A few years ago I was incredibly fortunate to be gifted this bottle. This photo is from when it was opened in January 2022. Sadly I did not write down any tasting notes, but I would feel guilty posting this photo without giving some sort of report — what I do remember is the nose being full of wet leather and oak. Was surprisingly bright on the palate with lemon rind up front, which rather quickly gave way to dried apricots. Oxidation was present but minimal.
Most of you already know how difficult it is to find bottles of this wine (any vintage), and I am actively searching for more.
In the meantime, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a more accessible white wine of similar profile that might age this well? Preferably in the $50-60 range (or less)?
I'm located in NYC.
by -SometimesNothing-
25 Comments
If you are in NYC, and you get allocation pricing from a good shop, it will still be $60. New release is 2014 I think.
(Ask me how I know this….)
The closest substitute I can think of is Musar Blanc- that’ll be more $$$ than LdH at allocation price, but less than the usual street price.
Simone Blanc is similar (ish?), but it’s a rounder fleshier wine with less acid and more alcohol.
I think the LdH Blanco is a very special thing. Maybe pay $80-$90 if you’re desperate but please don’t pay the $150-$200 that some shops ask for the reserva.
¡Get some Amontillado or Palo Cortado Sherries, better availability and cheaper too! 😉 Oaked Merseguera from Alicante would be an affordable facsimile, IMO.
Whilst there are sensational white riojas out there, some cheaper, some more expensive, I hate to break it to you but there really isn’t anything like it. Maybe, maaaaybe some arbois chards or Swiss glacier wines. But that’s is just very very special stuff
Seconding Musar Blanc. Current release is 2018 and I think it’ll hot just right for you.
Cut the foil lower.
Another vote for Musar Blanc or Gravonia Blanco
if you can track it down (which should be possible in NYC) look for Poco do Lobo’s Arinto from Portugal. extremely long cellar aging like Lopez. should be around 60 bucks.
Suane Blanco is the answer… massively underpriced.
Some older arbois white from france maybe give you a similar profile but a little more idk, apple forward instead of what i don’t know what i’d call is forward in the tondonia… wet rock, moss, and fermented peach?
Good luck with the search!
Hijacking this post for another question, does anyone know if/where it’d be possible to taste or buy this in Haro/Bilbao?
Tondonia Reserva Blanco 1997
Aged Savennieres might scratch this itch.
If in Rioja, Olivier Rivière “Mirando al Sur”
Other bangers from Iberia:
Conreria d’Scala Dei “Les Brugueres”,
Cesar Marquez “La Salvacion”,
Nin-Ortiz and Raul Perez also craft some incredible whites, but which ones are best varies a bit with recent vintages (I’d still highly recommend checking them out).
Martinez Lacuesta, thank me later.
100% agree there’s nothing sufficiently similar, but indeed I’ve included what others have mentioned: Musar, Simone, Arbois. Though different, you could also try CVNE Monopole Classico, which adds some sherry; and if you have not yet explored good ambers from Georgia, they can also be a different and thrilling world. We had a 24 yo semillon from Kalin that had that nice oxidation going and was ethereal. And PJs a couple of years ago was selling 20 yo Cour-Cheverney bottles featuring the Romorantin grape—only $20. Don’t remember the producer, but I might try putting down any from there. Though Tondonia is our favorite white wine, I can easily be beyond happy with all these other options when it’s not around. And Gravonia is not to be disappointed with either.
I had the 1996 Blanco Gran Reserva a few months ago… Still haven’t found a white that compares
Different wine but what about a top fino such as bodega Tradicion?
Or a jura savignan?
Kalin Cellars does super late release stuff. I bet their current Chardonnay is 2000 or so. Been a while since I’ve seen a bottle anywhere but keep an eye out. Reasonably priced too
Leave New York? If you are heading north to Boston anytime soon, or South to Philly, you may be able to find it.
Probably unlikely to find it in your price range, but could be a really fun alternative aged white is old chenin. I have a few stores I like to browse for closeouts, and have really enjoyed old a few Domaine Huet I got close to wholesale cost.
Not sure if there is an alternative to this… these wines are so singular and incredible! The entry level Gravonia is definitely in the house style and easier to find. I recommend loading up on Gravonia if you can find it so you don’t feel so guilty about opening the Tondonia Blanco. They are cut from the same cloth, Gravonia being slightly fresher
Did you look on Wine-Searcher? A search shows the 2016 LdH at 67 Wine & Spirits on Colmbus for $50. It shows in stock on the website. Additionally, wine searcher shows it at Dandelion in Brooklyn for the same price.
I’ve tasted a few of the the LdH Blanca’s before and can’t really say there’s anything that really compares. They (along with all their wines) are truly something special.
Hope that helps. GL!
Edit: these are for the Gravonia crianza. Not sure if you’re married to just the Tondonia
I’ve never had a Tondonia Blanco, but Capellania is another gorgeous white Rioja. I got a bottle ages ago from Empire State of Wine on 23 st. Not sure if they still carry it but I’m sure you can find it at a good shop like that.
Agree with a lot of the takes here, but one I don’t see is aged Vouvray Sec from a good producer. For me it scratches the same itch of clean, pure, linear acidity that doesn’t fade with age along with that almost old lace/wool/dust and citrus pith character. I’ve gotten some extremely reasonably priced Domaine Vigneau Chevreau with real age on it. To me that’s the closest I’ve found.
Oh thought of another! It has nowhere near the aged characteristics but something about Scala Ciro Bianco spoke of LdH to me. $30ish, and widely available in NYC.
Bodegas Bhilar Pincha la Revilla is stylistically similair – it is more expensive however, but long aging pre-release, slightly more oxidative, with a fuller body but without losing freshness and vibrancy.
I love LDH, but think i prefer this to tondonia blanco.