TN: 2005 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia

WINE TALK
#1
  • 2005 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (8/30/2020)
    Paired with a viewing of ‘For A Few Dollars More’ with my dad, what could be better? This being only my 2nd RLdH Blanco (1st was the 10 Gravonia), I had a good idea what to expect, and this certainly met or even perhaps exceeded expectations. A shimmering gold color lets loose the aromatics of ripe, bruised green apples, a drizzle of honey and citrus, and a pretty mild oxidative trait. The first sip is just pure electricity; a laser beam of lemon skins, minerals, and acidity is tightly coiled together and beamed throughout my mouth and brain, hitting parts of my wine brain that don’t often get stimulation such as this. As I spent a good 2 hrs. on my half of the 750, I noticed the back end was gaining in richness on the finish, and I swear it started to almost taste like white chocolate, it gained in palate weight as well. Anyway, I totally get these are not for everybody, but its abundantly clear they are for me. (94 pts.)

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Posted from CellarTracker

#2

And here I thought “For a few dollars more” was going to be a reference to the rapidly increasing price of this wine

#3

rim shot! :wink:

#4

good, isn’t it? :wink:

I was surprised that it was open for business this early. From a month and a half ago, or so:

"2005 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Blanco

Gave this a quick 2-hour decant and poured some on Friday night for dinner with dad, then recapped and brought next day. Superb showing, marvelous sherried touch and I love the firm focus and saline acidity that makes this such a bracing wine. The biggest surprise is that it is fully in its drinking wheelhouse just 15 years out. Not everyone’s thing, but if you know what this is, this is exactly what you hope for."

#5

Nice note! Now just wait until you have one 10-30 years after release instead of this pup.