Lopez de Heredia Rioja Vino Tondonia Tinto Reserva 2001 (Release 2024)

- 96+Punkte Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Luis Gutiérrez: „I had the chance to taste a bottle of the 2001 Viña Tondonia Reserva 10 years after it was released, and the wine has evolved beautifully and quite slowly—at least that is the case for these bottles that have been kept in the winery for all these years. It's austere and elegant, with balance and concentration, polished tannins and a chalky texture, long tasty and dry. This is lively and should continue developing in bottle for quite some time...

I tasted up to three vintages of the same wine as it has been some time since I tasted them, and I also sampled the forthcoming vintages to be released in early 2023. The next vintage of Gran Reserva will be 2004, when they produced all three wines (the rosé was not produced, of course, it was a year in the hiatus between 2000 and 2008). 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011 and perhaps 2013 (for a sentimental reason, when their father died) will also be Gran Reserva vintages. What I tasted made sense with the character of each vintage—brilliant 2010s; a warm and more evolved 2011; a very good 2012; an atypical and challenging 2013; a cool and balanced 2014; and a warmer and riper 2015. As a bonus track, I tasted (and swallowed) the 2004 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva, and I can tell you I cannot wait for the wine to be released in 2024... 2022-2034“

- 93 Punkte Falstaff, Peter Moser: „Noble, klare Frucht, rote Beeren mit feiner Würze und zarten Teer- und Lederaromen. Sehr eleganter Gaumen mit seidiger Textur und sehr feinen Tanninen, tolle Konzentra­tion, saftig, mit mineralisch-lebendigem Nerv, lang, schließt mit delikater Süße und wirkt noch immer sehr jung. Sehr langlebiger Rioja.“

- 92 Punkte Guia Penin: „FARBE: Rubí, ziegelroter Saum;Aroma: Zedernholz, süße Gewürze, reifes Obst, Wildkräuter, Wachs;Flavour: kraftvoll, geschmackvoll, würzig, rauchig nachwirkend;FARBE: Rubí, ziegelroter Saum;Aroma: würzig, feine Reduktionsnoten, Noten von Tischlerei, leicht alkoholisch, Lacknoten;Flavour: würzig, feinkörnige Tannine, elegant, lang;FARBE: Rubí, ziegelroter Saum;Aroma: feine Reduktionsnoten, feuchtes Leder, Noten von Tischlerei, leicht alkoholisch, komplex;Flavour: würzig, feinkörnige Tannine, elegant, lang.“

-  Gismondi on Wine: „Since when is the current red vintage on our shelves more than a dozen years old? Gracias Rioja. And especially the majestic Bodegas R. López de Heredia, the epitome of old school, timeless, individualistic and ritualistic winemaking. Their wines respect historic traditions, and released when ready to drink. Luckilly for us. This old vines Reserva (tempranillo, garnacha graciano, mazuelo) opens with worn books, old cherry wood and dried strawberries. The palate feels well-worn and welcoming: dried cherry, sweet wild strawberries, aged leather, dried rose petals, earthy salinity a lift of fresh cranberries and a thin rasp of bitter cherry tannins before the mineral-lingering finish. Classic, timeless and excellent value.“