As your fine wine specialist, you can count on Museum Wines to identify and source some of the world’s finest wines. Case in point, this allocation of Lopez de Heredia’s Viña Tondonia Tinto Reserva 2011. The brand is known as the poster child for traditional Rioja winemaking. If you know Rioja and Tempranillo, you know that by virtue of the bottle and barrel age afforded a Reserva, it promises a complex and elegant wine, as only time can produce. Nothing much has changed at this producer since it was founded in 1877, which is probably part of its allure as a cult Rioja wine. But we’ll let the experts take you on…
“The 2011 vintage, like 2010, was classified by the Rioja DOCa as ‘excellent.’ Marked, once again, by a very low rainfall (25% lower than ‘normal’ for the region), the vintage was also notable for the high temperatures in September and October, which resulted in López de Heredia starting to pick Tempranillo on 26 September, a full week earlier than in 2010, finishing with Graciano and Mazuelo on 13 October. The finished results were, once again, exceptional.” – Greg Sherwood MW.
A Cellar Favourite
Exclusive Allocation
95 Points – Greg Sherwood MW
“The 2011 Vina Tondonia shows the ripeness and power of the vintage, expressed through delicious fruit concentration and ripe, sweet, structured tannins. But the 2011 is also every bit as classical and “typically Vina Tondonia” in character boasting an expressive perfumed aromatics of pink musk, potpourri, sappy red fruits, raspberries, earthy strawberries and small black berry fruits that combine with hints of tilled earth, tannery leather and savoury notes of cured meats and freshly sliced jamón. On the palate there is plenty of muscle and intensity with a powerful frame of tannin and citrus acid structure expertly cloaked in complex layers of red currant, bramble berry and raspberry fruit concentration. Broad shouldered and beautifully succulent, the elegant palate finishes with delicate nuances of red cherries, cherry choc liquor and a blood orange persistence. A vintage to drink slightly earlier than the 2010 Reservas perhaps, but one nonetheless with huge staying power and cellaring potential. Drink now and over the next 15 to 20+ years. ” – Greg Sherwood MW.
