s very vivid and and great to drink.
3 hrs decant. High acidity, still strong tannins and powerful scents of dried fig, with blood and iron replacing typical leather I guess. Dead ahead flavors and feel to it, in 2010 a definite step below the Gran Reserva in terms of complexity but still very satisfying. Not sure it will get better but in no danger of decline right now.
Decanted for about 6 hours before drinking. First sip before it went into the decanter was all acid and tart fruits.
While it was still acid-forward it became more balanced with time in the decanter. Wasn’t a lot of body or tannin in this bottle. Hard to say what was going on, not a lot of secondary or tertiary notes, but still a good wine. Mellow would be one way to describe it.
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Lopez di Heredia BYO (@MichaelsPlace): Dill, chocolate and black currant fruit followed by a very high acidity. It seems very unstructured and out of balance. Needs more time.
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Medium (+) garnet colour. Medium (+) and developing nose with red cherry, red plum, eucalyptus, licorice, cloves, cedar, charred wood, chocolate, coffee, leather, mushrooms, tobacco, wet leaves, forest floor and cinnamon. Medium taste of red cherry, red plum, licorice, cloves, cedar, charred wood, chocolate, coffee, leather, tobacco and wet leaves. Long and dry finish. High acidity. High and well rounded tannins. Medium body. A very good Rioja from a magnum bottle. Drink now or over the next ten years. Goes well with beef or lamb.
This was my seventh half bottle of this vintage, stocked up on every size after I tried one a year ago but only drinking halfsies for now.
Quite a lot of bottle variation that to me mostly is dependent on the acidity. Sometimes it’s a little off and in your face which effects the perception of the fruit. The oak is consistent bottle for bottle with that sweet toasted oak characteristic.
Good bottles are so nice though, with cherries, leather and sweet spices. Super long and tannins with a nice grip. They need two hours of air to calm down and come together.
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Brought this bottle for a dinner at Kai Garden with my wine mates. Theme of the dinner: Wines that start with T.
Decanted for 3 hours prior to consumption. Dark purple in colour with some characteristic earthy minerals on the nose coupled with forest floor notes. Some aged leather, wild berries, fresh mushrooms, black chocolate, and hints of spices.
Nice intensity and depth. No rush to open or finish this wine. Still has another 5 to 10 years of age left in the bottle.
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Really nice on the nose with lifted aromatics. Unfortunately for me didn't quite match on the palate in terms of intensity and depth. Still enjoyable with leather, black mushrooms, earthy, slightly tired black/red berries? with good finish and a lovely acidity. Tannins were present and gave a good structure for aging. Solid Rioja that is reasonable for its price.
Le nez est absolument sublime ! La cerise mure et le bois explose au nez, la bouche est fraîche avec une acidité bien présente, des tannins présents pas trop astringent, je le trouve déjà excellent mais il va se bonifier dans les 10 prochaines années. Un Tondonia d'un grand millésime et une aubaine pour le prix demandé.
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94/95. Profound. Has lovely aromas of blueberries, blackberries, leather, sandstone, mint and clove hints. The best silky Tondonia ever. Its layered medium bodied palate has a taffetas texture, impressive depth and lightly cloved blue, black and red fruits and great freshly fruited length . I have ordered half a case. 13%.This is my Château Petrus. Can be drunk with pleasure PnP but improves with 7-8 hrs aeration with the blue fruits coming out. Improves on day 2. Lay down 10-25 years easily. This Pinotes a little.
I could smell this all night. Cherry in the forefront, supported by sweet spices: allspice and cinnamon. Some dried fig paste and tobacco. Upon opening, you get the typical American oak notes of vanilla and coconut, although not overbearing like some other Riojas. After some air the oak reminds me more of walking into an old wooden house in South Louisiana.
Palate is sour cherry, blackberry, balsamic, baking spice, fig preserves, and subtle, almost not there oak (vanilla and coconut). High acidity, medium+ body, medium+ tannins that have had the edges rounded off by time in barrel and bottle.
My first Tondonia and lives up to the reputation. Needed a few hours of air to open up, so need to be patient with it. Great right now, but feels very young still. I would wait at least 2 years or more to try the 2010 again.
Wow… much better than the last one I opened - confirms the suspicion of bottle variation (both were purchased at the same time, stored in the same location and given the same 2 hr decant).
Similar tasting notes but more cohesive and balanced overall.
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I should have given this some air, but from my pop and pour sample, it was a bit lean and tannic. Monolithic and tight. Seems like there is good underlying material here, but this needs cellar time. Judgement deferred.
What a wonderful wine. Much better after 2-3 hours in decanter. Drunk from 375.
Classic Lopez Tondonia notes with oak influence of the reserva present. Would match with a wide variety of foods - red meat, perhaps, chicken or pork, wild game. Could go even with paella or robust cheeses without too much astringency or bitterness. Will hold or perhaps improve over the next 10 years but the ceiling is not astronomical on this wine.
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1st bottle from a half case. Complex nose includes oak and balsamic figs! Relatively light bodied at first and put on weight day 2 which implies that a year or two more keeping will be rewarded. Still drinking well now. Well balanced. Decent length. Not of the class of the 2005.
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Edit due to questions: I decanted for 3-4 hours (Drank over another 3 hours and it kept developing), and I served around 60F consistently. Drank with grilled marinated beef skewers, land paella, and summer salad. Complimented very nicely. No flaws, but could definitely cellar longer for things to harmonize (acidity). Thoroughly enjoyed this though.
Rubinrot, leicht transparent. In der Nase sehr frische dunkelrote Frucht mit Kirsche, etwas Pflaume und Blaubeere. Begleitet von intensiven Holznoten mit Zimt, Vanille und etwas Pfeffer. Sehr frisches Bouquet. Nach etwas Zeit Noten von Kakao, Trüffel und Pilz. Am Gaumen sehr, sehr frische und vibrierende Säure - fast ein wenig scharf - mit frischer dunkler Kirsche und Pflaume. Sehr konzentriert und vibrierend mit einem leichten und sehr saftigen Mundgefühl. Gefolgt von einem sehr strukturierten, langen Nachhall mit feinmaschigen Tanninen und schönen Holznoten. Tolle Komplexität mit immer neuen Geschmacksnoten. Mir hat der Wein mit etwas Luft noch besser gefallen.
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Should not have opened. This is a sour mess. Nose is actually quite beguiling and hints of some more pleasure to come with bottle age but the palate is just overblown with acidity and not much more.
세 번째 접하는 와인. 첫 번째는 바로 뽕따해서 마셨고, 바디감이 낮으며 타닌감, 블랙베리 오크향 살짝 소고기와 먹기에 적당한 정도 두 번째도 바로 마셨고 비슷한 느낌 세 번째는 5-6시간 브리딩 후에 양고기와 페어링. 바디감이 묽다는 느낌이 전혀 안들고 찐한 과실향과 적당한 타닌감, 오크, 후추, 블랙베리 등 향과 맛이 잘 어울러져 매우 만족
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Minimum 8 to 12 hours decanting required. High acidity and taste of mulberries, leather and cocoa. First hours there is a not so nice taste that makes me think of burnt coffe, but it took some hours to define this taste as the initial elevated sourness concealed it well. Then with a lot of air the sourness is toned down and the burnt taste appears but this also fades down after even longer time. Not too bad day two but this is not what I look for in a wine. Probably with food it would go well.
I'm suspecting a bad bottle... it wasn't spoiled, but it was tight, tart, sour. after an hour in decanter. We poured it out. Mark1npt commented that some of these take 6 hours to open... there was a little left in the pitcher, so we tried it the next day: bad bottle :(
Medium garnet with reflections of red. Tondonia Reserva is always good but the 2010 takes things up a couple notches both in terms of complexity and vigor. The nose is savory and masculine with an almost Brunello-like feel to its aromas of dried red fruit, dried tobacco, leather, walnuts, loamy earth and coconut and dill-tinged oak spice. On the palate this is medium bodied with medium+ acidity and a touch of fine, back of the gums sort of tannin providing structure for the zippy red fruit, nut and oak flavors. This drinks well at the moment but should age effortlessly.
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Popped and poured within 1/2 hour or so. Paired well with seafood/saffron and seafood/squid-ink paella. A little funk in the beginning but blew off quickly with some air in the glass. Fruit receding nicely. Pencil lead and leather starting to emerge. Good amount of acid and tannins kept everything fresh.
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Not quite as good as my first bottle but still very nice nonetheless.....decanted for 4 hours then back in the bottle and slow ox'd for another 2 during dinner. My brother gave it a 70.....and he wasn't drinking, Eric. I loved the nose of red rose petals, leather and red cherry fruit. Just beautiful. My brother however, is a Cali fruit 'ho, just like Carol. She didn't like it, either. Basically, I finished the whole bottle except for a nice young lady who studied in Spain as she loved it also......
Decanted (no sediment) and back in the bottle after three hours, then followed over several more with grilled ribeye dinner. The last glass was the best and most expressive, so I would not hesitate to let it sit for 4-5 hours (even longer) in the decanter before first drink. Wonderful bouquet of cassis, cherry, damp earth. Great complexity on the palate with fresh cut herbs, smoke, and cocoa notes in addition to the tart red fruit. Plenty of acidity and grippy tannins suggest that long term aging will bring everything into better balance and seriously reward those who are patient.
I was excited to try this and it didn't disappoint. I feel the price is about right too. It doesn't drink like a $150 bottle, nor is it plonk. I've had better riojas for less, but considering how available this one is, I understand why it's a staple.
375ml bottle. High acidity, big coconut-y American oak, and sour berries. Where are the tertiary/ox notes? Bottle variation? I really miss the past experience of vintage 2001.
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At a good point in its life and even when given the task to go head on with Indian food kept its own well. Good oaky dynamic, good fruit starting to go secondary, savory, round and albeit lacking the exciting side ( or maybe the Indian spice took it away) it was a pleasure to have it. 90-91
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Dekantert og helt tilbake på flaske 2t før servering. Klar med ørlite tåke, dyp mursteinsrød. Middels+ intensitet på nese med aroma av krydder, urter, mørke bær, vanilje, lær. Middels+ intensitet med god konsentrasjon, middels høy syre, avslipte tanniner. Smak av masse mørke bær, urter, krydder, vanilje, nellik og lær. Lang
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I know of no Reserva Rioja on the market like this.
Very much a continuation of the path Tondonia has been on for some years. Cleaner more modern wines that still come across as some of the most traditional in Rioja. Balsamic notes are a trademark.
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Glorious, refined rioja with lovely, ripe fruit that was light and elegant enough to work well as an accompaniment to fish. The tannins are well integrated and this wine is so easy to drink and enjoy.
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Superbe robe rubis avec un pourtour grenat. Un nez complexe sur du bois (pas encore tout à fait intégré), du cuir, des épices et des herbes. Une bouche savoureuse avec des saveurs de cerises sûres, du bois. La finale est longue et digeste par une bonne acidité. Un bel avenir se dessine.
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Second day sample. Blind I placed this is Italy as a Sangiovese. It fine, red fruited and fresh, and rather narrow on the palate thinning out a bit on the finish. Lengthy hold though adding just a bit of oak. Quite nice.
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I was blinded on this wine once (and missed it mightily) on Friday and then had the good fortune of another taste (different bottle/setting) on Sunday. Having spent a little time with it, I really do like the 2010 vintage best in the last few. It is a good deal less rustic than 07/08. The fruit profile feels cleaner and the tannins are more polished, less grainy. There is still some telltale fig with the red and black plum. I may drink up those other bottles and hold on to this vintage instead.
Sight: Deep garnet color with a slight brick hue at the rim Nose: Pronounced intensity with complex aromas of dried red fruits, leather, tobacco, vanilla, and a hint of oak Palate: Dry with high acidity, medium to full body, and silky tannins. Flavors of red berries, leather, spices, and vanilla. The wine has a long and elegant finish. This wine is drinkable now, but will greatly improve with further aging. The wine's high acidity and firm tannins suggest that it has the potential to age and improve for many years in the cellar.
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This wine tastes like an afternoon in San Sebastián.
Bright and crisp, with well integrated tannins that seem to zip up my tongue like a grippy zipper. This is wine that pairs well with the grilled chicken thighs and pesto that I’m enjoying for dinner.
Excellent. fresh, complex, tabacco, vanilla, good structure. Delicious red fruits. Plum. Mushroom. Chocolate. Balanced, medium acidity, long finish. Loved it.
On the first night this displays a very nice package. The fruit has a brooding quality to it with it clearly being more substantial than most vintages. The wine exits its brooding by night two showing a terrific spicy character framed by wood, cherry and leather. Very fine grained tannin and stitched in acids. That fruit density really makes it clear this is a very strong vintage for this wine and that aging it will pay off. Its a vintage where this is not just a strong value but just a plain terrific Rioja. I'm thinking another 3-5 years for it to be more open and then a good long life after that.
Something about this maker, as I seem to be settling on a 94 for almost every vintage that I try. Collector1855 did nothing but trash this wine, Spain and the Spaniards as a wine civilization, in no uncertain terms. What a crock.....right from the pnp the nose is floral cherry. The pour into the glass is of the clearest shimmering dark ruby I've ever poured.....just beautiful. Sampled for an hour before dinner, kept drinking thru dinner (of homemade tacos), and even though I had no plans of drinking this entire bottle tonight, that's exactly what happened later in the evening. 13% alc really allows the fruit and the winemaking to shine. Moderate tannins to start at the pnp but they softened and grew rounder thru the evening. Slight herbal component shows up more after 2-3 hours open but it's perfectly in balance and doesn't stand out at all. The red cherry fruit continues to grow and grow and the finish goes on and on! Make no mistake, this is not an Earth shattering wine that makes you want to quit your day job and move to Spain, but it's damn well made, clean, balanced and the qpr is off the charts for me. I hope the rest of my '10 stash is this good! Borders on a 95 for me, but not much left in the glass to get me through the rest of the night!
Addendum: slight amount left in the glass for an additional 3-4 hours so almost 8 in total open to air. The herbal component on the nose at hour 4 is completely gone. The fruit darkens slightly and the cherry has a little tartness on the very end. I am going to change my score on this one to a 95.
Additional addendum: I really don't care how many Commanderie de Bdx positions you hold, or how many First Growths you claim to have, or how many Chinese buyers you buy for......if you are such a snob as to think this wine is terrible and is beneath you, your opinions don't rate even a 1% consideration from me, personally. What a shallow way of living that must be......I just now looked up the WA score for this one and their 'expert' gave it a 96 for this vintage. All the more proof that some snobs on here know nothing about wine, no matter how long they've been drinking it, or how much their net worth.
Day 1: This was pretty rough when poured but it’s knitted together well with air. Painfully young, the nose shows very dark plummy fruit, a dollop of new American oak. The palate is dark fruited as well but lighter in body with lots of acid and an earthy, dusty element to it. The latter carries over into the tart finish. Lots of good stuff here but this needs like 20 years.
Floral nose. Red berries, dried herbs, dusty earth, faint leather notes. Medium bodied, fresh with integrated tannins. Pnp. Should have given more air time. Last glass was best with more fuller body and flavor.
Gorgeous nose of cola, faint leather and mushroom backed by an extremely subtle cherry undertone. Everything evolves into light licorice notes. Vivid layers of complex dried florality. Beautiful balance of moderate acidity and soft tannin. Drinking well!
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Tondonia Tasting (Utregs Wijnhuis, Utrecht, NL): Fuller and heavier than the Bosconia reserva. Deep with plum and blackberry. Medium+ acidity, high tannins, medium+ finish. Very tannic at this stage, needs more time. 90++
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Flaske rett fra leverandør. Forsmak med mor og storesøster. Klar rein og åpen klart bedre enn forrige flaske. Kryddret fin fersk lukt. Klar fin smak med rein frukt, rognebær, nype. Fin syre
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Bright garnet in the glass. Refined and elegant nose with layers of complexity bringing crushed violets, red currant, black cherry, cedar, cloves and leather. Poised and sophisticated on the palate with a lovely texture. Flavours of fine tobacco, bright black cherry and a touch of cinammon. Long, elegant finish. Delicious. Drink now or hold.
WSET notes:
Medium garnet.
Pronounced on the nose with crushed violet, red currant, red and black cherry, dried herbs, dill seeds, cloves, cedar, leather and earth. Developing.
Pronounced and dry on the palate. High acidity, full body, high tannins, medium alcohol, long finish.
Can drink now but has potential for aging.
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Opened yesterday around 13:30 and decanted. Drunk from 18:30. Much lighter than expected for a young Rioja, with red berries, fresh acidity and oaky notes. The tannins are well integrated and the aftertaste is long. It feels it just needs some time in the decanter to open up as it, in my experience, is still in its shell.
