Rioja: Bodegas Altanza
Visit a unique Rioja winery and discover Altanza, a place where wine tourism goes far beyond a tour with tastings.
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2012: best 2015 to 2027.
vintage3 yrs15 yrs17 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vinous reviewed 2021 | 2012 | 94/100 |
| Decanter reviewed 2020 | 2011 | 93/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: dried orange, white pepper, almond skin, wild herb, rosehip
Palate: blood orange, pithy citrus, savoury spice, saline
The most famous rosado in the world: barrel-aged for years, copper-coloured, savoury and saline, it drinks like a serious gastronomic white rather than a summer pink.
What it pairs with
-
Gilda pintxo
Find gilda pintxo on TableJourney →
The anchovy, olive and guindilla skewer's salt and acid mirror the rosado's saline bite. -
Anchoa fresca
Find anchoa fresca on TableJourney →
Fresh marinated anchovy and the wine's saline citrus are a Cantabrian-coast natural. -
Jamon and melon
Cured ham with melon meets the rosado's dried-orange savour. -
Paella de marisco
Saffron seafood rice finds a serious partner in this gastronomic rosado.
How to serve Vina Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a flute or tulip-shaped rosé glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Gilda pintxo, Anchoa fresca, Jamon and melon. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Lopez de Heredia ages its rosado in American oak for around four years, an almost unheard-of treatment for a pink wine, producing a savoury, age-worthy rose that has become a sommelier cult bottle.
- 1944: Barrel-aged rosado established in the Tondonia range
- 2019: Tondonia rosado becomes a global sommelier-list staple
Facts
- Producer
- R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Garnacha (60%), Tempranillo (30%), Viura (10%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 4 years in American oak barrels before release
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- EUR 30 to 55 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3 to 15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1944
Frequently asked about Vina Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva
What does Vina Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva taste like?
On the nose, dried orange, white pepper, almond skin, wild herb, rosehip. On the palate, blood orange, pithy citrus, savoury spice, saline. Structurally medium-bodied, high acidity with a long finish. The most famous rosado in the world: barrel-aged for years, copper-coloured, savoury and saline, it drinks like a serious gastronomic white rather than a summer pink.
When should I drink Vina Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva?
Drink 3 to 15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Vina Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva?
Gilda pintxo is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Anchoa fresca and Jamon and melon. The anchovy, olive and guindilla skewer's salt and acid mirror the rosado's saline bite.
Is Vina Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Vina Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva?
The blend is Garnacha (60%), Tempranillo (30%), Viura (10%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tours and tastings in Rioja
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