Lopez de Heredia Gravonia Crianza 2004

Michael Nielsen wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

You nailed it with that comment. Tondonia makes red that ressemble whites and whites that resemble reds.

I do not drink Tondonia everyday because it has a very marked style and I am really a variety seeker. I cellar the wines, however. Incidentally, I picked today a bottle of Tondonia Red 2002 and Bosconia Red 2004. I loved both wines in 2001 and I am cellaring quite some bottles of magnums of that vintage.

I agree that considering the relative prices of Gravonia and Tondonia whites... it makes sense to go for the Tondonia. But do not tell it very loudly because the only thing that could happen is a rise on the price of the Tondonia.

s.

I'm curious about the bosconia. Never tried it. But it is so rare I get a chance to get a tondonia, so if I have a bosconia and tondonia in front of me, I go for the T.

Michael Nielsen wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

I don't know where are you located, but I think the wines of L?pez de Heredia have quite some good distribution world wide.

I believe the production of Bosconia is one third of that of Tondonia, therefore it is scarcer.

Both of them have long aging on barrel and then in bottle (Tondonia gets 6 years in barrels and oak vats, Bosconia "only" 5 years).

Their profile is a bit different: Tondonia is normally leaner and maybe a touch more aristocratic. It can have some angular edges too (for a L?pez de Heredia). The Bosconia is usually meatier and a bit more gourmand. I would not say "burgundian" but maybe "rhonesque".

I plan to open the Tondonia 2002 and Bosconia 2004 in the next few weeks. Will report.

s.

Don't get it where I live. I buy it from Spanish Table in Berkley. Don't kn ow if that is the best price but it is available that way. I have a Spanish Table store that doesn't stock the wines but can order it.

You mean the reserves get 5-6 y? Im sure the GR gets 8-10 years. Usually av ailable after 16 years. But Maria wrote me that the Tondonia 2013 (my daugh ters year) will be available in 2033, so thats 20 years.

Speaking of Spanish wine I got a case of "Balsion" Reserva 2003, Ribera del duero. It is very good value for the price. I guess especially if you like big napa cabs (which I do), that is the wine for you. Lots of dark ripe fr uit and integrated oak. 14E per bottle is a steal of this "Big" a wine. I s ee some reviews saying it is too oaky, but to me it is just right.

know if that is the best price but it is available that way. I have a Spani sh Table store that doesn't stock the wines but can order it.

Yes, Berkeley spanish table is amazing. GRs lined up with many old vintages . I bought the GR 1078 there. I moved back to denmark, where tondonia is sc arce. The only store that has it is in copenhagen (200km from here). And th ey have only Gravonia and the red tondonia reserva 2001.

t know if that is the best price but it is available that way. I have a Spa nish Table store that doesn't stock the wines but can order it.

es. I bought the GR 1078 there. I moved back to denmark, where tondonia is scarce. The only store that has it is in copenhagen (200km from here). And they have only Gravonia and the red tondonia reserva 2001.

Just bought out all of their 1991.

Michael Nielsen wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

2001 is a great vintage for Tondonia Reserva Tinto. Go for it if available.

I noticed that there are not many entries for Denmark and Tondonia / Bosconia in winesearcher.

Tondonia is widely available in Germany, according to winesearcher, though. Does it make sense to order from across the border?

s

Michael Nielsen wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

So, this is the report on Tondonia Reserva 2002. The year was not the best, and many wines were lean, acidic and not so good in Rioja on that year. That is not the case with Tondonia Reserva. Of course, Tondonia is leaner than the average modern Rioja that tops the 14,5% alcohol nowadays.

I will say that the wine is a success in the context of the vintage. However, is less of a wine when compared to 2001, which was a fuller and more complete wine, with more fruit that you typically find in Tondonia Reserva.

2002 was very tight just opened, with a shy nose mostly on the barrel aging and an oak tannin. However, it improved a lot with air, and the last two glasses that we had 24 hours later (just with the cork, over the counter), were the best. Not fruity, but nice to drink when you want a non-intrusive wine. Went well with food.

At their website, you can find tech sheets with plenty of information on every released vintage from any wine.

I might be mistaken, but I think Tondonia was once told "6th Year" while Bosconia was called "5th year).

I have a Bosconia 2004 in the pipeline for this month.

s.

Sounds like the 2001 is better for me, as it is already pretty lean. I''l have to keep an extra eye out for Bosconia. Had the 2004 yet?

Michael Nielsen wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

Today was the day Michael,

I liked the 2004 Bosconia a lot, much more than the Tondonia 2002 of past days. Bosconia is always a bit meatier than Tondonia, which is all about elegance, and this 2004 is also that profile. You will not find jam fruit on it, it is built on bit of funky, some leather, tobbaco leaves and spices, and there is a core of fruit behind that keeps all together. In the mouth I found some tannins and the (old) oak is noticeable, but it is smooth and quite fresh at 13,5% alcohol.

It is a wine I would recommend to those that want to start drinking wines from L?pez de Heredia coming from riper profiles of wine.

At 18 euro retail price in Spain, considering is the current release of a

10 years old wine, it is a steal. Will get a case.