Second day: decanted 16:00 and drunk from 17. It’s about the same but it has gotten some more heavy fruit. It’s remarkably similar to yesterday, which demonstrates how robust the wine is.
I’ll try a bottle soon again and see if it gives the same experience.
This has a nose of dried flowers, not unlike Nebbiolo, dark cherry fruit and wood. Is elegant, easy moving, with gentle wood notes, dark cherry fruit, plums. Good acidity and lift, marked but soft tannins. Will be long lived.
To put things into perspective, after 10+ years, this needs a lot more time. Only time will tell how these more recent 'solar' vintages will age, on day 2 there is a slightly more stewed characteristic that experience with Lopez will tell you will continue to evolve.
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Elegant and discrete nose with mixed dark berries (dark plums, blackcurrants and dark cherries), some flowers and perfume, chalky and gravelly mineral notes and just a hint of leather and animal notes. The nose definitely developed (slowly) with air, initially it was quite closed and I only detected berries and some minerality. Medium bodied on the palate, very pure and elegant with berries, minerality, fresh acidity, somewhat prominent tannins and a long and fresh aftertaste. Very refined and elegant, sort of Burgundian and I guess true to the vintage character. Not much "funky" traditional Rioja character in evidence. This is going to need time to develop fully, and I want to revisit it, but in due course I think this will be a true beauty. 92+ pts.
Tasted from a half bottle, which shouldn't make too much difference at this stage of its life.
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Drank this over course of 3-4 hours. Compared to the other vintages of Tondonia Reservas i had i found this to be cleaner and more fruit forward but i kind of missed the funkier notes I was more used to from other vintages.
Contrary to what many have posted here I think im not as enamored with this vintage (at its current state) and preferred previous vintages more like 06 and 07. Maybe the few extra years of age is all it needs? Its quite obvious these wines improve with age but I find them difficult to predict how they will change with age.
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This wine was sublime and one of the better incarnations of the tondonia reservas. Still young and will need another decade before it shows it stuff. Long cedar finish.
Disclaimer: I do not only drink Leroy/drc/1st growths but appreciate wine for more than just the label.
During a merchant tasting, no detailed notes. This was even more unforgiving than the 2017 Ciranza. Brutal drying tannins, earthy, strict. On a broader note: It is a pity that traditional Spain does not make better wine. They produce as much wine as France and Italy (ca 4.5bn liters), yet this icon costs only 30 bucks and in the secondary market Spain only commands 1% of market share, France 75%. Yes, I had a 1942 Tondonia Grand Reserva once and it was good, but these are far and few between. Tondonia should ask itself why their bottles cost 30$ while Lafite who has been around as long as them costs 500$, not to talk about Leroy and DRC. Look at Sherry, almost 30% of the production is now poured away and only there to produce empty Sherry casks for Whisky aging. What a slap in the face must that be to the proud Spaniards... My view is simple, Tondonia (and traditional Spain in general) should go visit new the kids on the block like Commando G, who's wines now rightfully cost up to 300$ because they approach Rayas quality and learn how to make better wines.
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This pours medium to light garnet in the glass with light bricking. The nose is very suave and seductive, featuring seamless layers of complexity and fruit. Moderately intense and high complexity. Aromas are of dried cherry, dried strawberry, dried orange peel, animal fur, dried rose petals, fire pit, stony soil, sweet cedar, dried ginger powder, and a vague whisp of toasted coconut. The palate enters on the bright dried cherry and strawberry turning to high orange tinged acid and medium minus tannin. This shows the telltale high LdH acidity, but is very balanced especially compared to other recent vintages. The finish is long replaying just about everything on the nose. Overall I'm quite blown away by this wine. Easily my favourite vintage of Tondonia Riserva since I began tasting them on release with the 2004 vintage. The complexity, balance and profile here is just lovely, and I expect this to age flawlessly. This confirms for me that 2010 is a very special vintage for Rioja.
Aperitif 93p: En flott og konsentrert fortsatt ung og lovende syrefrisk utgave av denne klassikeren - en av de aller beste årgangene - som tåler 10-12 år til - minst. Kjøttretter med saus, lam, vilt. 399,90kr
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3 bottles taken to the iron Chef style restaurant competition featuring Catalan Tapas & Wine, notes from first mental impression. Had to check the bottle that I didn't grab the Bosconia instead, much more depth and rawness than the previous years I have been drinking. Will be no surprise that the table found this very food friendly and enjoyable. Good acidity and of course plenty of spicy cedar and cigar humidor oak; feel like this has decades ahead of it. A- (90) eval.
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spendt på å smake den forgjettede 2010 årgangen. PnP i Riedel Bx. Litt lukket start. Forsiktig lukt. Klar og rein frukt. Med rognebær, medisinskap, krydder. Særegen signatur, fersk tobakk. 1 dag: klar og fin rognebær frukt, fin vanilje. Tydelig modning
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Svårt och beskriva vad man upplever för smak. Jag tyckte om den, känns att det är ålder på den, kommer hålla i 20 år till och bli ännu bättre. Blir godare att dricka efter luftning
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Less notes (PearceBarr covered those well), more my impression over two nights - admittedly first experience with this producer. Upon opening nice cranberry/orange fruit mixed with some funky strawberry-like note (think of ripe strawberries that sat in a barn for a week - in a good way), but after an hour of decant the funky strawberry note blew off and it became more elegant and as others have noted, almost Burgundian, more fresh and primary than expected for the age/region. The second night didn’t show any improvement over the first and the finish may have even taken a dip compared to the first night.
It’s undoubtedly old school but the lower tannins that have started integrating with the wine seem slightly out of balance with the acidity. While my second bottle will lie down a little longer, my concern is that it will be mostly acidity holding up the structure if left for more than 5 or so years.
My score reflects what I believe to be the potential and in general I feel like a harsher marker than others. With such an abundance of tasting notes on this wine recently and with a division between some very high scores and some more tempered impressions, I wanted to mention which “side” I’m leaning closer to. Still very much enjoyed the uniqueness of this Rioja being someone who generally prefers traditional styles.
Dark, with minimal bricking. Cherry and dark fruit on the nose, lots of acidity and a pretty good dose of oak. Still tight, and didn't open up as much as I'd hoped over the course of an evening. Needs a few years to really hit its stride.
The 2010 has a kind of restrained, or muted, sensation to it. Drank over 3 hrs. Still there is some spark and magic buried deep. Hold a few yrs, and stock up.
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PnP Lots of blackberry, coconut, medium acidity and grippy tannins. Long finish
1 hour in More fruit, less oak. Funky strawberry type acidity on the finish with some vanilla.
3.5 hours in No more funk, vanilla, or any oak. Pretty fruit (strawberry and blackberry) and mineral backed acidity. Taste ‘Burgundian’ without tasting like Pinot
Better after 3.5 hours than 5.5 which makes me think it’ll age well I’ve the next 10-15 rather than 20-30.
Beautifully balanced with a good amount of fruit upon opening and expected high acidity. On the palate there is more suggestion of wood and not as much tertiary as I would expect given the age. Another great rendition of this wine - this vintage providing a more elegant version which should continue to age well over the next couple of decades. Tremendous value given the quality. Paired tonight with a black garlic Manchego.
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The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like cranberry, raspberry, red currant, strawberry jam, mineral, forest floor, stoniness, medium toast, oak, coconut, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, violet and meaty. The body is medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has high acidity. Expected a bit more as it tasted a bit harsh, but overall very good, although I prefer white wines from this winery (89). After two days, I took the last glass and it was almost another wine, much better overall, not harshness with the same complexity, balance, intensity and finish.
MIOA, cranberries, blood orange, smoke, charcoal, cedar wood, cigar box, wet leaves, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, spice... complex nose of red acidic berries, and old oak aging plus tertiary aromas...
Dry with Med Ac, Med Alcohol, M+ tannins soft and and quite integrated, M+ Body, M+ IOF, Dried cranberries, blood orange, orange, smoke, charcoal, cedar wood and spices, Tannins are well rounded and circled by a fruity acidity in a Med+ finish
The wine is well balanced, fine aged giving a nice mouthfeel of integrated oak surrounded by fruity and tertiary aromas. The forrest floor mixes with oranges in a nice fresh feel from good acidity.
The wine is very good and just lacks a bit more length to be outstanding...
Here is my assessment in terms of WSET requirements, still I liked it very much and should have made it outstanding as it really stood in all the tastings we had, but again it is a "weaker" style of the area, in a very old school style. No power, No super new oak flavors, and tannins are quite low as well here... But is stands as a really balanced and fresh wine.
Withdrawn nose of red currant and strawberry. No vanilla at all. Fresh with high acidity, sour cherry fruit. Tannins not intrusive at all. Long balanced finish. Typical Tondonia but maybe atypical Rioja. Like it a lot.
Rioja a wine Nemesis of mine, has more misses than hits., usually has too much oak for my taste, but this is no ordinary rioja, right?
Garnet with some bricking on the rim. Medium-intensity aromas of cherry, dried flowers, parmesan cheese, cured meat, oak, dill, molasses, and perfume.
Soft wine with medium acidity, soft tannins, chalk in mid-palate, integrated oak, dried herbs, cherry, saline, perfume, balsamic and cedar. Short finish and sometimes I was reminded of Bordeaux, this is a rioja I can always drink.
Nja. Rätt hård i kanterna trots de tolv åren. Känns inte riktigt färdiglagrad. Fin bärig doft men smaken aningen bläckig med hög syra och något opolerade tanniner.
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The color is medium ruby. On the nose there are pronounced aromas of red cherries, red plum, cigar box, leather, menthol, cedar wood, very little oxidative notes (not flawed). The wine is fully developed but has at least a decade ahead of it. The acidity is high. The tannins are medium(+) and the body is medium. On the palate the flavours are similar to the nose and also pronounced, additionally sour cherries and red currant. The finish is very long. A great wine! Glass I used: Josephine No 2.
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This is an excellent wine. I suspect it isn't rated too highly because of its price. Elegant, subtly balanced flavours, beautifully long finish, very round and comforting. This is just excellent.
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Nice acidity comes with red berry, leather and earth note. After 2-3 hours, acidity goes down and oak, tobacco, chocolate, herb note comes dominant. For me, it feels a little mundane and like an ordinary tempranillo after this lost its decent acidic character but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Perfectly enjoyable.
Tasted rest of the bottle the next day. Overall performance remained strong, while tomato and herbal note comes up clearer compared to the first experience. It does have balance with the fruitiness, otherwise it could have developed to notable pyrazine which I hate.
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Gloomy January Saturday Drinking; 1/7/2023-1/8/2023 (Rainy West London): From half. On the nose you could almost believe it's ready to go - the ubiquitous forest floor, red fruits perhaps, whiff of spice. On the palate - much more tightly coiled - jolly enjoyable, but the curse of knowledge means that I can't help thinking what lies ahead for this wine. Pleased to have a few more in the cellar.
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On the nose - strawberry pencil. Spicy! Once aerated...plum and possibly apricot?
On the palate - Pick n mix! Crushed red berries. Definitely fresh red fruit (is there a touch of black?) but much richer, spicier and heavier than a pinot noir. Violets and sweet lead? Is there date? Not quite...the experienced tasters put this down as fig. Grippy tannins with a long, full mouth finish; medium to full bodied. Bright with medium to high acidity.
A lovely, classic Rioja, done well.
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Lopez de Heredia always delivers classic old-world efforts, and the 2010 Vina Tondonia is no different.
Nose - cherry, hay, earth, rosemary and chalk, with subtle floral notes. On the palate - medium, structured and long, with bright red fruit and game. Well balanced, good complexity, integrated tannins and delicious, refined fruit. An all-around excellent effort.
Drink now through 2030. 91 points.
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on the nose, it's intense with primary notes of red and black cherry, blueberry, tobacco, coffee, cocoa and notes of spices and cigar box; medium+ body on the mouth, with well rounded tannins and a medium+ aftertaste.
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Great wine! 2009 is a favorite and 2010 is at least as good. The wine is elegant and complex. Scent of plum, black currant, cedar, oak and much more. Quite simular to previous vintages with the differens that I didn’t felt dill. Taste of plum, black currant and oak. In this vintage cedar was more present than previous ones. In the aftertaste the acidity is very refreshing and sour cherries also appears. Medium+ to high acidity, medium+ tannins and medium body.
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Drank side-by-side with the 2010 Bosconia. At this stage, both seem a little unintegrated, with the Bosconia having more prominent tart acidity and a hint of VA (which I generally enjoy in moderation), whereas the Tondonia has more prominent notes of American oak. Both are lovely in their own right, and for my tastes the Bosconia is preferable at the moment. I think the Tondonia will come into its own over time.
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Medium ruby tending to garnet/brick at the rim. Very slight staining of the tears.
Needs a few hours of air to open up, but got better and better as it did. Big nose of coconut, vanilla, cherry, plum, and brown baking spice. Some tobacco as well. As it sits in the glass more of the fruit and earthy aromas balance out the oak flavors.
Tannins are fine grained and well resolved. Medium plus acidity. Medium to medium plus body.
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94/95. A profound youthful wine. 13%. Drink now or lay down 15-20 years. Needs 3-4 hrs+ aeration. We had this with Poulet Printanier and this worked a treat with its highish sherryish acidity.
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Christmas Eve red with assorted appetizers. What a wine! I was expecting to be a little let down based on some of the hype but this is the real deal and perhaps the best Lopez Reserva I've ever had? Plus I'm usually more of a Bosconia lover but this rocks with enough air. I gave it 4 hr decant. Mainly to insure it revealed all it could. This has terrific balance, depth and weightless elegance. Red fruit, spice, earth, mineral on both the nose & palate. A very complete ethereal red. Ready to go now but should last for decades. 13% alc. Such a great choice for Christmas Eve too. Drank mine from a Reidel Burg.
Extremely elegant and smooth rioja. Decanted for 5 hours but the best pour was the last one, so I would like to guess that this wine is still a few years from maturity. Had it alongside with a Viña Ardanza 2015 and frankly they are on a very different league, Tondonia kills it.
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92 Muy serio. Carne cruda, fruta roja envuelta en madera de calidad. En boca es fresco, con muy buena fruta ácida, muy largo. Está empezando a mostrarse, y será un vino importante.
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Red fruit and oak with smooth tannins and good dose of acidity. All the classic old-school Rioja notes! 1.5 hours of decant time but could use more. Too young? Maybe. Good now? Yes. Worth it? Definitely! The next nine bottles will be consumed over several years.
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Un Tondonia en finesse et classicisme, plutôt floral au nez avec une touche évoluée de sous-bois. La bouche est compacte, dense, de bonne acidité le vin est encore adolescent. Un vin pour la garde, excellent.
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Drinking well now. It’s not quite as intense and extracted as the 07 is, but the quality is undeniable. Drink with some lean meat and concentrated sauce.
I’ll be saving my remaining three bottles, but there’s no shame in drinking it now.
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A lighter shade of red trending toward rusty at the edges. Smells of vanilla and red fruit and oak. On the palate, it’s medium to full bodied, and lush with ripe cherries and blueberries with hints of smoke and earth and leather. The acidity here is bright and juicy, with chalky tannins that still have a plenty of grip. The oak is just beautifully integrated. I know someone is going to chime in with “it’s too young”—and it probably is—but this is already a pleasure to drink at even this stage.
Very thin and very clean. Wished for more fruit at this stage but instead drinks like a fine borolo. I liked it more then a friend. Drink it if you have it don't see much improvement in the years to come.
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good medium red color, what a nose! black cherries, raw leather, plums, clove, pine, an endless variety of delights in small doses, on the palate a reflection of the dazzling nose, ripe fruits with a hint of cocoa countered by an array of firm mineral and underbrush notes, cherries, plums, fine length with rounded stone and sour cherry notes, drinking beautifully but this is still very young with many glories ahead, it is hard to believe- but oh so wonderful to know- that in today's wine market there are still world class bottles to be had for under $50.
**(**)+, now to 2040+
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Nowhere near ready, but it was fun to have a glass with friends while my case matures. Pretty much on point to what you expect, maybe the fruit had a bit more depth, but the acid was also rather bright as it often is at this age. Herbs were dialled back a bit, though perhaps with more camphorous effervescence and volatility. Needs a long time.
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Light profile, nose of sweet light oak, subtle hint of blackberry and sage, moderately tannic, acid comes out on the finish. Needs time, hard to get a good read.
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What a wine, insane value. Opens up with so much fresh fruit and rhubarb on nose and palate. After a couple of minutes it shut down but came back after two hrs in decanter. So fresh and vibrant yet layered with complexity. I'd prefer the oak to settle a bit from here. Upside with cellaring but a treat now if aerated for min 2 hrs. I've had both the 08 and 09 pretty recently and this was much more approachable "young".
