Viña Tondonia Rioja Rosé Blend

Farmers market visit this morning dictated this after finding some decent Heirlooms awaiting my organic garden ones and deserving after cleaning the damn gutters all afternoon. .

Like this Rosé quite a lot. The price for it, not so much. But, worth it once in a while and this one has been laying down a number of years, so… If you haven’t had a good Tempranillo Rosé worth acquiring.

I like it as it is not overtly sweet like many Bandol’s & Californians.

The nose shows; blood orange, not quite ripe tangerine, baked rhubarb, strawberries, red not dark cherries, ripe, yellow peach with skin, hints of watermelon at the rind, limestone marl with orange & red flowers.

The palate shows nice viscosity. Blood orange with peel, not quite ripe tangerine, baked rhubarb, strawberries, red not dark cherries, ripe, yellow peach with skin, hints of watermelon at the rind, touch of pink grapefruit, something in between Cointreau & Grand Marnier, sun tea, very soft chalk & white spice, limestone marl with orange & red flowers, rainfall acidity, nicely knitted, a fair amount of tension for an aged Rosé, excellent balance & structured with a smartly polished, elegant, lush finish that lasts nearly two- minutes.

This 2010 is in high cotton and not slowing down. Another 8-10 years with maybe more. Leans into 95.

Pairing; Organic Heirloom tomatoes grown in a greenhouse topped w/ di Stefano Burrata, Spanish Ricon Subbetica Olive Oil, Tondo Balsamic Vinegar (the best period), organic fresh basil, Companion Simple Sourdough Crustini’s.

Popped and poured into a porron. The ultimate baller birthday move. The 2010 Rosado pours a rose gold color; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. Some slight signs of sediment in the bottle. On the nose the wine is developing with notes of red cherry, blood orange, grapefruit, apricot, nuts, dried flowers and just a hint of lightly toasted coconut. On the palate, the wine is dry with low tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with remarkable, creamy texture and substantial (but not overbearing) weight. To my palate, this has hardly aged since my last experience in 2021. If anything, it has only gained in character and significance. World class is every sense of the term. Drink now through 2035. Thank you for the birthday bottle Matt!

Vintage 2010 | autumn leaves, stewed pear, cinnamon, nice bitters

One of a kind

My first bottle of this inimitable rosé and what a weirdo it was (in a good way of course). The nose reminded me of a cross between fino sherry, blanc de noir, and riesling - nuts, herbs, spices, dried strawberries, granny smith apple, orange peel, peach, petrol, and damp wood. Gosh, it's mind-boggling. The fino sherry theme continued on the palate, with a distinct salinity and steeliness that's steady and regular from start to end. The texture is silky, and finish crescendo-like, built on citrus freshness, red berried flavours, and salted fruit skin preserves. It just keeps gaining complexity as the night progressed, and would be interesting to see with an overnight slow-ox. Unfortunately, it paired incredibly well with some fried chicken that showed up on the table, so it was deemed gone. A one on the binary scale!

Nutty, rich and creamy, but tense and tingling with blood orange, cranberry and strawberry. Plenty of cedar, vanilla and baking spice, wet animal and all that other good Lopez stuff.

Upon opening, the aromatics had a distinct petrol/Riesling like flair to it. After 30mins of being open, it got fleshier and blossomed. A somewhat maderized/oxidized black cherry and rhubarb spice on the nose with a whiff of fino sherry. Palate is ever changing with tangerine, roasted orange marmalade, some sort of Italian herbs, and brown sugar coated raspberries. Excellent acidity here. Juicy without being flabby or sharp. I suggest letting this breathe an hour or so before consuming.

Vintage 2010 | Not everyone’s friend, a style in it’s own - acquired taste. Very brownish red colour. Expressive smell, overripe pear, starting with high bitters. Old wood, mocca. Beautiful expression and balance, dinnerwine. Great effort.

Let’s just say that this is not your average pink blush, this very unique Rosé from the grand master of Rioja, R Lopez de Heredia, is absolutely outstanding. An admirable wine with a meditative aura. Perhaps the best (non-Champagne) Rosé that I’ve encountered.
The 2010 (!) vintage was aged for 4 years in old American oak and 7 years in bottle. Despite its age the fruit profile is shining with a very intense profile of dried strawberries, orange zest, toffee, fennel seeds, before revealing its mature side with an elegant portion of potting soil, tobacco and a slight minty volatile lift.
Extraordinary concentration on the palate, full bodied and well built with a creamy toffee like mid palate. But there is nerve and tension in the center with a slight grip that brings balance and nuance across a complex evolving finish

@Severn Goodwin doesn’t know I lifted this from his cellar. Far too pricey for a Rose.

As different as the most considered typical Rose.

Splendid but, if you are expecting Bandol or new world, this is probably not for you.

I entitled this bottle shot, Roses for Rasado.

Notes of sherry, vermouth, rhubarb, concentrated British tea sack. Geraniums & pink Roses. Gravel powder, dry top soil, burnt, brown sugar, blood orange, underripe pink grapefruit, dry floral bouquet. Excellent, well balanced finished.

Crazy good change of pace.

Top photos from my 2015 visit. Great historical stop in Haro.