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This is the reason I transitioned from reviewing institutions to individual reviewers. The name Robert Parker doesn't mean a whole lot when there’s dozens of individuals with their own tastes and conceptions writing under that name. Id rather refer an individual reviewer such as yourself as a baseline to understand and build my tastes in wine.
Really appreciate your detailed texts in the description of each video as much as the videos itself. It helps so much to reference & register the facts & wines tasted!
I may have been impressionable back then, but when I was going through my WSET3 I tasted 2019 Domaine Heitz Lochardet Chassagne Montrachet Chenevottes. I remember going crazy over layers and layers of aromas, an acidity that carried through even though I kept the wine in my mouth for longer than usual. I had to leave home so I cleaned up, got ready, left home and was still savouring the wine while in the car. I've tasted nothing like that. That's my 100 points.
I've never tried the Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva but I love their other wines both white and red. Fantastic and I completely agree that they are great value for the quality they deliver
But what is perfect? What are the criteria? Who come up with those criteria? An 100 for someone can be 95 for another, maybe 90 even but that's pushing it
I first tasted a 2004 Heredia Bosconia Reserva at a wine tasting and fell in love. I have tasted both Tondonia and Bosconia Reserva over several vintages. Although special on their own, they really shine when paired with food (isn't this what a great wine supposed to do?!). I love the winery's attitude as well. Given all the technological advances in wine making, they pretty much make wine as it was done 150 years ago! Thank you for reviewing this wine, and I am sure it is well deserved.
Love your work @KonstantinBaumMasterofWine. I've had a couple of wines, the first of which changed the direction of my career. It was the 1989 Chateau d'Yquem. The next was a 1997 Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir. Tasting wines that completely knock your socks off is a rare event, and so it should be!
Was lucky enough to drink a 1954 Tondonia GR about 10 years ago. Amazingly fresh and delicate for a 60 year old wine, beautiful colour in the glass - light red in hue, not quite bricky, bright and crystal clear. A wine that was very much alive, it looked like it could handle another decade or more comfortably without much trouble -96/100 - There’s a few 98 and 99 scores I’ve given, I’ll need to keep looking for the 100 point unicorn 🍷🦄 I’ve got a 2004 Run Rig in the cellar - 99 Parker points 😂 It’ll be a nice drink, but will not be quite as alive and fresh as the 50 years older Rioja.
That Tondonia is extraordinary. Lopez de Heredia is one of my favourite producers. The only truly 100 pts wine I have tasted was the Nervi Conterno Gattinara Vigna Valferana 2016. Also opened too young, but it had unbelievable complexity, and a wine that pairs pure elegance, precision and freshness, with concentration and intensity. More finesse, lighter, than any high end barolo i've had, but still very dense and powerful as well. You can tell how incredibly precise the winemaking has been, but at the same time you never notice the hand of the winemaker. Pure perfection
This is interesting to watch. I would say that the more I've tasted wines the less I'm inclined to place a score on another person's work, artistry, and a moment in time. Having said that, there are bottles of wine that seem to have been etched into my memory because of their greatness. Some of these wines include: 2005 Didier Dagueneau Pur Sang (It changed my mind about Sauvignon Blanc in 2008) , 1976 Klosterkeller Siegendorf Pinot Blanc Trockenbeerenauslese (in 2010) , 1996 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill (changed my mind about Champagne in 2010) , 2007 Keller G-Max (2012).
So you drank Pur Sang only 3 years old and it was nice? I have one of them, and few Silex but I have feeling they require a lot of cellaring to be opened.
@@renderwood I would say that it does show it's best with age. I drank the 2005 a couple of times in the 3-6 year range and the last bottle was the best. I would suggest aging them at least 5 years and believe that the wines of Didier are still likely enjoyable, probably still profound at close to 20 years.
Very interesting. 100 points is going to be personal, and usually unavailable! Have also heard wine experts lament that the influence of Robert Parker is a mixed bag at best: causing wines from different regions to become more similar to meet RP’s criteria rather than emphasizing local styles. My 100 point wines are Napa merlots, just had a Blackbird Illustrator I loved.