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Shy and a bit closed open opening, much better after a 4 hour slow ox. Notes of sour cherry and strawberry rhubarb, mandarin orange, leather, vanilla and spices like sage and thyme. Nice acid but some warm fruit too. Silky finish. Clearly young, time will do wonders for this already pretty wine.
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Decanted for around 30 minutes and then drunk alongside 2010 Bosconia. Slightly more oaked than the Bosconia, and darker-fruited, in a dusky, musky sort of fashion. Very dry and grown-up in feel, and the tannins were already perfectly manageable. Perhaps not quite as compelling as the 2010 Ardanza, but also addictively delicious.
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Textbook Tondonia from a good vintage, a real joy. Clear ruby going garnet. Plummy, slightly vegetal nose. Light-to-midweight palate is an "understated tour de force", if such a thing can exist, with an unusually complex mix of pie cherry, wildflower, fresh-cut grass, Damson plum, and forest floor, all with the volume turned down to levels that people used to a more modern style could totally miss. Medium finish, fairly light tannins. This isn't love-it-or-hate-it -- nobody will hate this -- but it's probably love-it-or-miss-the-point. As far as I'm concerned, this was outstanding. I know prices have crept up, and people remember when you could get this in the $20ish range, but I think it's still extraordinary value at $41.
Same notes as my last. This is really well made wine however the oak is still too much prominent here. Lots of fruit in the back so best to wait a few more years.
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Consumed with a vegetable rough pastry tart, by itself and with a reverse seared ribeye on the smoker over the course of three days.
Nose: leather, smoke, oak and cherry. Taste: everything on the nose plus warm spice, pepper and strawberry. Feel: tannic, medium bodied, acidic. Loved this wine, but think I slightly prefer the Cubillo for most occasions.
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Nose: Initially some red sweet fruit. Also moldy basement, wet rocks. With time there is a melted plastic/varnish fruit note that I usually get in grenache wines like Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Palate: Gum shreddingly high acid, with fine but very drying tannins. No fruit. Feels completely hollow on the palate. Aftertaste is stemmy.
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Earthy, medium body, rustic, hints of jamminess in flavor (not texture), medium acidity, black berries. Very nice. Tasting next to a 2015 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva. Both very nice and a similar level for me, despite the Vina Ardanza being cheaper. A step or two above casual sipping due to the nice complexity and flavor profile.
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At charity tasting…classic winery, making the best wine each vintage and none seemingly the same due to such intent. This vintage seems lighter, classy, and elegant. Not bold or punchy, and maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but right in my wheelhouse.
Will compare this to Calabretta’s VV Mascalese wines where they make the best of each vintage and hold wines for years before release. The similarities go further as the heavier bolder 2008s of Tondonia and Calabretta are very unlike the classy 2010s of each. I wonder if they talk 🧐.
Very glad to have, considering buying more but not sure of the longevity, will love it to 2030 for sure.
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Nose dominated by oak and cloves, a bit of orange peel. Bracing acidity and prominent fine grained tannins. It was enjoyable to have an early look at this, but I think it needs a few more years to develop.
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At this stage in time, the 2010 Tondonia is less compelling than the 2010 Bosconia, at least to my palate. A bit less bright, with less red fruits, unintegrated tannins and a good thwack of vanilla and dill from the American oak. I would say that it is also less compelling than a 2008 Tondonia I had recently, although that is not a fair comparison given the age difference. Hopefully this wine will continue to evolve and show more of its potential.
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Pronounced on the nose with red cherry, black cherry, blackberry, violet, dried herbs, dill, nutmeg, meat, leather, cedar, tar, dark chocolate, tobacco, resinous notes, savoury notes, forest floor, dried cherry. Developing.
Pronounced and dry on the palate. High acidity, med body, high tannins, me alcohol, long finish.
Can drink now but has potential for aging. I would wait though. Super tight on opening. Opened with air but still feels like it needs time. Definitely potential for a higher score.
95 Oct 2022 👃 reserved nose of plum, ripe strawberry, a touch of rubber and balsamic. 👅plum, raspberry, a slight tart, iodine, a little earthy, balsamic, a some saltiness, light bodied. The finish has some soy sauce. Acidity and tannins are still strong and very balanced. Cloud 9 stuff.
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An early taste thanks to the Wine Soc magic mixed case. Earthy nose - some oak influence but a little muted. On the palate - it's all there, somewhat integrated but still tightly coiled. Enjoyable to drink now - and certainly not a waste - but one can taste the potential. Compared to the Ardanza from the same year - less flashy but with the same sense of being drinkable now but with great things ahead of it.
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Medium ruby. Beautifully balanced as expected, with lovely acid backbone. This was at the same time surprisingly on the sweet side, with lovely suggestions of cedar, leather, etc. Very approachable on the first night, and developing beautifully on the second and third.
Opened and poured 1 glass and tasted a sip. Lots of heat with alcohol and acidity. Left the glass and bottle for 7 hrs then came back. The alcohol and acidity subsided and the wine is well integrated and open. Enjoyed over next 3 hours.
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The newest vintage of this extraordinary Reserva made from a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. Aged for 6 years in used US oak and 6 years in bottle. Medium intensity rich aroma of plums, black cherries, tobacco, cured cold cuts, spices, medicinal and herbal hints. Medium body, fresh, juicy and bright with great depth of flavour, fruity, spiced and smoky notes. Intense well integrated acidity, fine polished tannins, long finish with delicate oaky and smoky touches.
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Medium garnet colour with brick rims. Fragrant, toasted nut, mineral, mushroom, milled mahogany, and dried cherry nose. Flavourful, medium-bodied palate with high acidity and rounding tannins. Good length, mature finish. 4.5/5
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Probably one of the most immediately approachable Vina Tondonias of the past few years. Already in balance, already polished. Fruit in perfect balance with oak. Notes of cherry, dried orange peel, resiny woodiness, leather. A nice savory note lingers in the background... sage? saffron? Keeps changing in the glass.
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OK, I am expecting big things from the 2010…. Bought a bottle to see if i should buy a case. 5 min in and the wine obviously is closed with not a whole lot of fruit but there’s a density in the mouth that suggests things will improve. it is always difficult to judge wines that have just arrived via a boat from Europe. Especially if the importer is on the west coast. (Thats an extra 2-3 weeks on the water constantly moving the wine inside the bottle) a lot of red wines just arriving, take 3 to 4 months to “come together”. If I can explain it is like an extended period of time that a wine just wont open up. and heredia fits this bill exponentially. Hey but 2 hours in and its opening nicely. But the pieces aren’t talking to each other. . Tondonia these past 5 or so vintages IMO have been disappointing. Rather thin. Bosconia and even the lower tier cubillo have been so much more enjoyable. This 2010 tondonia seems to be pretty damn good. The 2010 bosconia is so delicious. Lets see what happens day 2. DAY 2: hasn't really changed much. Maybe a little rounder. Overall delicious. Great classic rioja flavors, raspberry minerals and massive acidity. Should age an eternity. I think ill get a case. In the end, These wines are really good but I really don’t know how good. Better than the ardanza, 904, or the muga especial? I need to put these in a blind tasting with other Riojas because I think I get skewed when I see heredia on the label.
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Tasted as the fifth of the six wines picked by Manuel/Harley 1199 for a Gargantuan tasting/dinner last Friday at Coalla in Madrid. To be frank: by the time this bottle arrived my memory went a bit hazy... This is what I remember and noted down: Wine still very young, with typical Tondonia smell and feel; Sweaty saddle smell and aromas, (Manuel took offense at my description - I actually said "sweaty socks") ;acidity quite at the forefront and not yet integrated. Needs time.
Bandreas & Company Stopped in Madrid; 9/23/2022-9/24/2022 (Coalla - Madrid): Opaque core with orange and violet edges. Recognizable aromas of strawberries with cream, Aranjuez style, wet leather, penicillin punch and cigar box. Beautiful complexity on the nose that does not accompany development of a great depth in the mouth although potential is there. Extremely young to me taste on the palate, surly and unpredictable as a cimarrón that must still be tamed by time. More gastronomic than wine of reflection at the moment. Acidity is looking for forceful dishes. In my humble opinion another ten years in the bottle will end up rounding it up and making a call for a Cuban cigar. Last third for absent friends.
Opaco corazón con unos bordes entre anaranjados y violáceos. Reconocibles aromas a fresas con nata de Aranjuez, cuero húmedo, golpe de penicilina y caja de puros. Bonita complejidad en nariz a la que no acompaña el desarrollo de una gran profundidad en boca aunque el potencial está ahí. Extremadamente joven para mí gusto al paladar, arisco e imprevisible como un potro que todavía debe ser domado por el tiempo. Más gastronómico que vino de reflexión en estos momentos. La acidez habla de platos contundentes. En mi humilde opinión otros diez años en botella terminarán de redondearlo y de realizar la llamada por un puro cubano. Último tercio para los amigos ausentes.
I’m not going to give this a score because I feel this was too closed - even after 3hrs in the decanter. There are lovely notes of cherry and fig along with some cedar wood and a touch of dill which faded after a while. I wanted to try one young and you can certainly see the potential. I won’t be touching the next one for 10yrs at least… Was still very pleasant with some manchego.
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(Katz Orange in Berlin) despite its youth, this was approachable and actually a bit rounder than in many recent vintages. Of course, the greater secondary and tertiary notes require time, but this showed very nicely, with Smokey moist wood, dark, leafy cherry, and that nice LdH nose that screams traditional Rioja.
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Profound and racy has light clovey hints! Easily the Best Tondonia ever. Has excellent length on day two. 13%. I salute Queen Elizabeth's life! This should be bought by the case! Lay down 20-40 years+drink now too! Needs 90 mins aeration. I had this with lamb fillet and this was a wonderful match! This is a little Bourguinon but very Riojan with its juicy lipsmacking garlicky food friendly acidity!
Popped and poured. Gorgeous and viscous ruby red with lighter, garnet rims. Amazingly complex, elegant, fine nose, sour cherry, crushed raspberry, red currants, blood orange, dried rose petals, anise, dried dill, sage. Very layered, forest floor, cuban cigars, incense, sandalwood, fine oak, milk chocolate.. Burgundian, almost Gevrey’ like.. Palate is so juicy, fresh and acidity’s very high, (not overwhelming) great minerality and really fruity. So delicate yet structured and explosive. Medium to full bodied. Layers of red little berries, fine integrated oak, delicate spiciness, dill, orange zest. Very fine tannins. Very nice structured and balanced, seamless, harmonious. Already a great experience after 12 years from the harvest, and spending 6 years in oak. It will benefit from at least 5 to 10 years of more aging in bottle, but totally beautiful and appealing now. 13%. A gem of Rioja, a great Q/P, elegance and muscles, it deserves its reputation. Probably not a wine for everyone.
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This may be the best vintage of Tondonia I’ve tasted. Tondonia is a landmark in the wine world, at least for me. To appreciate it, you have to come to terms with the high acidity, which is reminiscent of a sour ale / lambic in the beer world. Tasting notes are hard, but I will go with sour cherries, tomatoes, orange zest, cigar, and dill. The power is exceptional. This is the kind of wine that makes me want to be a sommelier, because this would definitely make the perfect pairing for some dish at a Michelin three-star restaurant.
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Dark garnet red color. PNP, from 375ml of the list The Compound, drank a glass plus over 90 minutes. This was quite impressive at this point. The nose is fantastic, great aromatics, candied raspberry, black cherry, huckleberry, splendid wood and spice notes, earthy underbrush, leather, hints of rose petals and a little smoke create a lifted, perfumed character. more surprisingly, the palate is already showing nicely, more red fruited, cherry and candied raspberry, hints of blue fruit too; the earth stands out with underbrush and dried herbs, leather, the requisite lacquer notes, and a round giving tannins on a lengthy finish. Loved it and have to believe this is only going to get better with extra time in bottle. 93+ to 94pts.
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At this point in time this wine is too tannic and acidity is very high to enjoy even with a decant. A strong wood smell emerges from the glass. U feel that there is fruit in the background but the whole thing is not in sync… not likely a re-buy for me
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Random wines tasted during service (Oinoscent): Flash decanted and blind tasted, curtesy of a customer The wine shows very dense, rich and heavily oaked nose, dusty, vanilla, wood paint, a touch of clove and cinnamon, milky notes Palate is again heavily based on oak, dusty, vanilla, alcohol heat, medium body, spicy, aggressive as it is, angular tannins, red cherries, plank infused medium finish Called this rioja
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Managed to consume multiple bottles of this before getting a note down. It's not the easiest style of wine to get a handle on, or at least to put into words, because it's in that advanced-enough state where it all melds together and the main impression you get is, "well, that's Rioja all right." But I did find this Tondonia to have a little more clarity and precision than the Bosconia this year, which presented the same challenge. It opens up with some leatheriness to the aroma but freshens up in the glass to turn more herbal, evoking sage and spearmint. I don't know what happened, I always used to prefer Bosconia to Tondonia for its elgance, but that may have flipped. I am finding this both more svelte and suave than Bosconia this vintage.
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.....just too young; decanted through an aerator and left sitting for 45 mins. Never opened up. At this rate, Heaven knows how long this will take to evolve, but I wont be touching another for at least 5 yrs
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2nd time to taste this wine in as many weeks. Having had 07 and 08 recently, this is clearly tops for my palate. It has the classic saddle leather, sour cherry and figs for days. Rustic but with quite a lot of freshness, and the least roasted fruit notes of that trio (I haven’t had 09 to compare). Structurally, pretty chalky tannins that will need a number of years to resolve.
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Tased next to 2011 Bosconia. More depth and detail, firmer tannic structure, less expressive and more savoury. Sweet spices, tobacco, pure red and dark fruit, hints of vanilla and liquorice. Quite powerful and intense with a vibrant, persistent finish. Very promising. 92-93+
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Paid 35€ in San Sebastian at Super Amara store. Decanted 90 minutes but its closed and too young. Just wanted to try it since I've never had it. Must try again in a few years. At this point it isnt much better than the Viña Bosconia.
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Voilà le rioja classique que je cherchais depuis longtemps ! Certes un peu boisé, mais quelle fraîcheur ! Concentré et digeste, tanins soyeux, équilibre, complexité. Tout y est. A boire ou à garder.
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Did NOT mean to drink this yet. Was at my house before moving to my locker and we drank a white then the mood struck us. It was SOOO YOUNG. The youngest, boldest Tondonia I've ever had. Enjoyable yes, and cool to taste at this age, but wish I had held it at least a few years, or at least decanted.
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Deep, almost opaque garnet fading only slightly to ruby. LOTS of oak on the nose: cedar, leather, vanilla, a whiff of tobacco, all overshadowing blackberry jam. Juicy acidity; midweight palate; light on its feet. Significant fine-grained tannins. This wine needs LOTS of time. Tasted after 30 mins of air in the glass. $95 at The Cottage in Westport with their excellent Cottage Burger (comte cheese - sriracha aioli - bacon & onion jam; https://www.thecottage.kitchen/westport-menu).
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Congratulations to Spanish wine producers. How can a wine that is in a barrel for 6 years and then in a bottle for 6 years costs only 32 €??? Plus: this wine is only made in the best years. Not too long ago I had their Bosconia wine. I would say this way: Bosconia is on dark side of "Force" and Todonia is on red side of "Force" 😉 First thing first: first two glasses and... three ⭐ ( completely mess where Red Cherry goes all over, light texture, sour taste, hidden acidity and tannins, disaster). Third glass - as you see above 93 pts.( decanted about an hour - do it longer!). Now this juice is like stained glass at Chartres Cathedral( everything is at right location, fits perfectly and it's beautiful) Aromas are very complex and somehow unusual like orange, strawberry (?), grapefruit, cedar, flowers, minerals (?) and believe me, if you want to play an agent, there is a lot of more. Everything on bright side of smell ( let's name it - red) Taste - full of energy with visual acidity and tannins ( personally - too much). Red cherry of course, red currant, citrus notes, vanilla. Very long, clean finish with soft spice. Why I like Bosconia much more? There is not enough of sweet components here.
93 Espléndido clásico riojano. Precioso color rojo rubí. En nariz se muestra madera de calidad, notas lácticas, yogur. Fruta roja madura , cerezas, guindas. En boca está crujiente, con mucha fruta roja ácida. Muy equilibrado, mucha acidez y tanino muy fino. Gran añada. Se está desarrollando un gran vino, que dará muchas alegrías a lo largo de los años. Excelente.
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Blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo. 6 years aged in American oak barrels, being racked twice a year and fined with fresh egg whites, 13% vol.
