1961 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia [V94]

Producer: R. Lopez de Heredia 
Region: Rioja, Spain 
Varietal: Tempranillo 
Year: 1961  

Vinous, 94 Points 

"Medium red. A highly perfumed bouquet displays red fruit preserves, smoked meat and potpourri. Deeply pitched redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors show a slight medicinal reserve, which makes this wine seem far younger than it is. The potpourri note builds with air and carries through a long, chewy, smoky finish. Definitely let this air out for an hour or so. Incidentally, I had the chance to drink two lithe and highly fragrant bottles of the 1961 Vina Bosconia at a restaurant in San Sebastian that had been in their cellar for at least the last 20 years. If you're lucky enough to own that wine (like these older wines, it is still available from the winery) there's absolutely no reason to hold off drinking it. I couldn't hold off, twice." 

About the Producer: 

"Little about López de Heredia has changed in the more than 130 years since its founding. It occupies the same historic cellars and unlike most of their competitors, which are now owned by outside investors, López de Heredia is owned—and every detail of its operation is handled—by the family who founded it.  For over 135 years, Lopez de Heredia has made some of Rioja's finest and most distinctive wines from the Tondonia and Bosconia vineyards.  Staunch traditionalists, they are today's flag bearers for classic Rioja." 

Alcohol: 11-14% 

*Discounts do not apply to items like this one in the Fine & Rare category. Price and availability in store may vary.