I found four bottle of this while rummaging around in the cellar. I
remember when I bought the case in 1990 and the price stickers were
still on the bottles at $7.99 USD. I didn't hold out much hope but I
figured that I would crack one and if it was over the hill...down the
drain they would go. To my surprise the wine was quite tasty.
Somewhat light reddish brick in color, quite clear with just a touch of
sediment on the side of the bottle. The initial nose was quite tight
but it quickly opened up to reveal warm sweet cherry notes with a fair
amount of tea and a toch of cedar. There was a pronouced floral rose
note on the nose and as the wine opened after an hour it smelled very
much like old Barolo with heavy tar, tea and roses. It was light on
front palate but gained power with time in the glass. Red Cherry, a
bit of red raspberry, some nutmeg and clove spice components and a
touch of vanilla showed in the layers of flavors. The wine still had a
zingy acidity and a fair amount of fine tannic grip on the finish. I'd
give the wine a solid "B" on the Dale scale.

Good showing for a 22 yr old Reserva. You could almost just substitute
your notes for a, tasting of the '85 LyHeredia Tondonia a couple years
back! Thanks

Bi!! wrote:
> I found four bottle of this while rummaging around in the cellar. I
> remember when I bought the case in 1990 and the price stickers were
> still on the bottles at $7.99 USD. I didn't hold out much hope but I
> figured that I would crack one and if it was over the hill...down the
> drain they would go. To my surprise the wine was quite tasty.
> Somewhat light reddish brick in color, quite clear with just a touch of
> sediment on the side of the bottle. The initial nose was quite tight
> but it quickly opened up to reveal warm sweet cherry notes with a fair
> amount of tea and a toch of cedar. There was a pronouced floral rose
> note on the nose and as the wine opened after an hour it smelled very
> much like old Barolo with heavy tar, tea and roses. It was light on
> front palate but gained power with time in the glass. Red Cherry, a
> bit of red raspberry, some nutmeg and clove spice components and a
> touch of vanilla showed in the layers of flavors. The wine still had a
> zingy acidity and a fair amount of fine tannic grip on the finish. I'd
> give the wine a solid "B" on the Dale scale.

Bi!! wrote:
> I found four bottle of this while rummaging around in the cellar. I
> remember when I bought the case in 1990 and the price stickers were
> still on the bottles at $7.99 USD. I didn't hold out much hope but I
> figured that I would crack one and if it was over the hill...down the
> drain they would go. To my surprise the wine was quite tasty.
> Somewhat light reddish brick in color, quite clear with just a touch of
> sediment on the side of the bottle. The initial nose was quite tight
> but it quickly opened up to reveal warm sweet cherry notes with a fair
> amount of tea and a toch of cedar. There was a pronouced floral rose
> note on the nose and as the wine opened after an hour it smelled very
> much like old Barolo with heavy tar, tea and roses. It was light on
> front palate but gained power with time in the glass. Red Cherry, a
> bit of red raspberry, some nutmeg and clove spice components and a
> touch of vanilla showed in the layers of flavors. The wine still had a
> zingy acidity and a fair amount of fine tannic grip on the finish. I'd
> give the wine a solid "B" on the Dale scale.

I have not had much Cune Rioja Riserva in recent years, but in the past
it often lasted very long. Rioja Riserva, when carefully made in the
classic style, can last for many decades. I have one bottle of Marques
de Murrieta Castillo Ygay 1925, and it likely still is good. Quite a
few of the old Ygays could age for an exceptionally long time if the
cork did not fail first.

__________________________________

http://wineFAQ.hostexcellence.com/

On 19 Jan 2007 08:45:33 -0800, "DaleW" > wrote:

>Good showing for a 22 yr old Reserva. You could almost just substitute
>your notes for a, tasting of the '85 LyHeredia Tondonia a couple years
>back! Thanks

Tondonia is one of my fondest wine memories of my years in Spain. It
was a consistent favorite. While I got a chance to try some bigger and
considerably more expensive Riojas, the Tondonia was always reliable.