Decanted half an hour before dinner, but required more time, got better with every sip. Dark fruited, earthy notes, fresh moss and a hint of dill, on the palate dry, medium to full bodied, good structured, long finish.
Different compared to the latest vintages of this wine but again a nice interpretation of a superb year in Rioja. Also very different to Bosconia from the same vintage, Tondonia is less elegant but has more edges, is very classical, very Rioja and for sure still very Tondonia. Already very good but will only improve with further cellaring, 92-93 points.
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5/18/2024 - drwine2001 wrote:
Decanted and poured. Even ruby. Medium body. Herbal and fennel scents, cedar, and quite tart red fruit to begin with. As it opened, the green notes receded and more smoky black cherry emerged. Very mineral at its core with a punchy tannic finish. This probably needs another 5 years to more fully relax. The quality and potential become more clear with air, but this is not very pleasurable tonight right out of the bottle.
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5/14/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Was quite tart at opening, so I decided to decant it 3 hours before dinner and it still improved in the glass. On the nose ethereal (more tar than roses) and dark fruit, on the palate a load of smooth tannin and medium to high acidity, good mouthfeel and long finish. Great showing and as classic as Rioja can be, drink now or till 2040.
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5/12/2024 - steveiiiiii Likes this wine: 93 Points
From 375ml, was sitting all dinner and thinking wow is the 2011 drinking like this all of a sudden. I have to buy more. The day after I realised I had opened a 2010. A couple of points ahead of the 2011 and an amazing QPR-wine. So vibrant, silky, and simply delicious. This is wonderful now and will be wonderful for many, many years to come. Decant for 2 hours.
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5/10/2024 - seethree Likes this wine: 93 Points
Agree that this needs at least an hour or two of decant. Will also definitely improve with age and is still early in its drinking window. Good QPR.
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5/5/2024 - iobtoel Likes this wine: 92 Points
1 hour decant. Mid-red with a hint of a fading rim. Delightful nose with notes of cherries, dark berries, tobacco and just a hint of cedar wood. Blackberries and cherries on the palate, supported by fine grained tannins and undertows of tobacco notes. Sweet long finish. Lovely wine.
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5/4/2024 - seeyouintee Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mahogany in the glass with a touch of bricking at the rim. Aromas of cigar box, purple flowers, cherry, clove, light leather notes, balsamic, and tomato leaf. Palate carries over, bringing in some black pepper. Finish goes on for about a minute. Tannins are present, but not overriding. I think I prefer the 2008 so far, but this is a really nice bottle with many years of great drinking ahead. Was great PnP, drank over several hours decanted. If I opened another bottle tomorrow I'd probably decant for at least 2 hours. Last glass was the best.
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4/17/2024 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Vicki's. Straight from the bottle, fruit showing a lot more black than red right now with dusty earth and some baked tones. Not flawed, just not prepared to enter this world yet so it didn't come across with either Rioja or LdH typicity. Needs rest.
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4/16/2024 - Sebastian80 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted blind in a flight of six Iberian wines.
Dusty with some red and dark fruit on the nose. Modest. Fresh acidity.
Feels like it’s in between phases. I would wait 5-10 years for this one because right now it’s a bit disappointing. Easy to pick as a Rioja.
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4/13/2024 - Jens DT Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drak med Mussi.
Flot farve. Alder. Duft efter kort tid. Sveske på fornuftig baggrundsmåde. Mørke bær. Dufter lidt Gevrey med alder.
Smager som duft. Stadig god syre. God balance. Tannin på læberne. Køb gerne mere.
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4/8/2024 - lozatron Likes this wine:
On opening, lovely structure, velvety texture on the mouth, the fruit is contending well with the oak. A thrilling and balanced wine - only the slight baked character on the nose stops this from being a magnificent wine.
With time, air, and medium cooked Marriott burger the nose starts to pull itself together, some red fruits, a hint of blueberry. Weirdly as the nose cleans up, the palate becomes more as you’d expect - American oak caramel coming back to the fore. Still a pup but this will be magnificent in time.
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4/2/2024 - SirFred Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking so beautifully at this young stage with classic Lopez character. Very smooth and elegant with an almost Burgundian texture. An expansive nose with flowers, pepper, and spice box wafting out of the glass. Cherry and cigar ash with a long finish. Very complex and savory with ripe tannins. It seems to get better with each bottle. Never had a bad bottle of tondonia, and this may be the best vintage yet. The Bosconia is also excellent in this vintage. Hard to decide which one I like better, but I’m looking forward to following their development over the next three decades.
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3/29/2024 - FjordogFjell wrote:
Påskelam med Hombstabakk’s. Forsmak i sola, etter skitur. Åpen og tilgjengelig. blodappelsin. Skarp smak med rognebær, jern og tobakk. God syre og tanniner som sitter lenge.
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3/18/2024 - j5614.person@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dill,leather, red cherry and soft tannins
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3/17/2024 - Matteo1 wrote: 92 Points
Dried herbs, blackberry and oaky nose with a surprisingly acidic palate that has alot of elegance to it but low complexity. Enjoyable drink but nothing too exciting. There's still some tannin here and additional bottle age would be beneficial.
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3/13/2024 - Stephan2021 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dusty red fruit and orange zest + a lot of tertiary in the nose like dried herbs and earth.
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Medium Body, medium+ acidity but very well integrated
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What makes this great for me is its length, complexity and above all: elegance.
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3/1/2024 - Justin S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stunning for its freshness and verve at 14 years old. Mouth puckering acidity, very tasty. After a few hours of air, the unresolved structure and tannin was more apparent, but I agree with Keith that this is now drinking on the early end, but is likely not in the preferred window for many. Glad to have a few more bottles. What a bargain.
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3/1/2024 - mper Likes this wine: 95 Points
Supernice traditional Rioja
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2/20/2024 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
This was decanted for about an hour or so before drinking. This pours a lovely, deep ruby color with very little to no browning at the rim. Honestly, given how long LdH normally holds back wines, I was actually a bit shocked at how dark and vibrant this was in the glass. That vibrancy also comes through in a big way on the nose as balanced tones of sour red cherries, raspberries, fresh leather, violets, dill, sweet tobacco, red currants, vanilla bean, fresh herbs, and a touch of savory notes permeate beautifully together already. The Medium bodied feel is silky and balanced with just a touch of VA that adds intrigue along with tart, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. There is also a hint of rancio on the back end that works really well too. This is “drinking” in that the structure isn’t overbearing, but this does feel like it can really benefit from a few more years of aging just to let the rough edges smooth out.
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2/17/2024 - davidsa Likes this wine: 97 Points
I read some comments mentioning similatities with Sangiovese. I tottally agree.
Pale ruby red showing a little bit of ageing on the rim.
Nose with red and dried fruit, tobacco, leather, mushrooms, forrest floor and some spice. Just beautiful.
The palate is perfectly balanced, the wood is there but quiet, tannins are so smooth and the acidity it's just spot on.
People mentioned that would go for Sangiovese if blind. I think if blind the score would be a lot higher as well. Thinking that a wine at 30/40€ range and preoduced on this big quantity offers this quality it's just madness.
Beautiful, beautiful wine.
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2/17/2024 - TormodKleppe wrote: 93 Points
Dekantert i 2 timer
Klar fin rødfarge. Antydning til murssteinsfarge på kanten.
Dufter røde/mørke bær , eik og jord.
Den smaker som den dufter. Balansert syre ,hærlige tanniner og laaaang lengde.
Mat : Tenderloin , fløtepoteter,smørstekt asparges og sopp. Maisstuving og en passe sterk,kremet grønnpeppersaus.
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2/17/2024 - Sanh@ Likes this wine: 94 Points
네병째 마시는 중인데 매번 더 맛있어지는 것 같다
뉘생, 지샹 1er 사이에서도 뒤지지 않았고 심지어 뉘생 1er과 잘 구분이 안가더라
블라인드로 마셨을 때 1er 다 뚫고 내 일픽... 그냥 내 취향일수도 있지만 잘만든 불곤 피노 못지않게 과실, 오크, 타닌 밸런스가 좋다
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2/13/2024 - Stroudcloud Likes this wine: 93 Points
The other 3 ppl in my tasting group all called this Italian Sangiovese and I can see why, it doesn’t hit you over the head with American oak like you might expect a rioja to. Very well balanced and with great acidity on this vintage.
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2/11/2024 - Mikeiza Likes this wine: 92 Points
I can't believe the price for this gem, it is perfectly balanced, smooth with a long finish, long legs and great aroma and color, outperforms wine that are even 3 times the price, if you like Rioja this the wine to try.
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1/27/2024 - djsaunde Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose: Sweet oak, vanilla, red fruit, leather (?). Not as expressive as I had hoped.
Palate: Red and black fruit (primarily cherries), well-integrated oak, chocolate, savory and earthy qualities. Medium, firm tannins, medium+ acid, medium body, delicate mouthfeel, long finish. Not as complex as I had hoped.
Really well balanced and showing well. Could probably wait a few more years before it's drinking optimally. The mouthfeel for me was the highlight, super delicate and seemingly unique to certain aged wines. Despite being very well balanced and structured, I felt that the wine was lacking complexity.
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1/27/2024 - Swaggering Beaunie Likes this wine:
(Tasted after a 5-hour decant): Excellent, skillfully made, perfectly balanced, and now into its drinking window. Another great LdH bottle shows why LdH is my favorite Rioja producer.
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1/27/2024 - sboyle Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tobacco and smoked meat on the aroma. The flavor is not as refined as the aroma. At 14 years it still seems like it needs at least a few years, maybe more to fully integrate.
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1/23/2024 - hargy Likes this wine: 90 Points
this is drinking well now and undoubtedly has quite a few years of life ahead of it although there is not much tannic structure left - well made but not the most complex of wines
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1/22/2024 - Anna@WineCellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Garnet, medium intensity. Fully developed, medium(+) nose. Typical with oak, vanilla, dill. On the palate dry, high acidity, medium(-) silky tannins, medium(+) body. 13%. Red fruit, oak, vanilla, dill. Very long aftertaste with some meaty notes. Austere, interwoven. Lovely old school Rioja.
(375 ml bottle)
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1/9/2024 - nschmidt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Served to ladies visiting my wife and they loved it. To be honest I drank most of it after they left. Delicious and ready to go.
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1/8/2024 - CWRF Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hours before tasting. Rich nose full of tobacco, ripe red and black berries. Fresh fruit still very much there on the palate, backed up by a savoury, balanced, long finish. Drinking great but will be enjoyable to follow for another 20+. Most popular in the tasting. (@Tufa, Rioja tasting I 2024).
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1/5/2024 - jlm wrote:
Decanted approximately 2 hours and drunk over the subsequent 3. The oak was still prominent on the nose at this point, with dark fruit peeking out a bit. The palate is medium light and velvety textured, with pitch perfect acid integration and impressive flavor intensity. There's some firm but fine tannin framing the finish. Between the evident structure, balance, and oak still unintegrated, this seems well set up for a good aging curve, though I don't personally have long experience with this wine. But I would trust it.
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12/31/2023 - DNABog wrote:
TNT Christmas 2023
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12/29/2023 - MarcRQuark wrote:
Coravined. Very acidic with little body. Got better with some air. Rioja does not seem to be my favorite style. Try again.
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12/26/2023 - macaujames Likes this wine: 95 Points
13%. A fantastic blueberry lightly clovey infused a little bit Bourguinon wine with lovely depth, nice freshness and good zingy length. Drink now with 7-8hrs aeration for the blue fruits to come out or Lay down 10-15 years.
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12/17/2023 - Cake & Fine Wine wrote: 92 Points
Rich, long, subtle oak, vanilla, blackcurrant, elegant and medium bodied. I felt it was a tiny bit prunish…which surprised me because it’s quite young. Decanted for 2 hrs.
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12/15/2023 - Dukes88 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking very well, the oak is pretty much integrated, tannins are still present, nice acidity that balance everything.
Will hold my other bottle for a couple of years but this is totally drinkable with a decant
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11/20/2023 - sjfunkenhauser wrote: 93 Points
93-95
Great complexity. Fresh, vivid but restrained. Tons of savoury notes, but the fruit is still fresh. Still needs a few years for the firm tannins to soften, and become a bit more cohesive.
Medium garnet colour.
Pronounced intensity aromas of sour cherry, cassis, red currant, blackberry, licorice, cedar, leather, vanilla, christmas spices, dried pine needles, dried herbs, dried violet, chili powder, tobacco, mushroom.
Pronounced palate.
Medium (+) body, high acidity, high firm tannins, long finish.
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11/17/2023 - Liskit Likes this wine: 89 Points
Blind taste: Minty, alkol, yüksek tanen, green notes, kırmızı meyveler, aged, earthy
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11/12/2023 - chablis28 wrote: 94 Points
Spain at Rincon38. Mt btl. I gave it a 2 hr decant & back in btl. Removed cork again at Rincon38 This has terrific balance, depth & weightless elegance. Delicious & classy! Red fruit, spice, earth, mineral on both the nose & palate. A very complete ethereal red. Ready to go now but should last for decades. 13% alc. Great tonight slightly eclipsed by Matt B's '08 CVNE Rioja Gran Reserva which was my WOTN vs any other wines from both tables. Thrilled to own 5 more.
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11/12/2023 - rocknroller wrote:
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Rincon 38, Mpls, MN): Just got a small taste of this. Denser, black cherry, quite dry with firm tannins, came off young for me tonight. Quite different from a bottle we had out in Santa Fe right after release. That was beguiling and made me look for some.
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11/6/2023 - fozzibaer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice classic Rioja that did not hold up very well on the second night. Drink on day one.
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11/2/2023 - Bruhnello di Pogalcino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely Rioja, quite light overall, meaty, lovely light lip smacking acidity and tannins. Vanilla is well integrated and not too christmas candle like as you get with the ardanza
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10/27/2023 - Deo68 Likes this wine: 80 Points
Losing charm.
OPL Jessica & Nick Glass House Andaz
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10/21/2023 - Lanzelot Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another great LdH experience. I refer to my tasting note from 27 January 2023. The color turned a little to garnet. This time I used the Zalto Universal which is in general my favorite glass for the red Tondonias.
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10/18/2023 - duchamp wrote: 91 Points
Deep garnet, fig, date, earth, with plum, iron, and pencil lead underneath, medium acidity with lean and dry fruit, earth, and well integrated tannins, finishes is a little short with more dried fruits, orange rind, earth, and lingering salty pomegranate notes
Note: Fun wine for the price but the super high scores (96 by Parker) confound me a bit, I think the CT community is closer to reality
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10/6/2023 - Srabkin90 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The community has it right again with this one.
Allowed this about 30-min to decant, and it could have used more. Still very enjoyable.
Notes of muted red fruit, sour cherry, vintage leather, and subtle vanilla. Tertiary flavors of cigar box and potting soil. Nice length on the finish.
Med bodied, brickish color, exceptionally smooth and with great integration on the tannins. This still has legs for years to come.
Really nice and a steal at the price point, especially for the bottle age. Will sip again.
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10/2/2023 - mmiller94 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Already starting to develop quite a bit, has an interesting Negroni like bitter citrus note to it, lots of leather and earth, but lots of pent up energy. Was better on day 2.
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10/2/2023 - Yohansmas wrote: flawed
위클리하는 사람은 각종 행사때문에라도 한 병 이상은 가지고 있다는 그 와인.
오늘은 이 와인이 열화되어 오면서 마실 수 있었다.
결론부터 말하자면 열화까지 이겨내는 가성비 와인.
처음에는 코에서 버섯향같은 느낌과 입에서도 빡빡한 탄닌이 느껴지면서 꽤 고급 보르도 비슷한 느낌이 난다.
이내 산도가 올라오면서 다른 음식과 더 마시고 싶다는 생각을 자연스럽게 하게 되었다.
다만, 아쉬운 건 2시간 정도 지나니 와인에서 느껴지는 풍미가 절반 수준으로 줄어든 것.
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9/29/2023 - mattym19 Likes this wine: 91 Points
By the bottle at Myriel in Minneapolis. Nose is quite subtle, almost not even there. It might be the restaurant which is extremely tight and full of strong burning smells but I really don’t think there is much there right now. Palate is bursting with red berries, lifted, violet notes, this is not what I expected for a Rioja but I love it. So much acidity and freshness. Vaguest hint of something green and savory on the finish. Strong but subtle tannins balance the copious acidity. I can only assume this is just entering its window but it’s so good now I wouldn’t be able to hold it.
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9/17/2023 - AndreRibeiroChaves Likes this wine: 91 Points
Awesome quality per cost. Great balance among body, acidity and tannins. Notes of red fruit, wood, olives and leather. At 14 years old it’s very vivid and and great to drink.
