2004 López de Heredia "Viña Tondonia" Reserva Rioja (1.5L)
SKU #1413622
94 points
John Gilman
The 2004 Viña Tondonia Reserva is a beautiful bottle that is just starting to blossom, but is clearly built for the long haul and will be drinking far better a decade down the road. The bouquet is deep and nascently complex, wafting from the glass in a mix of cherries, red plums, toasted coconut, Rioja spice tones, a touch of mustard seed and a topnote of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, focused and tangy, with a lovely core, excellent soil inflection, fine-grained tannins and lovely length and grip on the nascently complex finish. This is very easy to drink already, but it has not yet developed the full panoply of Tondonia complexity yet and will be even better with another half dozen years of bottle age. A lovely bottle.
(4/2017)
94 points
James Suckling
Very perfumed with dried flowers plus hints of leather and smoke. Lots of depth and elegance to this wine with polished velvety tannins and a long finish. Wonderful texture.
(12/2016)
94 points
Wine Advocate
The 2004 Viña Tondonia Reserva is a completely different story. It is a worthy follower of the 2001, the greatest of the Viña Tondonia Reservas of recent times. It has the usual blend and usual levels of alcohol and acidity, bottled after six years in oak barrels. The nose feels savory (if that's possible--umami?) and developed, with tertiary aromas and good balance between spices, leathery notes, cherries and balsamic notes of cigar box and incense. The palate is both round and crisp, with refined tannins. It has very good balance with subtle acidity and very good persistence. (LG)
(4/2015)
93 points
Vinous
Deep red. Exotic, oak-spiced red berry liqueur, dried cherry and vanilla aromas are complemented by a smoky overtone. Sweet and pliant in the mouth, displaying a velvety texture to the plush black raspberry, cherry-vanilla and coconut flavors. Shows no rough edges and picks up a suave floral note with air, finishing with excellent clarity, a hint of allspice and round, harmonious tannins. (JR)
(5/2017)
91 points
Wine & Spirits
A dark and smoky vintage of Tondonia, this combines dense fruit and beefy tannins with elegant, refreshing acidity. Its gentleness and grace bring food to mind, whether aged Manchego or something meaty and spicy, like braised duck.
(12/2016)
91 points
Wine Enthusiast
Slightly damp, earthy and cool aromas introduce this traditional Rioja. In the mouth, pinchy tannins and tomatoey acidity pave the way for flavors of raisin, peppery spice and leafy herbs. A long steady finish is full of life. Drink now through 2030. (MS)
(6/2017)
90 points
Wine Spectator
Savory flavors of tea, mushroom and leather frame dried cherry and orange peel notes in this traditional-style red. Features a smooth, polished texture, with light tannins and bright acidity. Harmonious and graceful. (TM)
(9/2016)
Jancis Robinson
Deep reddish garnet. Beautifully complex aromas: leather and undergrowth and yet still there is red fruit. A miracle. Silky and refined. Leathery, dry but there's no dryness on the finish. So complex. 18/20 points (JH)
(6/2017)
K&L Notes
Lopez de Heredia has a well-earned reputation as the stalwart traditionalist of Rioja, along the lines of Mascarello in Barolo, Mayacamas in Napa Valley, or de Montille in Burgundy. What is arguably lost in all the attention paid to traditional winemaking, wine ageing and craft, is that Lopez de Heredia pioneered the single vineyard wine in Rioja, a tradition they still honor with each of their wines. These wines hail from single vineyards -- well-sited, glorious single vineyards. Viña Tondonia Reserva is always the most claret-like, with a sense of reserve and structure that really allows it to shine equally well upon release at table, or after some time in the cellar.