Château Ausone 2010, tasted in a 6 wine comparison with the 2016 & 2000 + Chapel d’Ausone 2016, 2012 & 2010. The Ausone 2010 was so good it literally made my cry.
Amazing seeing you give 100pt and more amazing is that Tondonia still has time to evolve in the bottle, I was only able to taste some Reserva, but Rioja can make insanely good wines...cheers from Argentina!
What a video, nothing but net! And some popped corks...ex voto is a dream on my list. So cool seeing you giddy about the LdH Gran Reserva. Must have been true heaven
I agree on the Tondonia. I had it this year on Good Friday and it was delightful! The only other wine I´ve ever thought perfect was Keller Pettenthal 2018. That really was just unbelievably good.
A lot of rating systems seem too gimmicky to me for too many reasons to list, but they can be fun to debate similar to the Wine Spectator lists each year. I mainly try to focus on tasting notes and other factors.
Loved this tasting! I was wondering if you’d ever dish out a perfect score and Vina Tondonia is certainly a deserving candidate! I’ve had a few vintages of their Reserva and was amazed at how it constantly changed in the glass. Time to find a bottle of this Gran Reserva!
Wow!!!! You actually gave a 100 point score. Now after seeing and following all your videos I have no choice but to seek this one out. Glad to see the Tondonia is actually somewhat well priced. Great video as always. Cheers!!
Awesome post. I’m a huge white northern Rhône fan! Well, southern Rhône too, but the north is more my favorites. I’ve the Ex Voto, as good as it is straight out of the bottle, I found it even better the next day. Never had that Riesling, will look for it. And the two reds I very very much enjoy too. Cheers and thank you.
I have a number of unopened RP 100pt wines in my cellar ('05, '09, '10 Bordeaux), but haven't sampled any yet. Hoping that at least one of those 20 or so bottles hits it out of the park for me. But, like you, I think that it will be hard to say, "this is perfection." Still, the difference in enjoyment between 98 and 100 is more about personal mood and drinking environment than what's in the bottle.
Torbreck RunRig is one wine that I will drink the day I die. Like, if I know it is my one last chance to drink wine, it's definitely going to be RunRig. My friends had similar comment that the wine is too big and kinda in your face, but I just love the power of the wine. It's kinda wine that I'd describe it as 'vivid', almost loud. Everything in RunRig is screaming and I just am a kinda person who prefer to be in a loud environment, lol. I'm so happy to see it feature in this channel.
A 100-pt Konstantine wine must be special indeed! What do you do with all the wines you have left over from your videos? Especially the really good ones. Do you share them with friends and family that day? Use a vacuvin and drink them yourself for a couple days? Or (gasp) pour them out?
I just bought a 2001 Tondonia Gran Reserva for my recent birthday. It by far was the best wine that I’ve had in the past year! The length went on for days!! I can taste it now while thinking about it.
Whilst your credentials as a taster far outstrip mine, I certainly agree in many ways with the Tondonia GR 2004 being pretty much a perfect wine and expression of what a big but balanced Rioja should be. My only issue is that if the 2004 is a true 100 point wine we need a new classification of 100 + for the 2001 GR! 2001 Rioja has to be amongst the finest European vintages in the modern era and the Tondonia 2001 GR is even better and will tolerate cellering for many years to come!! What fantastic wines, and as Konstantin rightly notes, they seem to want to price their wines to make them available to more of the fine wine market, bravo! Great content Konstantin, thank you
@KonstantinBaumMasterofWine Love your channel. I learn a lot with it. It’d be great to have a review about Le Nez Du Vin aromas set and compare it with what you actually smell and also with other aromas set brands. That’d be amazing!
I have many concerns about the 100 point scoring system, most having to do with bias. But…this wonderful vlog touches on one of my concerns: pro reviewers generally rate on release, when most great red wines are too young. I wish some pro did ratings over time, returning to some of the same wines after a few years…and again a few years more. I realize this will never happen. But I wish it would!