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9/8/2023 - mflesh wrote:
Holy moley Batman. Still has a ton of astringent oak.
Leave these be!!!! Nice after 3 hours of beating it up in a decanter but daaang.....this is wound TIGHT!!
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9/8/2023 - JJYoyo Likes this wine: 91 Points
3 hrs decant. High acidity, still strong tannins
and powerful scents of dried fig, with blood and iron replacing typical leather I guess. Dead ahead flavors and feel to it, in 2010 a definite step below the Gran Reserva in terms of complexity but still very satisfying. Not sure it will get better but in no danger of decline right now.
Score: 91. Relative to expectations: +
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9/7/2023 - OscarWineCellar Likes this wine: 97 Points
Súper evolucionado, sutil, algo salino
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9/2/2023 - diffwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for about 6 hours before drinking. First sip before it went into the decanter was all acid and tart fruits.
While it was still acid-forward it became more balanced with time in the decanter. Wasn’t a lot of body or tannin in this bottle. Hard to say what was going on, not a lot of secondary or tertiary notes, but still a good wine. Mellow would be one way to describe it.
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9/1/2023 - canan wrote: 90 Points
Lopez di Heredia BYO (@MichaelsPlace): Dill, chocolate and black currant fruit followed by a very high acidity. It seems very unstructured and out of balance. Needs more time.
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8/28/2023 - MasterWis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Love tondonia. Sharp acidity mid palate and great finish is what I like and calling back to it.
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8/26/2023 - SuperSomm wrote:
Medium (+) garnet colour. Medium (+) and developing nose with red cherry, red plum, eucalyptus, licorice, cloves, cedar, charred wood, chocolate, coffee, leather, mushrooms, tobacco, wet leaves, forest floor and cinnamon. Medium taste of red cherry, red plum, licorice, cloves, cedar, charred wood, chocolate, coffee, leather, tobacco and wet leaves. Long and dry finish. High acidity. High and well rounded tannins. Medium body. A very good Rioja from a magnum bottle. Drink now or over the next ten years. Goes well with beef or lamb.
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8/20/2023 - steveiiiiii Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was my seventh half bottle of this vintage, stocked up on every size after I tried one a year ago but only drinking halfsies for now.
Quite a lot of bottle variation that to me mostly is dependent on the acidity. Sometimes it’s a little off and in your face which effects the perception of the fruit. The oak is consistent bottle for bottle with that sweet toasted oak characteristic.
Good bottles are so nice though, with cherries, leather and sweet spices. Super long and tannins with a nice grip. They need two hours of air to calm down and come together.
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8/15/2023 - stayhappy21 wrote: 90 Points
Brought this bottle for a dinner at Kai Garden with my wine mates. Theme of the dinner: Wines that start with T.
Decanted for 3 hours prior to consumption. Dark purple in colour with some characteristic earthy minerals on the nose coupled with forest floor notes. Some aged leather, wild berries, fresh mushrooms, black chocolate, and hints of spices.
Nice intensity and depth. No rush to open or finish this wine. Still has another 5 to 10 years of age left in the bottle.
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8/14/2023 - kevinleeht Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really nice on the nose with lifted aromatics. Unfortunately for me didn't quite match on the palate in terms of intensity and depth. Still enjoyable with leather, black mushrooms, earthy, slightly tired black/red berries? with good finish and a lovely acidity. Tannins were present and gave a good structure for aging. Solid Rioja that is reasonable for its price.
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8/9/2023 - Mathijs81 Likes this wine: 91 Points
First encounter with this wine ... surprisingly very high in acidity.
But liked it very much at this price point ... will buy again.
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8/8/2023 - Calzone1234 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lighter red then expected, rim already with an orange rim.
Nose smells slighty of coffee and chocolate.
Beautiful mouthfeel, middle to long finish. Good body, not too "hot" on the alcohol. Cooked red fruits, reminded me a bit of right bank Merlot.
Left half a glass to taste again the next day, but it was nearly undrinkably acidic. Maybe because of the low quantity in the glass.
Just for my matrix:
Light, warm
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7/31/2023 - Goodwine4ever wrote: 94 Points
Le nez est absolument sublime !
La cerise mure et le bois explose au nez, la bouche est fraîche avec une acidité bien présente, des tannins présents pas trop astringent, je le trouve déjà excellent mais il va se bonifier dans les 10 prochaines années.
Un Tondonia d'un grand millésime et une aubaine pour le prix demandé.
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7/27/2023 - macaujames Likes this wine: 94 Points
94/95. Profound. Has lovely aromas of blueberries, blackberries, leather, sandstone, mint and clove hints. The best silky Tondonia ever. Its layered medium bodied palate has a taffetas texture, impressive depth and lightly cloved blue, black and red fruits and great freshly fruited length . I have ordered half a case. 13%.This is my Château Petrus. Can be drunk with pleasure PnP but improves with 7-8 hrs aeration with the blue fruits coming out. Improves on day 2. Lay down 10-25 years easily. This Pinotes a little.
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7/21/2023 - gpunch Likes this wine: 93 Points
I could smell this all night. Cherry in the forefront, supported by sweet spices: allspice and cinnamon. Some dried fig paste and tobacco. Upon opening, you get the typical American oak notes of vanilla and coconut, although not overbearing like some other Riojas. After some air the oak reminds me more of walking into an old wooden house in South Louisiana.
Palate is sour cherry, blackberry, balsamic, baking spice, fig preserves, and subtle, almost not there oak (vanilla and coconut). High acidity, medium+ body, medium+ tannins that have had the edges rounded off by time in barrel and bottle.
My first Tondonia and lives up to the reputation. Needed a few hours of air to open up, so need to be patient with it. Great right now, but feels very young still. I would wait at least 2 years or more to try the 2010 again.
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7/16/2023 - sometimes_fodder Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow… much better than the last one I opened - confirms the suspicion of bottle variation (both were purchased at the same time, stored in the same location and given the same 2 hr decant).
Similar tasting notes but more cohesive and balanced overall.
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7/15/2023 - mdefreitas wrote:
I should have given this some air, but from my pop and pour sample, it was a bit lean and tannic. Monolithic and tight. Seems like there is good underlying material here, but this needs cellar time. Judgement deferred.
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7/8/2023 - Rossodio Likes this wine: 91 Points
What a wonderful wine. Much better after 2-3 hours in decanter. Drunk from 375.
Classic Lopez Tondonia notes with oak influence of the reserva present. Would match with a wide variety of foods - red meat, perhaps, chicken or pork, wild game. Could go even with paella or robust cheeses without too much astringency or bitterness. Will hold or perhaps improve over the next 10 years but the ceiling is not astronomical on this wine.
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7/2/2023 - Shiaxonna wrote: 90 Points
Creamy, light flowing concentrated juice with everything you would want. I want more.
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7/1/2023 - wineforth Likes this wine: 90 Points
1st bottle from a half case. Complex nose includes oak and balsamic figs! Relatively light bodied at first and put on weight day 2 which implies that a year or two more keeping will be rewarded. Still drinking well now. Well balanced. Decent length. Not of the class of the 2005.
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6/27/2023 - ZachR55 wrote: 94 Points
Incredible.
Edit due to questions: I decanted for 3-4 hours (Drank over another 3 hours and it kept developing), and I served around 60F consistently. Drank with grilled marinated beef skewers, land paella, and summer salad. Complimented very nicely. No flaws, but could definitely cellar longer for things to harmonize (acidity). Thoroughly enjoyed this though.
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6/24/2023 - P.L.A. Likes this wine: 95 Points
Rubinrot, leicht transparent.
In der Nase sehr frische dunkelrote Frucht mit Kirsche, etwas Pflaume und Blaubeere. Begleitet von intensiven Holznoten mit Zimt, Vanille und etwas Pfeffer. Sehr frisches Bouquet. Nach etwas Zeit Noten von Kakao, Trüffel und Pilz.
Am Gaumen sehr, sehr frische und vibrierende Säure - fast ein wenig scharf - mit frischer dunkler Kirsche und Pflaume. Sehr konzentriert und vibrierend mit einem leichten und sehr saftigen Mundgefühl. Gefolgt von einem sehr strukturierten, langen Nachhall mit feinmaschigen Tanninen und schönen Holznoten. Tolle Komplexität mit immer neuen Geschmacksnoten.
Mir hat der Wein mit etwas Luft noch besser gefallen.
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6/24/2023 - Patrik Mellstrom Likes this wine: 80 Points
but too old, lost balance
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6/24/2023 - Mr. Montrachet wrote: 89 Points
Should not have opened. This is a sour mess. Nose is actually quite beguiling and hints of some more pleasure to come with bottle age but the palate is just overblown with acidity and not much more.
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6/24/2023 - Sanh@ Likes this wine: 93 Points
세 번째 접하는 와인.
첫 번째는 바로 뽕따해서 마셨고, 바디감이 낮으며 타닌감, 블랙베리 오크향 살짝 소고기와 먹기에 적당한 정도
두 번째도 바로 마셨고 비슷한 느낌
세 번째는 5-6시간 브리딩 후에 양고기와 페어링. 바디감이 묽다는 느낌이 전혀 안들고 찐한 과실향과 적당한 타닌감, 오크, 후추, 블랙베리 등 향과 맛이 잘 어울러져 매우 만족
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6/22/2023 - Peraix Does not like this wine: 87 Points
From 0,375 bottle
Minimum 8 to 12 hours decanting required.
High acidity and taste of mulberries, leather and cocoa. First hours there is a not so nice taste that makes me think of burnt coffe, but it took some hours to define this taste as the initial elevated sourness concealed it well. Then with a lot of air the sourness is toned down and the burnt taste appears but this also fades down after even longer time. Not too bad day two but this is not what I look for in a wine. Probably with food it would go well.
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6/17/2023 - seijaro Does not like this wine:
I'm suspecting a bad bottle... it wasn't spoiled, but it was tight, tart, sour. after an hour in decanter. We poured it out.
Mark1npt commented that some of these take 6 hours to open... there was a little left in the pitcher, so we tried it the next day: bad bottle :(
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6/15/2023 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote:
Good up front but off in the finish. Not disappointed for the price but suspect this bottle saw some prolonged heat damage.
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6/13/2023 - wino_tim wrote: 91 Points
Medium garnet with reflections of red. Tondonia Reserva is always good but the 2010 takes things up a couple notches both in terms of complexity and vigor. The nose is savory and masculine with an almost Brunello-like feel to its aromas of dried red fruit, dried tobacco, leather, walnuts, loamy earth and coconut and dill-tinged oak spice. On the palate this is medium bodied with medium+ acidity and a touch of fine, back of the gums sort of tannin providing structure for the zippy red fruit, nut and oak flavors. This drinks well at the moment but should age effortlessly.
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6/12/2023 - baltar wrote: 94 Points
Had with friends and steak. Wonderful
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6/10/2023 - grafighter Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured within 1/2 hour or so. Paired well with seafood/saffron and seafood/squid-ink paella. A little funk in the beginning but blew off quickly with some air in the glass. Fruit receding nicely. Pencil lead and leather starting to emerge. Good amount of acid and tannins kept everything fresh.
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6/7/2023 - BCJ99 wrote: 92 Points
Very well made, powerful but elegant, excellent balance between fruit and oak, good length
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6/6/2023 - spillwine wrote: 94 Points
Belle bouteille, les invités ont aimé, tout en élégance.
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6/5/2023 - Vintuition Likes this wine: 81 Points
J'ai lu les critiques. Je connais le prix. On a bu un Crianza avant de loin supérieur.
Le Faustino G Reserva est meilleur. Le Beronia a plus de présence. Et multiples autres E
Surfait. Bordeline aqueux.
Correct pour 27 pas pour 63
Carafé 5 heures
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6/2/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Not quite as good as my first bottle but still very nice nonetheless.....decanted for 4 hours then back in the bottle and slow ox'd for another 2 during dinner. My brother gave it a 70.....and he wasn't drinking, Eric. I loved the nose of red rose petals, leather and red cherry fruit. Just beautiful. My brother however, is a Cali fruit 'ho, just like Carol. She didn't like it, either. Basically, I finished the whole bottle except for a nice young lady who studied in Spain as she loved it also......
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5/29/2023 - Claymonster Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted (no sediment) and back in the bottle after three hours, then followed over several more with grilled ribeye dinner. The last glass was the best and most expressive, so I would not hesitate to let it sit for 4-5 hours (even longer) in the decanter before first drink. Wonderful bouquet of cassis, cherry, damp earth. Great complexity on the palate with fresh cut herbs, smoke, and cocoa notes in addition to the tart red fruit. Plenty of acidity and grippy tannins suggest that long term aging will bring everything into better balance and seriously reward those who are patient.
I was excited to try this and it didn't disappoint. I feel the price is about right too. It doesn't drink like a $150 bottle, nor is it plonk. I've had better riojas for less, but considering how available this one is, I understand why it's a staple.
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5/27/2023 - maxima wrote: flawed
Bouchonnée!
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5/26/2023 - hfc Does not like this wine:
375ml bottle. High acidity, big coconut-y American oak, and sour berries. Where are the tertiary/ox notes? Bottle variation? I really miss the past experience of vintage 2001.
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5/24/2023 - Vinus Silvestris wrote: 86 Points
Inte värt pengarna...
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5/21/2023 - matthewmcg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good straightforward rioja.
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5/16/2023 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
At a good point in its life and even when given the task to go head on with Indian food kept its own well. Good oaky dynamic, good fruit starting to go secondary, savory, round and albeit lacking the exciting side ( or maybe the Indian spice took it away) it was a pleasure to have it. 90-91
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5/15/2023 - vetlehs Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dekantert og helt tilbake på flaske 2t før servering. Klar med ørlite tåke, dyp mursteinsrød. Middels+ intensitet på nese med aroma av krydder, urter, mørke bær, vanilje, lær. Middels+ intensitet med god konsentrasjon, middels høy syre, avslipte tanniner. Smak av masse mørke bær, urter, krydder, vanilje, nellik og lær. Lang
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5/15/2023 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 91 Points
I know of no Reserva Rioja on the market like this.
Very much a continuation of the path Tondonia has been on for some years. Cleaner more modern wines that still come across as some of the most traditional in Rioja. Balsamic notes are a trademark.
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5/14/2023 - ragavolley Likes this wine: 93 Points
Présente encore des fruits comme s'il était encore jeune. Wow beaucoup de complxité dans ce vin.
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5/9/2023 - burlingtonm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Glorious, refined rioja with lovely, ripe fruit that was light and elegant enough to work well as an accompaniment to fish. The tannins are well integrated and this wine is so easy to drink and enjoy.
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5/8/2023 - Rodenbach99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Superbe robe rubis avec un pourtour grenat. Un nez complexe sur du bois (pas encore tout à fait intégré), du cuir, des épices et des herbes. Une bouche savoureuse avec des saveurs de cerises sûres, du bois. La finale est longue et digeste par une bonne acidité. Un bel avenir se dessine.
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5/7/2023 - Pablis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Best year
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5/4/2023 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Second day sample. Blind I placed this is Italy as a Sangiovese. It fine, red fruited and fresh, and rather narrow on the palate thinning out a bit on the finish. Lengthy hold though adding just a bit of oak. Quite nice.
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5/1/2023 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
I was blinded on this wine once (and missed it mightily) on Friday and then had the good fortune of another taste (different bottle/setting) on Sunday. Having spent a little time with it, I really do like the 2010 vintage best in the last few. It is a good deal less rustic than 07/08. The fruit profile feels cleaner and the tannins are more polished, less grainy. There is still some telltale fig with the red and black plum. I may drink up those other bottles and hold on to this vintage instead.
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4/30/2023 - Folkmar wrote:
Sight: Deep garnet color with a slight brick hue at the rim
Nose: Pronounced intensity with complex aromas of dried red fruits, leather, tobacco, vanilla, and a hint of oak
Palate: Dry with high acidity, medium to full body, and silky tannins. Flavors of red berries, leather, spices, and vanilla. The wine has a long and elegant finish.
This wine is drinkable now, but will greatly improve with further aging. The wine's high acidity and firm tannins suggest that it has the potential to age and improve for many years in the cellar.
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4/28/2023 - JCGuthrie wrote:
No notes, but I enjoyed this bottle. Could use more time for the oak to integrate for fully.
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4/28/2023 - Rjwhit wrote: 90 Points
Needs more time to even out. Even after an hour open, the fruit was overpowered by the tannins.
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4/27/2023 - jon.siracusa Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened, then put away for 24 hours.
This wine tastes like an afternoon in San Sebastián.
