I did.
A medium-bodied beauty of a 30 year old Rioja, lots of red-berries acidity, layered with fine tannin, hint of leather, all enveloped by tasty ripe cherries.
With dinner @cantabria.manila
1996 CVNE (Compañia Vinicola del Norte de España) Viña Real Rioja Gran Reserva
Ramon, I had the exact same wine two weeks ago except mine was a 1975.
Two recent excellent Spanish whites:
• 2014 Lopez de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Tondonia
Terrific now and giving the impression of indestructibility. Will last longer than me. Wow. From CT review:
Cashews, green apple, beeswax feel, pear. Fabulous mix of acid-driven power and light oxidative touch. So good on a winter evening.
• 2022 A de la Riva San Cayetano Macharnudo
Beautiful Palomino Fino. From CT review:
Wow, what a terrific mix of citrus, apple and almond. Not exactly oxidative, but somewhat allusive to that as well as sherry, this was fantastically versatile. I hasten to add that this is not a sherry substitute, it’s table wine with a view to mixing with food. Imagine a Chenin blanc with a slightly sherry aspect of its personality.
Im hunting down every bottle of this I can at a decent price. It might be the best blanco Ive tried.
Ardanza report? I hear everything from drink-up to nowhere near ready.
Wow the 2014 is that good?! Can’t wait to crack one
I wouldn’t say drink up in any way. It currently drinks as rich and modern but the tannins aren’t too aggressive after enough air. The oak is still more present that I would like (dill+vanilla). The fruit is dark and ripe but it’s got enough structure to continue to evolve. The tertiary markers haven’t appeared yet to my taste. My next one will be in 5 years.
Believe it or not my LWS was allocated 3 bottles of this, of which I got 2. Only 1 in inventory and yeah, a definite repurchase if I get the opportunity.
The store owner told me, “well, I’ll ask for more but I know what the answer will be”
Great to hear, I guess I didn’t know what to expect with the 2014 vintage of this. Glad to know its so promising already
The first bottle I opened was that good. Need to open a second in the next few months
I got lucky this year, bought 3 and then a major retailer put a case on their sheof at very favorable pricing. So while Im currently set, I may be about to pick up some more if my local shop lets me.
I posted in a different thread a couple months ago, but the Bhilar Phincas Thousand Mills blanco is the best white Rioja I’ve had that isn’t a Tondonia, and it is stylistically more similar than different to the Tondonia. Worth checking out if you can source one. Had been tipped off by Otto.
I had a 2010 recently and I found it terribly oaky. And I like oak!
to follow up the positive reactions to Tondonia Blanco 2014 somewhat anecdotal, as I didn’t write any notes but I have a sense the 2014 Gravonia has been better than the 2012, 2015 and 2016 when i’ve had them in the last couple of years
