R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend

9.216 ratings
9.34 pro ratings
La Rioja Alta, La Rioja, Spain
Tempranillo Blend
Duck, Pasta, Beans & Peas, Goose, Chili & Hot Spicy, Exotic Spices, Game, Baking Spices, Herbs, Mushrooms, Hard Cheese, Turkey, Pork, Salami & Prosciutto, Tomato-Based, Venison, Pungent Cheese, Soft Cheese, Onion, Chicken, Veal, Paella
Top Notes For
Mike Saviage

Tasted blind. Reddish amber tawny, translucent. Corky nose. Notes of light red fruit, cherry, herbs. Ethereal in it's delivery and still chewy. Very refined. The light cork taint makes it difficult to guess and the team's guesses are all over the planet (I'm in Bordeaux land). There is some good stuff inside this but cork taint comes on more with air... bummer. (M's 60th bday 3rd of 14)

Tasted blind. Reddish amber tawny, translucent. Corky nose. Notes of light red fruit, cherry, herbs. Ethereal in it's delivery and still chewy. Very refined. The light cork taint makes it difficult to guess and the team's guesses are all over the planet (I'm in Bordeaux land). There is some good stuff inside this but cork taint comes on more with air... bummer. (M's 60th bday 3rd of 14)

May 23rd, 2021
Byron Fuller

Stunning. I often find I prefer LdH reasonably younger (GRs at the 10-15 year mark). This was vigorous, gorgeous, and very fine. Tiny bit of bricking but really still dark-core garnet color right on pour. Lovely nose of warm red fruit, flowers, that iconic snap of VA, and some forest floor action. But much less mushroomy & evolved than many other 70s GRs from the same house. Haunting, long palate true to nose— structured, crunchy fruit with no hard edges. Exceptionally long & evolving the whole time. All in all this has decades ahead and is evolving slowly and marvelously. No rush to drink up just to drink.

Stunning. I often find I prefer LdH reasonably younger (GRs at the 10-15 year mark). This was vigorous, gorgeous, and very fine. Tiny bit of bricking but really still dark-core garnet color right on pour. Lovely nose of warm red fruit, flowers, that iconic snap of VA, and some forest floor action. But much less mushroomy & evolved than many other 70s GRs from the same house. Haunting, long palate true to nose— structured, crunchy fruit with no hard edges. Exceptionally long & evolving the whole time. All in all this has decades ahead and is evolving slowly and marvelously. No rush to drink up just to drink.

Apr 14th, 2023
Jordi Pazo

Hotel Majestic. La Gran Noche de la Rioja.
27.06.19

Hotel Majestic. La Gran Noche de la Rioja.
27.06.19

Jun 27th, 2019
Jorge Pazos

Gran Noche del Rioja

Gran Noche del Rioja

Jun 27th, 2019
Josh Raynolds

Unreal complexity on the nose and palate. Like Rioja mated with Musigny and this is their love child. Silky, intensely floral, incense and minerals and the purest red fruit. A remarkable bottle and a singular experience.

Unreal complexity on the nose and palate. Like Rioja mated with Musigny and this is their love child. Silky, intensely floral, incense and minerals and the purest red fruit. A remarkable bottle and a singular experience.

May 10th, 2018
Chris England

1️⃣9️⃣6️⃣1️⃣

🗞 USSR in 🚀, Amnesty International, Upside down year! Berlin Wall 🚧
🎵 Stand by Me, Blue Moon, Hit the Road Jack
🎥 101 Dalmatians, West Side Story
🗣 Yabba Dabba Doo
🌍 3,09B

Fab @ £139 & still alive 57 years on in a Zalto Burg!

🍷 Garnet bricked cherry

👃 Dusty smoked sherry w/ muted cherry, vanilla whiff & burnt oak chards

👄 Med body of smooth balsamic infused sweet & sour cherry w/ earthy liquorice tones

🎯 Long earthy balsamic cherry creamy burnt coffee linger

1️⃣9️⃣6️⃣1️⃣

🗞 USSR in 🚀, Amnesty International, Upside down year! Berlin Wall 🚧
🎵 Stand by Me, Blue Moon, Hit the Road Jack
🎥 101 Dalmatians, West Side Story
🗣 Yabba Dabba Doo
🌍 3,09B

Fab @ £139 & still alive 57 years on in a Zalto Burg!

🍷 Garnet bricked cherry

👃 Dusty smoked sherry w/ muted cherry, vanilla whiff & burnt oak chards

👄 Med body of smooth balsamic infused sweet & sour cherry w/ earthy liquorice tones

🎯 Long earthy balsamic cherry creamy burnt coffee linger

Jan 1st, 2018
Sean Shafik

Quaffable despite slight cork

Quaffable despite slight cork

Oct 30th, 2015
Conrad Kenley

Drink up

Drink up

Oct 12th, 2015
Izzy Nosnik

Stewed

Mar 19th, 2014
Shelley Lindgren

Owner/Wine Director A16 and SPQR Restaurants

9.5

Shelley had this 9 years ago

Shelley had this 9 years ago

Aug 9th, 2015