Bright and crisp, with well integrated tannins that seem to zip up my tongue like a grippy zipper. This is wine that pairs well with the grilled chicken thighs and pesto that I’m enjoying for dinner.
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4/24/2023 - Ken_Hsu Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent. fresh, complex, tabacco, vanilla, good structure. Delicious red fruits. Plum. Mushroom. Chocolate. Balanced, medium acidity, long finish. Loved it.
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4/17/2023 - SommMD wrote: 89 Points
Tried to give this wine a chance
Decanted for 2 hours
Sort of a limpid acidity, weak red and black fruits with leather
Hint of chocolate, dill, vanilla
Not a stunning rioja
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4/16/2023 - WetRock wrote:
On the first night this displays a very nice package. The fruit has a brooding quality to it with it clearly being more substantial than most vintages. The wine exits its brooding by night two showing a terrific spicy character framed by wood, cherry and leather. Very fine grained tannin and stitched in acids. That fruit density really makes it clear this is a very strong vintage for this wine and that aging it will pay off. Its a vintage where this is not just a strong value but just a plain terrific Rioja. I'm thinking another 3-5 years for it to be more open and then a good long life after that.
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4/12/2023 - Eric Wright Likes this wine: 91 Points
Too young, but typical LpH profile. Will age well
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4/12/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Something about this maker, as I seem to be settling on a 94 for almost every vintage that I try. Collector1855 did nothing but trash this wine, Spain and the Spaniards as a wine civilization, in no uncertain terms. What a crock.....right from the pnp the nose is floral cherry. The pour into the glass is of the clearest shimmering dark ruby I've ever poured.....just beautiful. Sampled for an hour before dinner, kept drinking thru dinner (of homemade tacos), and even though I had no plans of drinking this entire bottle tonight, that's exactly what happened later in the evening. 13% alc really allows the fruit and the winemaking to shine. Moderate tannins to start at the pnp but they softened and grew rounder thru the evening. Slight herbal component shows up more after 2-3 hours open but it's perfectly in balance and doesn't stand out at all. The red cherry fruit continues to grow and grow and the finish goes on and on! Make no mistake, this is not an Earth shattering wine that makes you want to quit your day job and move to Spain, but it's damn well made, clean, balanced and the qpr is off the charts for me. I hope the rest of my '10 stash is this good! Borders on a 95 for me, but not much left in the glass to get me through the rest of the night!
Addendum: slight amount left in the glass for an additional 3-4 hours so almost 8 in total open to air. The herbal component on the nose at hour 4 is completely gone. The fruit darkens slightly and the cherry has a little tartness on the very end. I am going to change my score on this one to a 95.
Additional addendum: I really don't care how many Commanderie de Bdx positions you hold, or how many First Growths you claim to have, or how many Chinese buyers you buy for......if you are such a snob as to think this wine is terrible and is beneath you, your opinions don't rate even a 1% consideration from me, personally. What a shallow way of living that must be......I just now looked up the WA score for this one and their 'expert' gave it a 96 for this vintage. All the more proof that some snobs on here know nothing about wine, no matter how long they've been drinking it, or how much their net worth.
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4/11/2023 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine:
Day 1: This was pretty rough when poured but it’s knitted together well with air. Painfully young, the nose shows very dark plummy fruit, a dollop of new American oak. The palate is dark fruited as well but lighter in body with lots of acid and an earthy, dusty element to it. The latter carries over into the tart finish. Lots of good stuff here but this needs like 20 years.
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4/11/2023 - mvande21 wrote: 91 Points
Floral nose. Red berries, dried herbs, dusty earth, faint leather notes. Medium bodied, fresh with integrated tannins. Pnp. Should have given more air time. Last glass was best with more fuller body and flavor.
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4/10/2023 - macaujames Likes this wine: 94 Points
94/95. A beautiful Tondonia, the best ever! 13%. Almost profound wine. Fantastic value at 34 pounds! 7-8 hrs aeration.
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4/6/2023 - KingsleyZissou wrote: 96 Points
Gorgeous nose of cola, faint leather and mushroom backed by an extremely subtle cherry undertone. Everything evolves into light licorice notes. Vivid layers of complex dried florality. Beautiful balance of moderate acidity and soft tannin. Drinking well!
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4/5/2023 - ThijsV wrote: 90 Points
Tondonia Tasting (Utregs Wijnhuis, Utrecht, NL): Fuller and heavier than the Bosconia reserva. Deep with plum and blackberry. Medium+ acidity, high tannins, medium+ finish. Very tannic at this stage, needs more time. 90++
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4/2/2023 - FjordogFjell wrote: 92 Points
Flaske rett fra leverandør. Forsmak med mor og storesøster. Klar rein og åpen klart bedre enn forrige flaske. Kryddret fin fersk lukt. Klar fin smak med rein frukt, rognebær, nype. Fin syre
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4/2/2023 - Irish_Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright garnet in the glass. Refined and elegant nose with layers of complexity bringing crushed violets, red currant, black cherry, cedar, cloves and leather. Poised and sophisticated on the palate with a lovely texture. Flavours of fine tobacco, bright black cherry and a touch of cinammon. Long, elegant finish. Delicious. Drink now or hold.
WSET notes:
Medium garnet.
Pronounced on the nose with crushed violet, red currant, red and black cherry, dried herbs, dill seeds, cloves, cedar, leather and earth. Developing.
Pronounced and dry on the palate. High acidity, full body, high tannins, medium alcohol, long finish.
Can drink now but has potential for aging.
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3/26/2023 - mkolbu Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened yesterday around 13:30 and decanted. Drunk from 18:30. Much lighter than expected for a young Rioja, with red berries, fresh acidity and oaky notes. The tannins are well integrated and the aftertaste is long. It feels it just needs some time in the decanter to open up as it, in my experience, is still in its shell.
Second day: decanted 16:00 and drunk from 17. It’s about the same but it has gotten some more heavy fruit. It’s remarkably similar to yesterday, which demonstrates how robust the wine is.
I’ll try a bottle soon again and see if it gives the same experience.
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3/24/2023 - pbaek wrote:
This has a nose of dried flowers, not unlike Nebbiolo, dark cherry fruit and wood. Is elegant, easy moving, with gentle wood notes, dark cherry fruit, plums. Good acidity and lift, marked but soft tannins. Will be long lived.
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3/22/2023 - redwhiteandrich Likes this wine: 91 Points
To put things into perspective, after 10+ years, this needs a lot more time. Only time will tell how these more recent 'solar' vintages will age, on day 2 there is a slightly more stewed characteristic that experience with Lopez will tell you will continue to evolve.
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3/20/2023 - Funky96 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Aromas: Fig, Gingerbread, cassis, Plum, Baking spices. Rich and Opulent on the nose. Some tobacco notes.
Medium plus acidity, Medium-Medium plus body. Amazing length.
Great wine and it will only keep getting better.
(It was decanted 1.5 hours before tasting).
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3/19/2023 - Vintomas wrote: 92 Points
Elegant and discrete nose with mixed dark berries (dark plums, blackcurrants and dark cherries), some flowers and perfume, chalky and gravelly mineral notes and just a hint of leather and animal notes. The nose definitely developed (slowly) with air, initially it was quite closed and I only detected berries and some minerality. Medium bodied on the palate, very pure and elegant with berries, minerality, fresh acidity, somewhat prominent tannins and a long and fresh aftertaste. Very refined and elegant, sort of Burgundian and I guess true to the vintage character. Not much "funky" traditional Rioja character in evidence. This is going to need time to develop fully, and I want to revisit it, but in due course I think this will be a true beauty. 92+ pts.
Tasted from a half bottle, which shouldn't make too much difference at this stage of its life.
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3/18/2023 - sung251 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank this over course of 3-4 hours. Compared to the other vintages of Tondonia Reservas i had i found this to be cleaner and more fruit forward but i kind of missed the funkier notes I was more used to from other vintages.
Contrary to what many have posted here I think im not as enamored with this vintage (at its current state) and preferred previous vintages more like 06 and 07. Maybe the few extra years of age is all it needs? Its quite obvious these wines improve with age but I find them difficult to predict how they will change with age.
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3/18/2023 - mimik Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine was sublime and one of the better incarnations of the tondonia reservas. Still young and will need another decade before it shows it stuff. Long cedar finish.
Disclaimer: I do not only drink Leroy/drc/1st growths but appreciate wine for more than just the label.
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3/18/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: 85 Points
During a merchant tasting, no detailed notes. This was even more unforgiving than the 2017 Ciranza. Brutal drying tannins, earthy, strict.
On a broader note: It is a pity that traditional Spain does not make better wine. They produce as much wine as France and Italy (ca 4.5bn liters), yet this icon costs only 30 bucks and in the secondary market Spain only commands 1% of market share, France 75%. Yes, I had a 1942 Tondonia Grand Reserva once and it was good, but these are far and few between. Tondonia should ask itself why their bottles cost 30$ while Lafite who has been around as long as them costs 500$, not to talk about Leroy and DRC. Look at Sherry, almost 30% of the production is now poured away and only there to produce empty Sherry casks for Whisky aging. What a slap in the face must that be to the proud Spaniards... My view is simple, Tondonia (and traditional Spain in general) should go visit new the kids on the block like Commando G, who's wines now rightfully cost up to 300$ because they approach Rayas quality and learn how to make better wines.
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3/16/2023 - Wine Canuck wrote: 94 Points
This pours medium to light garnet in the glass with light bricking. The nose is very suave and seductive, featuring seamless layers of complexity and fruit. Moderately intense and high complexity. Aromas are of dried cherry, dried strawberry, dried orange peel, animal fur, dried rose petals, fire pit, stony soil, sweet cedar, dried ginger powder, and a vague whisp of toasted coconut. The palate enters on the bright dried cherry and strawberry turning to high orange tinged acid and medium minus tannin. This shows the telltale high LdH acidity, but is very balanced especially compared to other recent vintages. The finish is long replaying just about everything on the nose. Overall I'm quite blown away by this wine. Easily my favourite vintage of Tondonia Riserva since I began tasting them on release with the 2004 vintage. The complexity, balance and profile here is just lovely, and I expect this to age flawlessly. This confirms for me that 2010 is a very special vintage for Rioja.
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3/9/2023 - Evasvin wrote:
Aperitif 93p: En flott og konsentrert fortsatt ung og lovende syrefrisk utgave av denne klassikeren - en av de aller beste årgangene - som tåler 10-12 år til - minst. Kjøttretter med saus, lam, vilt. 399,90kr
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3/6/2023 - l1reynolds Likes this wine:
A well integrated and complex Rioja. Very light, lots of acidity compared to other Rioja’s I’ve had. Even better on day 2 and 3.
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3/5/2023 - Semue wrote: 94 Points
Still has tons of primary fruit notes but tannins are very smooth. Very fun to drink right now but has definetly a lot of potential to age
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3/4/2023 - Xavi1986 Likes this wine:
Dinar a Ferreruela Lleida. Decantado durante una hora. Gran Tondonia. Espectacular.
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3/4/2023 - RiddlingRack Does not like this wine: 87 Points
This bottle was a little tart, sour, bitter. Weird.
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3/1/2023 - WineKnurd Likes this wine: 90 Points
3 bottles taken to the iron Chef style restaurant competition featuring Catalan Tapas & Wine, notes from first mental impression. Had to check the bottle that I didn't grab the Bosconia instead, much more depth and rawness than the previous years I have been drinking. Will be no surprise that the table found this very food friendly and enjoyable. Good acidity and of course plenty of spicy cedar and cigar humidor oak; feel like this has decades ahead of it. A- (90) eval.
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3/1/2023 - FjordogFjell wrote: 90 Points
spendt på å smake den forgjettede 2010 årgangen. PnP i Riedel Bx. Litt lukket start. Forsiktig lukt. Klar og rein frukt. Med rognebær, medisinskap, krydder. Særegen signatur, fersk tobakk. 1 dag: klar og fin rognebær frukt, fin vanilje. Tydelig modning
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2/28/2023 - daffydahl wrote: 90 Points
Oak and vanilla with fruit fairly well integrated. Much of everything. Full bodied. Need some more time in cellar. Nice with deer stew.
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2/25/2023 - Djuret Likes this wine: 90 Points
Svårt och beskriva vad man upplever för smak. Jag tyckte om den, känns att det är ålder på den, kommer hålla i 20 år till och bli ännu bättre.
Blir godare att dricka efter luftning
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2/25/2023 - ETTam Likes this wine: 89 Points
Svår bedömd smak ! God smak för övrigt känner att den har ålder på sig och kommer blir bättre om 20 år ! Lite i sin tunnel
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2/25/2023 - sometimes_fodder wrote: 90 Points
Less notes (PearceBarr covered those well), more my impression over two nights - admittedly first experience with this producer. Upon opening nice cranberry/orange fruit mixed with some funky strawberry-like note (think of ripe strawberries that sat in a barn for a week - in a good way), but after an hour of decant the funky strawberry note blew off and it became more elegant and as others have noted, almost Burgundian, more fresh and primary than expected for the age/region. The second night didn’t show any improvement over the first and the finish may have even taken a dip compared to the first night.
It’s undoubtedly old school but the lower tannins that have started integrating with the wine seem slightly out of balance with the acidity. While my second bottle will lie down a little longer, my concern is that it will be mostly acidity holding up the structure if left for more than 5 or so years.
My score reflects what I believe to be the potential and in general I feel like a harsher marker than others. With such an abundance of tasting notes on this wine recently and with a division between some very high scores and some more tempered impressions, I wanted to mention which “side” I’m leaning closer to. Still very much enjoyed the uniqueness of this Rioja being someone who generally prefers traditional styles.
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2/20/2023 - gg101 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark, with minimal bricking. Cherry and dark fruit on the nose, lots of acidity and a pretty good dose of oak. Still tight, and didn't open up as much as I'd hoped over the course of an evening. Needs a few years to really hit its stride.
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2/16/2023 - Martin_G wrote: 90 Points
The 2010 has a kind of restrained, or muted, sensation to it. Drank over 3 hrs. Still there is some spark and magic buried deep. Hold a few yrs, and stock up.
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2/11/2023 - Pearcebarr Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP Lots of blackberry, coconut, medium acidity and grippy tannins. Long finish
1 hour in More fruit, less oak. Funky strawberry type acidity on the finish with some vanilla.
3.5 hours in No more funk, vanilla, or any oak. Pretty fruit (strawberry and blackberry) and mineral backed acidity. Taste ‘Burgundian’ without tasting like Pinot
Better after 3.5 hours than 5.5 which makes me think it’ll age well I’ve the next 10-15 rather than 20-30.
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2/9/2023 - streethawk Likes this wine:
Beautifully balanced with a good amount of fruit upon opening and expected high acidity. On the palate there is more suggestion of wood and not as much tertiary as I would expect given the age. Another great rendition of this wine - this vintage providing a more elegant version which should continue to age well over the next couple of decades. Tremendous value given the quality. Paired tonight with a black garlic Manchego.
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2/9/2023 - gornals wrote: 92 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like cranberry, raspberry, red currant, strawberry jam, mineral, forest floor, stoniness, medium toast, oak, coconut, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, violet and meaty. The body is medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has high acidity. Expected a bit more as it tasted a bit harsh, but overall very good, although I prefer white wines from this winery (89). After two days, I took the last glass and it was almost another wine, much better overall, not harshness with the same complexity, balance, intensity and finish.
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2/8/2023 - egoya Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine seemed to me fully mature, elegant, almost lean. Excellent Rioja.
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2/7/2023 - Stanrocks Likes this wine: 91 Points
91+
During A WSET Diploma tasting, so it was blind
Med Garnet,
MIOA, cranberries, blood orange, smoke, charcoal, cedar wood, cigar box, wet leaves, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, spice... complex nose of red acidic berries, and old oak aging plus tertiary aromas...
Dry with Med Ac, Med Alcohol, M+ tannins soft and and quite integrated, M+ Body, M+ IOF, Dried cranberries, blood orange, orange, smoke, charcoal, cedar wood and spices, Tannins are well rounded and circled by a fruity acidity in a Med+ finish
The wine is well balanced, fine aged giving a nice mouthfeel of integrated oak surrounded by fruity and tertiary aromas. The forrest floor mixes with oranges in a nice fresh feel from good acidity.
The wine is very good and just lacks a bit more length to be outstanding...
Here is my assessment in terms of WSET requirements, still I liked it very much and should have made it outstanding as it really stood in all the tastings we had, but again it is a "weaker" style of the area, in a very old school style. No power, No super new oak flavors, and tannins are quite low as well here... But is stands as a really balanced and fresh wine.
