Rioja Reserva Blanco, Vina Tondonia, R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia 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.