The wine 100 point scale is SO different to the whisky 100 point scale. Just thought I'd share this. For those who are into whisky and wine, im sure you've noticed this too. Regardless, very interesting to see how the other half, so to speak, lives. Subscribed!
Recently drank Albert Boxler Grand Cru Brand Pinot Gris 2019… has the most incredibly and beautiful long finish. It wasn’t quite a 100 points but I reckon in 5 years it will be. According to my wines on Vivino, it has to be Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rose 2009… what a wine that is!
2009 Côte-Rôtie from Jamet is definitely out there, as well as Bollinger Grande Année 2000! Drinking Caillerets 93 from d'Angerville was also quite special since it is my birth year... very much alive after 30 years!
Really made me happy that out of all those wines, the Tondonia was the one you gave 100. I've had the 05, 07, 08, 2010, 2011, with the 07 being the best, imho. the 2010 & 2011 were too young. It's one of the most complete wines, at any price. The fact that they're really relatively affordable at this level of quality, is pretty impressive!.
I have had the pleasure of tasting a few 100 point wines but that was always years before they had the cellar time to reach their drinking windows. So I did not give them 100 point scores but was mightily impressed all the same. I must say that I see myself as much more of a curious wine drinker and also a seeker after value. Looking for value depends on your budget, of course. Someone may be king of the $12 bottles while someone else might be laboring hard in the $25-50 range. Great tasting. I can clearly see that 20 years ago I would have loved the Torbreck.
First off, thanks so much for doing this and for the 100 pts my beloved Tondonia. The idea of the original Robert Parker giving anything but the back of the hand to a dry Riesling is hilarious to me😂😂😂😂 And I’m so tired of the Australians insisting on calling Syrah, “Shiraz.” Genetically it’s the same grape. All it does is give the consumer another thing they “need to know.” A bad thing in a time when younger consumers are turning away from wine. FYI, 2007 and 2009 Tondonia on the shelves in Colorado, USA.
I realise that I have another Parker 100 point wine in my collection. It's rather special and I doubt anyone else here has it. It's the Toro Albala Don PX Convento 1946. I prefer the Valdespino Toneles but I love this too (I opened the sample phial that accompanies it). It has been sold in small batches over the years but the casks that held it are finished. We don't know how much is left. The wine itself is a legend as it was made from the first grapes harvested in Montill-Moriles after the end of the Second World War. I bought my bottle before wines like this were on the investor radar. To find a bottle now will hit you in the pocket and you also have to be aware of fakes.
A degree of subjectivity of course must come into a situation like this, so in a way it's reassuring how much concensus there is here. I'm not sure but I think my 100pt wine would be some sort of white Burgundy.. A most enjoyable film, thanks Konstantin! 🍷🌟👍
Great tasting Mr Baum, it made me want to go out and buy them all, especially the Tondonia. If you are interested in discovering wines from the Empordà region in north eastern Spain (where wine was first introduced to the Spanish peninsula by the Phoenicians 2600 years ago) then it would be my pleasure to invite you to Arrels del Vi, a wine fair showcasing the best wines local wines on the 7th & 8th of June 2025. Just give me a shout if you’re up for it!
I too, am still in search of my 100-pt wine. Have high hopes for a few in my cellar, including a bottle of The Relic (Shiraz/Viognier), but need to wait 5+ years to find out!?! lol
I just located a bottle of the 2004 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva. I've experienced other 100 point wines by other reviewers, but none that you have judged to be perfect. It should be quite an evening when the cork is extracted.
I honestly don't believe in any rating/awards system... Just like any commodity in the world, the consumer needs a benchmarking system to define a value on it (same as it happens in the stock market for those who consider wine an investment tool), but for me I just take the ratings as a guide to discover new ones which are unknown or never heard of, and I would judge them myself... Having said this, I understand the commercial need to ratings for the financial viability of the market 🍾🍷🥂 Great content Konstantin!!
1) LEUTA red wine is really close to 100. Unfortunately I don't remember exactly the vintage. 2) FOCUS 2013. 3) Beykush Arbina Rkatsiteli 2016 - The orange wine from my homeland.
