A once in a lifetime event was held on Monday, July 7th at the Santa Barbara Club featuring the profound wines of R. Lopez de Heredia from Rioja.
Known for their long term cellaring after a quite selective process to insure the best possible fruit from the bodegas own 4 vineyards, their whites and reds are stunning and this event highlighted such. As coined by the companys founder, the wines including reservas and gran reservas are indeed “Supreme Rioja”.
We were graced with the presence of Monica Nogues of Think Global Wines who is an importer of Lopez wines and very knowledgeable. She filled in a lot of the blanks and offered on the spot educational information regarding the bodegas and the wines, not to mention some of the great wines she contributed to the mix, both from this bodegas and others.
Fifteen very fortunate, wine passionate people enjoyed a special 5 course lunch to accommodate the wines- see menu at bottom.
The biggest challenge of the day for me was to keep the wines in order as they arrived from both sides, sometimes simultaneously, and were not served in the order of the print out which did not include all of the wines we tasted.
2007 MESTRES VISOL GRAN RESERVA [GR] PRIORAT BRUT NATUR- made of 35% Macabeu, 40% Xarel.lo, 25% Parellada; a no dosage Cava with less than 1% RS, this zingy sparkler gave up a multitude of flavors especially with ginger infused grapefruit and had a somewhat grassy, hay over taste with a somewhat astringent finish; it possessed fine acidity and was an interestingly good start; certainly, it served to prepare our palates for all that was to come.
2000 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA ROSATO GR- made of 30% Tempranillo, 60% Granacho, 10% Viura, this had an almost sherry like nuttiness with spicy stone fruit notes especially of peach and apricot delivered in a thick lush and creamy texture to coat the palate and please all the way to the back end; 12.5% alc. and no RS.
1991 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA BLANCO GR- we had 2 bottles and the first was corked; later on we had a good bottle and my notes are reflected here even though out of order; 90% Viura, 10% Malvasia; bright acidity accompanies the layered depth of honeyed lush citrus notes especially lemon zest along with the ever present silky smooth mouthfeel; delicious.
1995 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA BOSCONIA TINTO GR- from the same 4 estate grown varietals used in the Tondonia Tinto, 80% Tempranillo, 15% Granacho, 5% Mazuelo and Graciano; 12% alc.; loaded with an abundance of spicy cherry/ berry flavors, this is rich and full bodied and yet offers grace and finesse; the word delicious comes up again as does the super pleasing soft texture; I loved this one.
1994 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA TINTO GR- 75% Tempranillo, 15% Granacho, 10% Mazuelo and Graciano; 12% alc.; from one of the finest vintages in Rioja, this had a lot of dried fennel infused red and black fruit character with some leather and mushroom in a medium body and a bit of minerality; less depth and complexity than some of the others, but nonetheless very good.
1991 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA TINTO GR- 75% Tempranillo, 15% Granacho, 5% each, Mazuelo and Graciano; 12% alc.; the nose had a very distinct coconut followed by vanilla and a lot of spicy dark cherry and cranberry; great texture and finesse.
1991 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA TINTO RESERVA- a very different profile here, enticing and pleasant; I got a lot of cherry cola with a touch of spice in a medium body and the soft and easy on the palate common thread even amongst the Reservas.
1991 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA BOSCONIA TINTO GR- 80% Tempranilo, 15% Granacho, 5% Mazuelo and Graciano; this shined and was one of my favs; atypical was the pepper and spice aromatics which joined in with red cherry and berry with a cola accent; it was so velvety and palate pleasing with welcomed length.
1987 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA TINTO GR- this was very different and not as fruity or forward; the fruit profile was of dark dried berries, the tannins were pretty dominant by mid palate; there`s almost a sherry like component along with a hit of smoke; perhaps this needed more time or was in a valley state.
1985 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA TINTO GR- a winner; loved the red cherry fruitiness early on in the nose and continuing on; beautifully balanced with depth and complexity, great mouthfeel and exuberates integrity and elegance.
1981 R. LOPEZ de VINA BOSCONIA TINTO GR- another winner with layers and layers of pleasure, very complex and an example of an iron fist in a velvet glove; elegant graceful and sophisticated.
1978 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA TONDONIA TINTO GR- 12% alc.; clove and red cherries jump out of the glass and continue on with a fruit forwardness; its seemingly youthful, vibrant and fun; Id never get this as a 78` in a blind tasting.
1976 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA BOSCONIA TINTO GR- another “youngster” showing up with spiced black berries and plums with a blueberry topping; lively, easy on the palate and nicely balanced.
1976 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA BLANCO GR- corked
1970 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA TINTO GR- corked
1970 VEGA SICILA UNICO RIBERA del DUERO- 70% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and Malbec; such a great bring and IMHO the WOTD and I believe that would have been the consensus; certainly just to see the label and to know this was one of the best of “recent” vintages from this producer already spoke out in favor of class and stature; the balance may have been the #1 attribute; it was a huge statement; big, bold and complex with an evolved maturity to suggest this is in a good place now and with the track record, it has a long life ahead and lots of pleasure to give; loved the spiciness; my glass smiled after receiving this and wanted more.
2002 R. LOPEZ de HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA TINTO RESERVA- 13% alc.; I loved this one and especially because it came from a difficult vintage; quite youthful dark red cherry color with a similar fruit profile to follow; it had some very nice spice and cinnamon accents blended in; very young and fruit forward at this stage; I presume integration and balance will be forthcoming; if so, its treasures will be even more appreciated.
2005 HERMANOS PEREZ PASCUAS BODEGAS VINA PERDROSA RIBERA del DUERO GR- powerful, full throttle stuff with serious complexity and structure and major dark fruitiness; I wonder what this evolves into, but it sure makes a statement now; quite masculine.
2006 HERMANOS PEREZ PASCUAS BODEGAS VINA PEDROSA RIBERA del DUERO GR- not quite the in your face boldness of the 05, but nonetheless, a serious contender; again, theres a lot going on here and at this age and stage, it has a lot to offer; I have to wonder what this will become when it gets integrated.
VERMUT PRIORAT NATUR- 16% alc [label].; this aperitif is made from white Garnacho, Pedro Ximenez and Macabero macerated in herbs, fennel, rosemary, cumin, cinnamon and vanilla; I got a medicinal character along with some mint and anise and an overall
pleasantness that served the purpose of being an aperitif.
I left feeling honored and blessed to have had this experience and to share it with like minds and passions.
Cheers,
Blake
