Lopez De Hereda Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Rioja 1995
Lopez De Hereda Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Rioja 1995
Lopez de Heredia is without argument one of the great wineries of the world. They make wines the way they have since the late 1800's and age them for a substantial amount of time before release. For example the 1995 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva is the most recent release of their Gran Reserva. That's 25 years old! What other winery does that? And the wine is beautiful. It will age wonderfully for decades (speaking from experience of drinking a 1942 about a decade ago).Â
"The only current red Gran Reserva is the 1995 Vina Tondonia Gran
Reserva, the one that is produced exactly the same as before, including
fining with egg whites and sealing with red wax. 1995 was an excellent
and early harvest, the grapes achieved full ripeness and were harvested
under the sun during two weeks starting October 9. The wine, which
exceptionally achieved 13% alcohol, is the usual blend, 70% Tempranillo,
20% Garnacho, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo (Carinena). Like all their
wines, it fermented with indigenous yeasts in old oak vats and as a Gran
Reserva it matured in old American oak barrels for ten years! Yes, it
was bottled in November 2006 and launched in 2015, a full 20 years after
the harvest. This light-colored, ethereal 1995 is the essence of Vina
Tondonia. It has developed aromas and complexity gained with the time in
bottle, of incense, leather, cured meat, cherries in liqueur, cold
bonfire and spices. The palate is super-tasty, with fully-resolved
tannins and very good acidity. The texture is super-fine, sophisticated
and ethereal with gob-smacking balance. Intense, powerful and elegant,
too. Hard to believe, but this red feels too young and while
approachable, I'd wait a couple of years or more because it will be much
better. The profile follows the style of the great classics of the
1950s and 60s. Bottles like this are the ones that created the Lopez de
Heredia myth. This could be lighter than the 1994, but in the long run I
believe the 1995 will be the better bottle. 24,687 bottles produced." Luis Gutierrez The Wine Advocate 97+ points
"
Sweet tobacco, orange zest and hints of balsamic with dried
fruits on the nose. Full body, soft and silky with a tangy and fruity
combination that gives such pleasure. Very balanced and refined. Aged
ten years in cask." James Suckling 96 points
Regular price
$179.99
Wine Type
Red Wine
Country
Spain
Region
Rioja