The Runrig is definitely a big wine but needs to be at least 10 years old before approaching and settles considerably after a two hour decant. Love your videos from Oz. We also have a lot better Shiraz from Oz to consider trying like Henschke Hill of Grace, Standish wines, Clonakilla, Rockford, Astralis+++
Konstantin, we need you to take a trip here to TX to try out some of our wines both from Fredricksburg and there is a lovely place called the Vineyard at Florence up outside of Austin.
I really don't understand how can a 12-24 months oak-aged wine be evaluated with any seriousness less than 5 years after it's launched since it's bouquet it's still developing. So thank you Konstantin for bringing wines that have fully matured and are ripe for the corkscrew :)
2014 Dagueneau Les Clos closest to 100pts for me that I've tasted. (Found it on a restaurant list at a weirdly reasonable price. They subsequently 'corrected' that sadly.)
I guessed four out of four of your scores, based on your reactions. Does that make me a Master of Wine as well? 😜 Incredible tasting though. I did feel that you short-changed the Guigal, it sounds like a perfect wine as well. But all in all, it’s obvious that anything above 95 points is simply amazing.
Interesting that you mentioned a big red should be served at lower than room temperature. I find that most reds benefit from a slight chilling, despite the fact that every wine bar near me serves all reds at room temperature. I find them too alcoholic at the higher temperature.
The 2005 Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Premier Cru Côte de Lechet. The most perfect wine I have ever drank. That being said, every single wine I have ever had from Lopez Heredia, cheap to splurge, have all been outstanding, so no surprises here!
I didn’t know Parker had rated Runrig at 100…fwiw (nothing😳😁), there’s several in my cellar and it’s great booze; particularly the 09. Mind you, the 09 Armagh and 2010 Ringland Hoffman Shiraz are just as good; with Astralis and Rockford basket press close behind…dunno about Torbrecks Laird as it’s too expensive for me - obviously I’m Oz centric w Shiraz. Have not opened the 16’ yet…it might need another 5-10 yrs - they are renowned for their balls. Will find some tondonia. Thanks Konstantin 🤡
Tried a 94’ Chris Ringland Three Rivers in a tasting against the 1998 Grange and Hill of Grace and it was a bit of a flop - super tannic and fruit had gone, that was in 2013 - Have enjoyed other Ringland wines since then, 2010 is special vintage. Message Toro Wine & Spirits in Oz for a Tondonia stockist
This is an excellent video and very helpful. How can one know what are the good years for wine, for example, 2016 for France, Italy, and Spain, and 2017 for Argentina? Thank you
My only perfect wine sofar is the Guigal Cote Rotie La moulin 2007 (had it in 2019) and a close second Château Pichon Baron 2006 (drank it in 2022) Best riesling Ive had was a Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Trocken GG, But I havent tried that many high end German wines yet
I think it's fair to mention that the Parker network tends to score wines higher than others and that the financial incentive from being such a big and apparent commercial driver in the market is potentially very large indeed. I can't assert that money changes hands, but we do live in the real world and the implication is hardly unjustified. The more money the bigger the likelihood, and his is a network (Michelin) that potentially generates fortunes that set the recipients up for something akin to nobility for generations. Just so we're clear that there might be more to a score than what's inside the bottle, especially when that score is 100.
The only two wines I would have given a 100 point score , not that I sit there and score wines anymore. I just enjoy. but the two that always stand out to me are the 1982 Mount Mary Quintet and the 1998 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape. They are 2 wines I always remember. Luckily I still have a couple of bottles of the Telegraphe!
For me, this raises the question of whether for the first three bottles there are even other labels of the same type of wine that you'd score 100 points? I ask this specifically because part od the reasoning for the last wine seemed to have been that it is as good as it gets for such a wine. I certainly know that impression. I am just not sure whether all the famous regions etc. even hold the potential for wines that I'd score 100 points. So I'd be very interested to know: do you have a list of regions/styles etc. that for you personally have the potential of 100 point wines? And which famous regions will necessarily always fall short of such a rating in your case?