Regretably, I've never found it in the States. I assume it might be
available in the large NYC market and maybe some specialty shops in
Metro California, but it doesn't seem to make the hinterland.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

Ed Rasimus wrote:

> Tondonia is one of my fondest wine memories of my years in Spain. It
> was a consistent favorite. While I got a chance to try some bigger and
> considerably more expensive Riojas, the Tondonia was always reliable.
>
> Regretably, I've never found it in the States. I assume it might be
> available in the large NYC market and maybe some specialty shops in
> Metro California, but it doesn't seem to make the hinterland.
>

You're right, Ed: I've never seen any of the LdH stuff out here. Is
shipping to TX an issue? Or are you just not motivated enough to do it?

Mark Lipton

On Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:51:06 -0500, Mark Lipton >
wrote:

>Ed Rasimus wrote:
>
>> Tondonia is one of my fondest wine memories of my years in Spain. It
>> was a consistent favorite. While I got a chance to try some bigger and
>> considerably more expensive Riojas, the Tondonia was always reliable.
>>
>> Regretably, I've never found it in the States. I assume it might be
>> available in the large NYC market and maybe some specialty shops in
>> Metro California, but it doesn't seem to make the hinterland.
>>
>
>You're right, Ed: I've never seen any of the LdH stuff out here. Is
>shipping to TX an issue? Or are you just not motivated enough to do it?
>
>Mark Lipton

Shipping to TX hasn't been an issue since I moved here. I get stuff
from Ridge, Justin, Williams Selyem, Sam's, Zachy's and PJs without
problem. I exercise a bit of restraint in the summer months where
boiled wine could be a problem, but otherwise the stuff comes through
just fine.

Is the follow on to this a link to a source of LdH wines?

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

Ed Rasimus wrote:

> Shipping to TX hasn't been an issue since I moved here. I get stuff
> from Ridge, Justin, Williams Selyem, Sam's, Zachy's and PJs without
> problem. I exercise a bit of restraint in the summer months where
> boiled wine could be a problem, but otherwise the stuff comes through
> just fine.
>
> Is the follow on to this a link to a source of LdH wines?

PJ's and K&L both have the '98 Tondonia. For a semi-complete listing, see:

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/To...USA-/USD/A/-/0

Mark Lipton

"Bi!!" > wrote:

> I found four bottle of this while rummaging around in the
> cellar.

Just FTMOR: Was it the Imperial (bordeaux style bottle) or the
Viña Real (burgundy style bottle)?

M.

On Jan 31, 5:54�am, Michael Pronay > wrote:
> "Bi!!" > wrote:
> > I found four bottle of this while rummaging around in the
> > cellar.
>
> Just FTMOR: Was it the Imperial (bordeaux style bottle) or the
> Viña Real (burgundy style bottle)?
>
> M.

It was the Imperial style bottle.

Michael Pronay > wrote in
:

> "Bi!!" > wrote:
>
>> I found four bottle of this while rummaging around in the
>> cellar.
>
> Just FTMOR: Was it the Imperial (bordeaux style bottle) or the
> Viña Real (burgundy style bottle)?
>
> M.

Beware that CVNE also brands a CVNE bottle, in bordeaux style:

http://www.cvne.es/desarrollo/img-fi...une.Rva.00.jpg

This is the Imperial:

http://www.cvne.es/desarrollo/img-fi...A%2000%20A.jpg

And this is the Viña Real:

http://www.cvne.es/desarrollo/img-fi...va.nueva.a.jpg

Best,

S.

Santiago > wrote:

>> Just FTMOR: Was it the Imperial (bordeaux style bottle) or the
>> Viña Real (burgundy style bottle)?

> Beware that CVNE also brands a CVNE bottle, in bordeaux style:

Thanks for the info, I didn't know that. Back in the mid 1980s,
when I worked shortly for CVNE's then Austrisan importer we didn't
have this bottling (or it didn't exist at the time).

M.

The 1985's that I have are in a Bordeaux bottle.



On Feb 1, 6:45�pm, Michael Pronay > wrote:
> Santiago > wrote:
> >> Just FTMOR: Was it the Imperial (bordeaux style bottle) or the
> >> Viña Real (burgundy style bottle)?
> > Beware that CVNE also brands a CVNE bottle, in bordeaux style:
>
> Thanks for the info, I didn't know that. Back in the mid 1980s,
> when I worked shortly for CVNE's then Austrisan importer we didn't
> have this bottling (or it didn't exist at the time).
>
> M.