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2/4/2023 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Withdrawn nose of red currant and strawberry. No vanilla at all. Fresh with high acidity, sour cherry fruit. Tannins not intrusive at all. Long balanced finish. Typical Tondonia but maybe atypical Rioja. Like it a lot.
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2/4/2023 - _Xenon Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Tested against the Vina Ardanza 2016.
High acid, minimum to notes of vanilla, old style. Would not buy it again even it was half the price of 33 €. Disappointed.
BTW: The Ardanza was great especially for the price 21,50 €.
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2/3/2023 - Jonnhy99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rioja a wine Nemesis of mine, has more misses than hits., usually has too much oak for my taste, but this is no ordinary rioja, right?
Garnet with some bricking on the rim. Medium-intensity aromas of cherry, dried flowers, parmesan cheese, cured meat, oak, dill, molasses, and perfume.
Soft wine with medium acidity, soft tannins, chalk in mid-palate, integrated oak, dried herbs, cherry, saline, perfume, balsamic and cedar. Short finish and sometimes I was reminded of Bordeaux, this is a rioja I can always drink.
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1/28/2023 - Jonne Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nja. Rätt hård i kanterna trots de tolv åren. Känns inte riktigt färdiglagrad. Fin bärig doft men smaken aningen bläckig med hög syra och något opolerade tanniner.
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1/28/2023 - up4wine wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful Rioja. Big fruit with just the right amount of funk at mid palate, and then a nice long finish that bring three fruit back to the forefront.
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1/27/2023 - Lanzelot Likes this wine: 94 Points
The color is medium ruby. On the nose there are pronounced aromas of red cherries, red plum, cigar box, leather, menthol, cedar wood, very little oxidative notes (not flawed). The wine is fully developed but has at least a decade ahead of it. The acidity is high. The tannins are medium(+) and the body is medium. On the palate the flavours are similar to the nose and also pronounced, additionally sour cherries and red currant. The finish is very long. A great wine! Glass I used: Josephine No 2.
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1/26/2023 - novocane wrote: 92 Points
92.
Still has life. About 45 mins in the bottle to open up.
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1/19/2023 - hadukla Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is an excellent wine. I suspect it isn't rated too highly because of its price. Elegant, subtly balanced flavours, beautifully long finish, very round and comforting. This is just excellent.
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1/19/2023 - brett228 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice acidity comes with red berry, leather and earth note. After 2-3 hours, acidity goes down and oak, tobacco, chocolate, herb note comes dominant. For me, it feels a little mundane and like an ordinary tempranillo after this lost its decent acidic character but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Perfectly enjoyable.
Tasted rest of the bottle the next day. Overall performance remained strong, while tomato and herbal note comes up clearer compared to the first experience. It does have balance with the fruitiness, otherwise it could have developed to notable pyrazine which I hate.
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1/14/2023 - thkim wrote: 89 Points
향이나 맛에서 약간 빈약한 느낌이 있음 데일리 와인으로 추천함
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1/9/2023 - guinnjub@gmail.com Likes this wine: 85 Points
Sour cherry, black licorice with big earthy soil vibes. Will return to this tomorrow…
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1/8/2023 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Gloomy January Saturday Drinking; 1/7/2023-1/8/2023 (Rainy West London): From half. On the nose you could almost believe it's ready to go - the ubiquitous forest floor, red fruits perhaps, whiff of spice. On the palate - much more tightly coiled - jolly enjoyable, but the curse of knowledge means that I can't help thinking what lies ahead for this wine. Pleased to have a few more in the cellar.
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1/7/2023 - Thomas419 Likes this wine: 93 Points
On the nose - strawberry pencil. Spicy! Once aerated...plum and possibly apricot?
On the palate - Pick n mix! Crushed red berries. Definitely fresh red fruit (is there a touch of black?) but much richer, spicier and heavier than a pinot noir. Violets and sweet lead? Is there date? Not quite...the experienced tasters put this down as fig. Grippy tannins with a long, full mouth finish; medium to full bodied. Bright with medium to high acidity.
A lovely, classic Rioja, done well.
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1/5/2023 - DanielAVTL Likes this wine: 91 Points
* 2-hour decant.
Lopez de Heredia always delivers classic old-world efforts, and the 2010 Vina Tondonia is no different.
Nose - cherry, hay, earth, rosemary and chalk, with subtle floral notes. On the palate - medium, structured and long, with bright red fruit and game. Well balanced, good complexity, integrated tannins and delicious, refined fruit. An all-around excellent effort.
Drink now through 2030.
91 points.
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1/4/2023 - Kirlu wrote: 93 Points
En av de beste vinene for pengene
Masse syre og full av taniner, gleder meg til å drikke den senere
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1/3/2023 - Legian Likes this wine: 91 Points
on the nose, it's intense with primary notes of red and black cherry, blueberry, tobacco, coffee, cocoa and notes of spices and cigar box; medium+ body on the mouth, with well rounded tannins and a medium+ aftertaste.
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12/31/2022 - Chrly78 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great wine! 2009 is a favorite and 2010 is at least as good. The wine is elegant and complex. Scent of plum, black currant, cedar, oak and much more. Quite simular to previous vintages with the differens that I didn’t felt dill.
Taste of plum, black currant and oak. In this vintage cedar was more present than previous ones. In the aftertaste the acidity is very refreshing and sour cherries also appears. Medium+ to high acidity, medium+ tannins and medium body.
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12/31/2022 - juleswinnfield2517 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Coconut, butterscotch, black cherry and black currant. Finishes with mouthwatering sour cherry and orange peel notes. Elegant and complex.
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12/29/2022 - cyc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank side-by-side with the 2010 Bosconia. At this stage, both seem a little unintegrated, with the Bosconia having more prominent tart acidity and a hint of VA (which I generally enjoy in moderation), whereas the Tondonia has more prominent notes of American oak. Both are lovely in their own right, and for my tastes the Bosconia is preferable at the moment. I think the Tondonia will come into its own over time.
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12/25/2022 - MikeDB Likes this wine: 95 Points
Classic Rioja.
Medium ruby tending to garnet/brick at the rim. Very slight staining of the tears.
Needs a few hours of air to open up, but got better and better as it did. Big nose of coconut, vanilla, cherry, plum, and brown baking spice. Some tobacco as well. As it sits in the glass more of the fruit and earthy aromas balance out the oak flavors.
Tannins are fine grained and well resolved. Medium plus acidity. Medium to medium plus body.
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12/25/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine: 95 Points
94/95. A profound youthful wine. 13%. Drink now or lay down 15-20 years. Needs 3-4 hrs+ aeration. We had this with Poulet Printanier and this worked a treat with its highish sherryish acidity.
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12/24/2022 - chablis28 wrote: 95 Points
Christmas Eve red with assorted appetizers. What a wine! I was expecting to be a little let down based on some of the hype but this is the real deal and perhaps the best Lopez Reserva I've ever had? Plus I'm usually more of a Bosconia lover but this rocks with enough air. I gave it 4 hr decant. Mainly to insure it revealed all it could. This has terrific balance, depth and weightless elegance. Red fruit, spice, earth, mineral on both the nose & palate. A very complete ethereal red. Ready to go now but should last for decades. 13% alc. Such a great choice for Christmas Eve too. Drank mine from a Reidel Burg.
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12/24/2022 - wren460 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Extremely elegant and smooth rioja. Decanted for 5 hours but the best pour was the last one, so I would like to guess that this wine is still a few years from maturity. Had it alongside with a Viña Ardanza 2015 and frankly they are on a very different league, Tondonia kills it.
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12/24/2022 - gallu wrote: 92 Points
92 Muy serio. Carne cruda, fruta roja envuelta en madera de calidad. En boca es fresco, con muy buena fruta ácida, muy largo. Está empezando a mostrarse, y será un vino importante.
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12/23/2022 - talid Likes this wine: 93 Points
Red fruit and oak with smooth tannins and good dose of acidity. All the classic old-school Rioja notes! 1.5 hours of decant time but could use more. Too young? Maybe. Good now? Yes. Worth it? Definitely! The next nine bottles will be consumed over several years.
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12/23/2022 - ludwigbpm wrote: 93 Points
Un Tondonia en finesse et classicisme, plutôt floral au nez avec une touche évoluée de sous-bois. La bouche est compacte, dense, de bonne acidité le vin est encore adolescent. Un vin pour la garde, excellent.
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12/19/2022 - ethanwade Likes this wine:
Really fun wine, the color reveals its age but the palate and structure are a good reminder that this is just a baby.
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12/18/2022 - Rallerboy888 Likes this wine:
Drinking well now. It’s not quite as intense and extracted as the 07 is, but the quality is undeniable. Drink with some lean meat and concentrated sauce.
I’ll be saving my remaining three bottles, but there’s no shame in drinking it now.
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12/17/2022 - maxima wrote: 89 Points
Assez léger et en douceur présentement.
Pas mal d'épices, le fruit est en retrait et
la finale montre des notes terreuses et
du tabac.
....à revoir.
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12/16/2022 - VincentStThomas Likes this wine: 95 Points
A lighter shade of red trending toward rusty at the edges. Smells of vanilla and red fruit and oak. On the palate, it’s medium to full bodied, and lush with ripe cherries and blueberries with hints of smoke and earth and leather. The acidity here is bright and juicy, with chalky tannins that still have a plenty of grip. The oak is just beautifully integrated. I know someone is going to chime in with “it’s too young”—and it probably is—but this is already a pleasure to drink at even this stage.
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12/12/2022 - AndrewSGHall wrote: 89 Points
Good, not great Tondonia. Had that nice razor edge of brick and light red fruits but also veered into a little heaviness and lack of precision.
Amusingly - this wine tasted totally corked with Greek cheeses. Call it the justified curse of Mt Athos. (It wasn't corked elsewise.)
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12/11/2022 - NicoVanElslander Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great, too young now. Leave for another 5+ years
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12/6/2022 - Kozakofthewest Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very thin and very clean. Wished for more fruit at this stage but instead drinks like a fine borolo. I liked it more then a friend. Drink it if you have it don't see much improvement in the years to come.
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12/3/2022 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
good medium red color, what a nose! black cherries, raw leather, plums, clove, pine, an endless variety of delights in small doses, on the palate a reflection of the dazzling nose, ripe fruits with a hint of cocoa countered by an array of firm mineral and underbrush notes, cherries, plums, fine length with rounded stone and sour cherry notes, drinking beautifully but this is still very young with many glories ahead, it is hard to believe- but oh so wonderful to know- that in today's wine market there are still world class bottles to be had for under $50.
**(**)+, now to 2040+
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12/3/2022 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nowhere near ready, but it was fun to have a glass with friends while my case matures. Pretty much on point to what you expect, maybe the fruit had a bit more depth, but the acid was also rather bright as it often is at this age. Herbs were dialled back a bit, though perhaps with more camphorous effervescence and volatility. Needs a long time.
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11/30/2022 - Thek wrote: 91 Points
Light profile, nose of sweet light oak, subtle hint of blackberry and sage, moderately tannic, acid comes out on the finish. Needs time, hard to get a good read.
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11/27/2022 - steveiiiiii Likes this wine: 93 Points
What a wine, insane value. Opens up with so much fresh fruit and rhubarb on nose and palate. After a couple of minutes it shut down but came back after two hrs in decanter. So fresh and vibrant yet layered with complexity. I'd prefer the oak to settle a bit from here. Upside with cellaring but a treat now if aerated for min 2 hrs. I've had both the 08 and 09 pretty recently and this was much more approachable "young".
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11/20/2022 - Joelene wrote: 92 Points
Shy and a bit closed open opening, much better after a 4 hour slow ox. Notes of sour cherry and strawberry rhubarb, mandarin orange, leather, vanilla and spices like sage and thyme. Nice acid but some warm fruit too. Silky finish. Clearly young, time will do wonders for this already pretty wine.
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11/19/2022 - NickA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for around 30 minutes and then drunk alongside 2010 Bosconia. Slightly more oaked than the Bosconia, and darker-fruited, in a dusky, musky sort of fashion. Very dry and grown-up in feel, and the tannins were already perfectly manageable. Perhaps not quite as compelling as the 2010 Ardanza, but also addictively delicious.
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11/19/2022 - finlero Likes this wine: 93 Points
Textbook Tondonia from a good vintage, a real joy. Clear ruby going garnet. Plummy, slightly vegetal nose. Light-to-midweight palate is an "understated tour de force", if such a thing can exist, with an unusually complex mix of pie cherry, wildflower, fresh-cut grass, Damson plum, and forest floor, all with the volume turned down to levels that people used to a more modern style could totally miss. Medium finish, fairly light tannins. This isn't love-it-or-hate-it -- nobody will hate this -- but it's probably love-it-or-miss-the-point. As far as I'm concerned, this was outstanding. I know prices have crept up, and people remember when you could get this in the $20ish range, but I think it's still extraordinary value at $41.
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11/16/2022 - Hanibal wrote: 89 Points
Same notes as my last. This is really well made wine however the oak is still too much prominent here. Lots of fruit in the back so best to wait a few more years.
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11/14/2022 - Shak Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not bad but still way too early to consume. My mistake. Another decade in the cellar and it should be awesome!
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11/12/2022 - LJMcDue wrote: 92 Points
Consumed with a vegetable rough pastry tart, by itself and with a reverse seared ribeye on the smoker over the course of three days.
Nose: leather, smoke, oak and cherry. Taste: everything on the nose plus warm spice, pepper and strawberry. Feel: tannic, medium bodied, acidic. Loved this wine, but think I slightly prefer the Cubillo for most occasions.
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11/11/2022 - Ozric wrote: 87 Points
Nose: Initially some red sweet fruit. Also moldy basement, wet rocks. With time there is a melted plastic/varnish fruit note that I usually get in grenache wines like Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Palate: Gum shreddingly high acid, with fine but very drying tannins. No fruit. Feels completely hollow on the palate. Aftertaste is stemmy.
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11/11/2022 - CptJake Likes this wine: 94 Points
Way too young to be opened. Needs at least another 5 years. Possibly 10. Acid is good and it’s well balanced.
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11/9/2022 - chrisk525 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Earthy, medium body, rustic, hints of jamminess in flavor (not texture), medium acidity, black berries. Very nice. Tasting next to a 2015 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva. Both very nice and a similar level for me, despite the Vina Ardanza being cheaper. A step or two above casual sipping due to the nice complexity and flavor profile.
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11/9/2022 - vancouvermatt wrote: 90 Points
Relatively light bodied, with high acidity and fully integrated tannins.
Easy to drink, but not life changing.
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11/7/2022 - Vinomazing Likes this wine:
At charity tasting…classic winery, making the best wine each vintage and none seemingly the same due to such intent. This vintage seems lighter, classy, and elegant. Not bold or punchy, and maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but right in my wheelhouse.
Will compare this to Calabretta’s VV Mascalese wines where they make the best of each vintage and hold wines for years before release. The similarities go further as the heavier bolder 2008s of Tondonia and Calabretta are very unlike the classy 2010s of each. I wonder if they talk 🧐.
Very glad to have, considering buying more but not sure of the longevity, will love it to 2030 for sure.
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11/5/2022 - mjohn Likes this wine:
Nose dominated by oak and cloves, a bit of orange peel. Bracing acidity and prominent fine grained tannins. It was enjoyable to have an early look at this, but I think it needs a few more years to develop.
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11/3/2022 - cyc Likes this wine: 90 Points
At this stage in time, the 2010 Tondonia is less compelling than the 2010 Bosconia, at least to my palate. A bit less bright, with less red fruits, unintegrated tannins and a good thwack of vanilla and dill from the American oak. I would say that it is also less compelling than a 2008 Tondonia I had recently, although that is not a fair comparison given the age difference. Hopefully this wine will continue to evolve and show more of its potential.
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11/1/2022 - Irish_Wine wrote: 93 Points
Medium garnet.
Pronounced on the nose with red cherry, black cherry, blackberry, violet, dried herbs, dill, nutmeg, meat, leather, cedar, tar, dark chocolate, tobacco, resinous notes, savoury notes, forest floor, dried cherry. Developing.
Pronounced and dry on the palate. High acidity, med body, high tannins, me alcohol, long finish.
Can drink now but has potential for aging. I would wait though. Super tight on opening. Opened with air but still feels like it needs time. Definitely potential for a higher score.
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10/29/2022 - YackAttack213 Likes this wine: 95 Points
95 Oct 2022 👃 reserved nose of plum, ripe strawberry, a touch of rubber and balsamic. 👅plum, raspberry, a slight tart, iodine, a little earthy, balsamic, a some saltiness, light bodied. The finish has some soy sauce. Acidity and tannins are still strong and very balanced. Cloud 9 stuff.
