Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course two days. Consistent throughout but the rotundone seemed most prominent on the nose, Day 1. The 2022 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe red and black fruits: mixed brambles, grilled meat, black pepper, garrigue, red and purple flowers, a touch of barnyard and a balanced mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, rich and spicy. My early assessments indicated this 2020 vintage to be a banger. It’s still early days and checking in at year five seems to confirm the trajectory. A wine of distinction. Drink now (and best with time to enjoy the transformation in the glass) and through 2050. — 2 months ago
Cork pulled out cleanly with ah so. Pours delicate cherry color. Not complex but delightful drinking. — 3 months ago
1989 vintage. Opened but not decanted. Just got a (generous) side sample of this as I was entrenched with the weekly wine rep tastings. Tasted after 30 mins and one hour after opening. Definitely bretty (as expected) for the first tastes but that mostly dissipated by the end of the glass. Light-medium body with mostly bowed tannins initially. Longer it remained in the glass, the more the tannins came out to frolic. Still plenty of structure, fruit and front-palate intrigue (usually hidden/buried by tannins). Not improving at this point but-depending on storage and/or bottle size-still more than viable and deserving of massive respect. 01.29.25. — 4 months ago
2010 is a vintage to leave to your children if you bought this at 50 years old forward. This is a 50-60 year wine with proper storage.
The nose shows nice ruby, fruits of; dark cherries, cherries, strawberries with a dark currant center, blackberries, black raspberries & raspberries. Chocolate mousse, melted, milk chocolate, light caramel, moist sage, warm, slightly sweet dark earth with withering dark & red florals.
The palate is warm, inviting & beautiful. Easy to drink. Dark cherries, cherries, strawberries with a dark currant center, blackberries, black raspberries & raspberries. Red cola/licorice, dark chocolate, melted, milk chocolate, light caramel, moist sage, warm, oak barrel shavings, moist, dark earth w/ dry leaves, celery, used leather, moist tobacco, with withering dark & red florals. Perfect acidity with an excellently balanced, nicely knitted, perfect tension & structure with elegance for days the falls evenly on ripe fruits & soft earthiness.
94-96 in another 10 years. Outside chance at 97. — 21 days ago
With a 2 hour decant (needs 3) the 2000 Lalanden has noticeable Petit Verdot and pales in comparison to its sibling the Baron in this vintage. Still a very good wine! — 2 months ago
Not a great vintage. Not getting any better either. — 3 months ago
A real office Christmas party treat. Full of grace and depth. Really enjoyable atm. Half bottle. — 5 months ago
Xmas 2024. Friends@ home — 5 months ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2012 pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Montmorency cherry, blackberry, dill, toasted coconut, olive, zatar, and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This only got better with air and might be my favorite young Tondonia since I first drank the 2006 vintage. Really good stuff already! Drink now with some patience and through 2042. — 2 months ago
Latest vintage for my drinking pleasure. — 3 months ago
A little caramel on the nose and the first part of taste was not much but opened up midpalate to finish with caramel and spices.
This was a half bottle that cost $13.79 back in the day. Had this with dessert at Le Virtú in Philly — 4 months ago
Peter van den Besselaar
Vintage 1991 | Year of birth wine | Autumn leaves, leather, cedar in smell, elegant taste. Difficult year of the April frost. Still a joy to drink, although the wine misses tension now | paired with beef loin and shitake — a month ago