Viña Tondonia Blanco Reserva 2009

2009 was a very warm year, and the 2009 Viña Tondonia Blanco Reserva, produced with Viura and 10% Malvasía Riojana from vines averaging 61 years of age, shows ripe and has more evolved aromas with honeyed notes, caramel, Earl Grey tea and a volatile whiff like it's more advanced. The palate feels more complete, with the textbook pungent flavors of fungus, diesel and wet chalk, and it's lighter than what I expected for a warm and dry year. This matured in well-seasoned, neutral American oak barrels for six years. I'd drink this before the 2008. This feels ready. 15,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2018.

Intense aromas of cooked lemon, dried apple, light vanilla and stone with some waxy and lanolin character. Full-bodied with a dense, layered palate with beautiful fruit, nougat and meringue at the finish. Really opens out. Unique. Drink now.

An interesting contrast with the 2008 release, given that this was produced in a much hotter vintage, this is a more powerful, even sumptuous wine, although everything is relative at López de Heredia. Leesy, rich and savoury, with salty, nutty flavours, a hint of sourdough, subtle oak and impressive breadth. 2021-32