
2007 LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA RIOJA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA Christopher Deas, Italian Wine Merchants: “A worthy follow-up to the towering 2004 and 2005 expressions. If you are a traditional Rioja purist, you will once again appreciate this overachieving Reserva that arrives with twelve years of age. This is an expression that can please the Burghead and Nebbiolo enthusiast alike. The wine captures all the rustic nuances of Old World Rioja, but there is more precision from the cooler vintage, which adds depth and acidity to a medium-bodied frame. All the telltale and intoxicating aromatics that define this wine are here: black tea, allspice, and red and black fruits. On the palate, the flavor spectrum is well represented with red and black fruits, succulent black cherry, blackberries, tart strawberries, tomato leaf, blood orange, black tea, iron, spice, leather, sandalwood, and savory notes that will transport you to Rioja. The wine beings with musty truffle nuances and gains in depth and density as it breathes. We recommend letting this wine breathe and enjoying over the course of a few hours while watching how it evolves. There is less dill nuance here than some of its Haro neighbors might exhibit, and it is another classic expression from the historic bodega. Stunning once again!”
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