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10/28/2022 - lozatron Likes this wine:
An early taste thanks to the Wine Soc magic mixed case. Earthy nose - some oak influence but a little muted. On the palate - it's all there, somewhat integrated but still tightly coiled. Enjoyable to drink now - and certainly not a waste - but one can taste the potential. Compared to the Ardanza from the same year - less flashy but with the same sense of being drinkable now but with great things ahead of it.
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10/25/2022 - Alykhan V Likes this wine: 91 Points
Roasted and dried red fruits, medium tannin, oaknis not obtrusive, some nuttiness and oxidative character.
Very very elegant
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10/23/2022 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Medium ruby. Beautifully balanced as expected, with lovely acid backbone. This was at the same time surprisingly on the sweet side, with lovely suggestions of cedar, leather, etc. Very approachable on the first night, and developing beautifully on the second and third.
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10/23/2022 - Sp@rk Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened and poured 1 glass and tasted a sip. Lots of heat with alcohol and acidity. Left the glass and bottle for 7 hrs then came back. The alcohol and acidity subsided and the wine is well integrated and open. Enjoyed over next 3 hours.
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10/20/2022 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 92 Points
The newest vintage of this extraordinary Reserva made from a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. Aged for 6 years in used US oak and 6 years in bottle. Medium intensity rich aroma of plums, black cherries, tobacco, cured cold cuts, spices, medicinal and herbal hints. Medium body, fresh, juicy and bright with great depth of flavour, fruity, spiced and smoky notes. Intense well integrated acidity, fine polished tannins, long finish with delicate oaky and smoky touches.
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10/18/2022 - Double-A Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium garnet colour with brick rims. Fragrant, toasted nut, mineral, mushroom, milled mahogany, and dried cherry nose. Flavourful, medium-bodied palate with high acidity and rounding tannins. Good length, mature finish.
4.5/5
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10/17/2022 - Hugo Hilde wrote: 93 Points
PnP, followed some 4 hours
From the get go a lovely perfume of forest floor, cedar, saffron, worn leather, tobacco, plum, blueberry and orange rind.
Palate follows the nose with perfectly ripe tannins and ample acidity, the word balance certainly comes to mind.
With air, the profile leaned more and more towards the fruit, the darker mature elements taking the back seat.
In a great spot now, considering the price this is an easy buy.
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10/16/2022 - ThijsV Likes this wine: 92 Points
Vina Tondonia lunch at restaurant Maeve (Utrecht, NL): Obviously still (very) young, but good already with great potential. Deep, a lot of extract. Needs time
6 years in barrique, racked twice a year. 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho & 10% Mazuelo & Graciano
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10/16/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Utregs Wijnhuis Lopez de Heredia Tasting (Restaurant Maeve, Utrecht. NL): Hint of cork? Cool and elegant, autumnal aromas, small red berries, hint of cranberry, very tight and fresh, red currants, long finish with good grip.
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10/15/2022 - CondorKhan wrote: 94 Points
Probably one of the most immediately approachable Vina Tondonias of the past few years. Already in balance, already polished. Fruit in perfect balance with oak. Notes of cherry, dried orange peel, resiny woodiness, leather. A nice savory note lingers in the background... sage? saffron? Keeps changing in the glass.
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10/7/2022 - _Alex_ Likes this wine: 89 Points
Rustikk og elegant. Pen og moden rød frukt med tørre kryddertoner.
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9/26/2022 - Manuaia wrote: 92 Points
OK, I am expecting big things from the 2010….
Bought a bottle to see if i should buy a case. 5 min in and the wine obviously is closed with not a whole lot of fruit but there’s a density in the mouth that suggests things will improve. it is always difficult to judge wines that have just arrived via a boat from Europe. Especially if the importer is on the west coast. (Thats an extra 2-3 weeks on the water constantly moving the wine inside the bottle) a lot of red wines just arriving, take 3 to 4 months to “come together”. If I can explain it is like an extended period of time that a wine just wont open up. and heredia fits this bill exponentially. Hey but 2 hours in and its opening nicely. But the pieces aren’t talking to each other. . Tondonia these past 5 or so vintages IMO have been disappointing. Rather thin. Bosconia and even the lower tier cubillo have been so much more enjoyable. This 2010 tondonia seems to be pretty damn good. The 2010 bosconia is so delicious. Lets see what happens day 2.
DAY 2: hasn't really changed much. Maybe a little rounder. Overall delicious. Great classic rioja flavors, raspberry minerals and massive acidity. Should age an eternity. I think ill get a case.
In the end, These wines are really good but I really don’t know how good. Better than the ardanza, 904, or the muga especial? I need to put these in a blind tasting with other Riojas because I think I get skewed when I see heredia on the label.
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9/26/2022 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
Tasted as the fifth of the six wines picked by Manuel/Harley 1199 for a Gargantuan tasting/dinner last Friday at Coalla in Madrid.
To be frank: by the time this bottle arrived my memory went a bit hazy... This is what I remember and noted down:
Wine still very young, with typical Tondonia smell and feel; Sweaty saddle smell and aromas, (Manuel took offense at my description - I actually said "sweaty socks") ;acidity quite at the forefront and not yet integrated. Needs time.
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9/25/2022 - spillwine wrote: 94 Points
Magnifique vin classique, un vrai Rioja qui ressemble a du Rioja. A boire après quelques heures de carafe ou à garder presque éternellement.
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9/23/2022 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
Bandreas & Company Stopped in Madrid; 9/23/2022-9/24/2022 (Coalla - Madrid): Opaque core with orange and violet edges. Recognizable aromas of strawberries with cream, Aranjuez style, wet leather, penicillin punch and cigar box. Beautiful complexity on the nose that does not accompany development of a great depth in the mouth although potential is there. Extremely young to me taste on the palate, surly and unpredictable as a cimarrón that must still be tamed by time. More gastronomic than wine of reflection at the moment. Acidity is looking for forceful dishes. In my humble opinion another ten years in the bottle will end up rounding it up and making a call for a Cuban cigar. Last third for absent friends.
Opaco corazón con unos bordes entre anaranjados y violáceos. Reconocibles aromas a fresas con nata de Aranjuez, cuero húmedo, golpe de penicilina y caja de puros. Bonita complejidad en nariz a la que no acompaña el desarrollo de una gran profundidad en boca aunque el potencial está ahí. Extremadamente joven para mí gusto al paladar, arisco e imprevisible como un potro que todavía debe ser domado por el tiempo. Más gastronómico que vino de reflexión en estos momentos. La acidez habla de platos contundentes. En mi humilde opinión otros diez años en botella terminarán de redondearlo y de realizar la llamada por un puro cubano. Último tercio para los amigos ausentes.
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9/15/2022 - Gone with the wine Likes this wine:
I’m not going to give this a score because I feel this was too closed - even after 3hrs in the decanter. There are lovely notes of cherry and fig along with some cedar wood and a touch of dill which faded after a while. I wanted to try one young and you can certainly see the potential. I won’t be touching the next one for 10yrs at least… Was still very pleasant with some manchego.
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9/10/2022 - Sotto325 wrote: 91 Points
(Katz Orange in Berlin) despite its youth, this was approachable and actually a bit rounder than in many recent vintages. Of course, the greater secondary and tertiary notes require time, but this showed very nicely, with Smokey moist wood, dark, leafy cherry, and that nice LdH nose that screams traditional Rioja.
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9/9/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine: 95 Points
Profound and racy has light clovey hints! Easily the Best Tondonia ever. Has excellent length on day two. 13%. I salute Queen Elizabeth's life! This should be bought by the case! Lay down 20-40 years+drink now too! Needs 90 mins aeration. I had this with lamb fillet and this was a wonderful match! This is a little Bourguinon but very Riojan with its juicy lipsmacking garlicky food friendly acidity!
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9/4/2022 - diegovilla'ch Likes this wine: 94 Points
Popped and poured.
Gorgeous and viscous ruby red with lighter, garnet rims.
Amazingly complex, elegant, fine nose, sour cherry, crushed raspberry, red currants, blood orange, dried rose petals, anise, dried dill, sage.
Very layered, forest floor, cuban cigars, incense, sandalwood, fine oak, milk chocolate..
Burgundian, almost Gevrey’ like..
Palate is so juicy, fresh and acidity’s very high, (not overwhelming) great minerality and really fruity.
So delicate yet structured and explosive. Medium to full bodied.
Layers of red little berries, fine integrated oak, delicate spiciness, dill, orange zest. Very fine tannins.
Very nice structured and balanced, seamless, harmonious.
Already a great experience after 12 years from the harvest, and spending 6 years in oak.
It will benefit from at least 5 to 10 years of more aging in bottle, but totally beautiful and appealing now.
13%.
A gem of Rioja, a great Q/P, elegance and muscles, it deserves its reputation. Probably not a wine for everyone.
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8/29/2022 - Brnshj22 wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely awesome. Young, but oh so damn delicious. Complex, powerful yet elegant. One of the best Tondonia Reserva I have had.
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8/21/2022 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 95 Points
This may be the best vintage of Tondonia I’ve tasted. Tondonia is a landmark in the wine world, at least for me. To appreciate it, you have to come to terms with the high acidity, which is reminiscent of a sour ale / lambic in the beer world. Tasting notes are hard, but I will go with sour cherries, tomatoes, orange zest, cigar, and dill. The power is exceptional. This is the kind of wine that makes me want to be a sommelier, because this would definitely make the perfect pairing for some dish at a Michelin three-star restaurant.
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8/16/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Dark garnet red color. PNP, from 375ml of the list The Compound, drank a glass plus over 90 minutes. This was quite impressive at this point. The nose is fantastic, great aromatics, candied raspberry, black cherry, huckleberry, splendid wood and spice notes, earthy underbrush, leather, hints of rose petals and a little smoke create a lifted, perfumed character. more surprisingly, the palate is already showing nicely, more red fruited, cherry and candied raspberry, hints of blue fruit too; the earth stands out with underbrush and dried herbs, leather, the requisite lacquer notes, and a round giving tannins on a lengthy finish. Loved it and have to believe this is only going to get better with extra time in bottle. 93+ to 94pts.
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8/9/2022 - Hanibal wrote: 89 Points
At this point in time this wine is too tannic and acidity is very high to enjoy even with a decant. A strong wood smell emerges from the glass. U feel that there is fruit in the background but the whole thing is not in sync… not likely a re-buy for me
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7/30/2022 - kostaslonis Does not like this wine:
Random wines tasted during service (Oinoscent): Flash decanted and blind tasted, curtesy of a customer
The wine shows very dense, rich and heavily oaked nose, dusty, vanilla, wood paint, a touch of clove and cinnamon, milky notes
Palate is again heavily based on oak, dusty, vanilla, alcohol heat, medium body, spicy, aggressive as it is, angular tannins, red cherries, plank infused medium finish
Called this rioja
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7/17/2022 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Managed to consume multiple bottles of this before getting a note down. It's not the easiest style of wine to get a handle on, or at least to put into words, because it's in that advanced-enough state where it all melds together and the main impression you get is, "well, that's Rioja all right." But I did find this Tondonia to have a little more clarity and precision than the Bosconia this year, which presented the same challenge. It opens up with some leatheriness to the aroma but freshens up in the glass to turn more herbal, evoking sage and spearmint. I don't know what happened, I always used to prefer Bosconia to Tondonia for its elgance, but that may have flipped. I am finding this both more svelte and suave than Bosconia this vintage.
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7/15/2022 - MS86 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Baby killing but already delicious.
Typical and yet distinctly Rioja on the nose. Notes of dill, chocolate, cracked leather and tobacco. Austere.
Palate shows tight, firm tannins, robust acidity and well integrated alcohol.
Flavours add hints of earth and black plum / black cherry.
Excellent length. A wine that will age for decades.
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7/13/2022 - Abharwine wrote:
.....just too young; decanted through an aerator and left sitting for 45 mins. Never opened up. At this rate, Heaven knows how long this will take to evolve, but I wont be touching another for at least 5 yrs
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7/11/2022 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
2nd time to taste this wine in as many weeks. Having had 07 and 08 recently, this is clearly tops for my palate. It has the classic saddle leather, sour cherry and figs for days. Rustic but with quite a lot of freshness, and the least roasted fruit notes of that trio (I haven’t had 09 to compare). Structurally, pretty chalky tannins that will need a number of years to resolve.
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7/1/2022 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
Tased next to 2011 Bosconia. More depth and detail, firmer tannic structure, less expressive and more savoury. Sweet spices, tobacco, pure red and dark fruit, hints of vanilla and liquorice. Quite powerful and intense with a vibrant, persistent finish. Very promising. 92-93+
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7/1/2022 - WineKnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfectly clear youthful black cherry. 5
Nose after 1 hour in the glass is opening. Cherry, black fruit, vanilla, barrel spice, minerality, graham crackers and developing. 13
Palate confirming nose and adding cherry pie and kirsch. Great lift and can't wait for several years to go by. 16
Really enjoyable long finish and only upside potential. 8
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6/24/2022 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Paid 35€ in San Sebastian at Super Amara store. Decanted 90 minutes but its closed and too young. Just wanted to try it since I've never had it. Must try again in a few years. At this point it isnt much better than the Viña Bosconia.
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6/6/2022 - Jeanda Likes this wine: 93 Points
Voilà le rioja classique que je cherchais depuis longtemps ! Certes un peu boisé, mais quelle fraîcheur ! Concentré et digeste, tanins soyeux, équilibre, complexité. Tout y est. A boire ou à garder.
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5/15/2022 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 90 Points
Did NOT mean to drink this yet. Was at my house before moving to my locker and we drank a white then the mood struck us.
It was SOOO YOUNG. The youngest, boldest Tondonia I've ever had. Enjoyable yes, and cool to taste at this age, but wish I had held it at least a few years, or at least decanted.
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5/15/2022 - RAD Likes this wine: 88 Points
Deep, almost opaque garnet fading only slightly to ruby. LOTS of oak on the nose: cedar, leather, vanilla, a whiff of tobacco, all overshadowing blackberry jam. Juicy acidity; midweight palate; light on its feet. Significant fine-grained tannins. This wine needs LOTS of time. Tasted after 30 mins of air in the glass. $95 at The Cottage in Westport with their excellent Cottage Burger (comte cheese - sriracha aioli - bacon & onion jam; https://www.thecottage.kitchen/westport-menu).
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5/1/2022 - WojteG Likes this wine: 93 Points
Congratulations to Spanish wine producers. How can a wine that is in a barrel for 6 years and then in a bottle for 6 years costs only 32 €???
Plus: this wine is only made in the best years.
Not too long ago I had their Bosconia wine.
I would say this way: Bosconia is on dark side of "Force" and Todonia is on red side of "Force" 😉
First thing first: first two glasses and... three ⭐ ( completely mess where Red Cherry goes all over, light texture, sour taste, hidden acidity and tannins, disaster).
Third glass - as you see above 93 pts.( decanted about an hour - do it longer!).
Now this juice is like stained glass at Chartres Cathedral( everything is at right location, fits perfectly and it's beautiful)
Aromas are very complex and somehow unusual like orange, strawberry (?), grapefruit, cedar, flowers, minerals (?) and believe me, if you want to play an agent, there is a lot of more.
Everything on bright side of smell ( let's name it - red)
Taste - full of energy with visual acidity and tannins ( personally - too much).
Red cherry of course, red currant, citrus notes, vanilla.
Very long, clean finish with soft spice.
Why I like Bosconia much more?
There is not enough of sweet components here.
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4/15/2022 - Jozefs Likes this wine: 92 Points
A bit riper than the 08 and therefore more accessible now, but better wait a few more years.
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3/1/2022 - gallu wrote: 93 Points
93 Espléndido clásico riojano. Precioso color rojo rubí. En nariz se muestra madera de calidad, notas lácticas, yogur. Fruta roja madura , cerezas, guindas. En boca está crujiente, con mucha fruta roja ácida. Muy equilibrado, mucha acidez y tanino muy fino. Gran añada. Se está desarrollando un gran vino, que dará muchas alegrías a lo largo de los años. Excelente.
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2/25/2022 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo. 6 years aged in American oak barrels, being racked twice a year and fined with fresh egg whites, 13% vol.
Decanted half an hour before dinner, but required more time, got better with every sip. Dark fruited, earthy notes, fresh moss and a hint of dill, on the palate dry, medium to full bodied, good structured, long finish.
Different compared to the latest vintages of this wine but again a nice interpretation of a superb year in Rioja. Also very different to Bosconia from the same vintage, Tondonia is less elegant but has more edges, is very classical, very Rioja and for sure still very Tondonia. Already very good but will only improve with further cellaring, 92-93 points.
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7/27/2021 - ringsvold wrote: 92 Points
Aperitif. 91 DN
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