You should drink the 1990 Paul Jaboulet Aine. It’s the best wine I’ve ever drank and I have 1,000’s in my cellar. 100pts for sure. Try it. I think you’ll agree.
I struggled with the 2010 Clarendon Hills Astralis (100 PP): I couldn’t drink a second glass - the wine was so fat and extracted, it wasn’t fun to drink at all. Yikes.
Hey Konstantin! As an Aussie I was interested in your assessment of the Torbreck Runrig. I think that it is interesting that RP had preferred big wines (maybe still does) but your inclusion of white wines was a real eye opener. It was also a surprise in seeing how non-objective RPs 100 point scores were. Nevertheless, I still prefer the 100 point scale over the 20 point scale with it's +/- variations. Can you do a video on old vines versus new vines? I see a lot of winemakers bragging about how old their vines are (Veille Vignes). What do you think? It's hard to stay thirsty with such good quality at reasonable prices. Does Babbel help with Aussie slang mate? Cheers!
I always feel like Parker likes the big powerful wines. I think my pallet is closer to Konstantins I like my wines to be subtle and with loads of complexity. The powerful wines just wear my pallet out and often find your first few sips is as good as it gets. While other wines can keep revealing new complexities even 15 minutes later.
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Is this the first 100 point wine of the channel?
@@Michael-oo5gk Note: KB mentioned he's had a few, go to 1:25 of this vid ;)
This is the reason I transitioned from reviewing institutions to individual reviewers. The name Robert Parker doesn't mean a whole lot when there’s dozens of individuals with their own tastes and conceptions writing under that name. Id rather refer an individual reviewer such as yourself as a baseline to understand and build my tastes in wine.
Really appreciate your detailed texts in the description of each video as much as the videos itself. It helps so much to reference & register the facts & wines tasted!
Glad you like them!
I may have been impressionable back then, but when I was going through my WSET3 I tasted 2019 Domaine Heitz Lochardet Chassagne Montrachet Chenevottes. I remember going crazy over layers and layers of aromas, an acidity that carried through even though I kept the wine in my mouth for longer than usual. I had to leave home so I cleaned up, got ready, left home and was still savouring the wine while in the car. I've tasted nothing like that. That's my 100 points.
so you were drinking and driving...lol
@@DaneZ28 I was in the car!!
I've never tried the Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva but I love their other wines both white and red. Fantastic and I completely agree that they are great value for the quality they deliver
Totally agree!
6:07 "It sounds a little bit picky of me".
No it doesn't. A 100 points wine, in order to earn that absolute score, needs to be absolutely perfect.
But what is perfect? What are the criteria? Who come up with those criteria? An 100 for someone can be 95 for another, maybe 90 even but that's pushing it
I first tasted a 2004 Heredia Bosconia Reserva at a wine tasting and fell in love. I have tasted both Tondonia and Bosconia Reserva over several vintages. Although special on their own, they really shine when paired with food (isn't this what a great wine supposed to do?!). I love the winery's attitude as well. Given all the technological advances in wine making, they pretty much make wine as it was done 150 years ago! Thank you for reviewing this wine, and I am sure it is well deserved.
Love your work @KonstantinBaumMasterofWine. I've had a couple of wines, the first of which changed the direction of my career. It was the 1989 Chateau d'Yquem. The next was a 1997 Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir. Tasting wines that completely knock your socks off is a rare event, and so it should be!
Another great video, thanks! I also like the white sweater, makes it easy to see the color of the wine :-D
Drinking vicariously through Konstantin!
Thanks for the great content, as always. I am really enjoying to watch this video 😊
Glad you enjoy it!
I think it's awesome how your voice changes with the more tannic wines.
Clos du Caillou 2000 reserve is my 100 point wine
Was lucky enough to drink a 1954 Tondonia GR about 10 years ago. Amazingly fresh and delicate for a 60 year old wine, beautiful colour in the glass - light red in hue, not quite bricky, bright and crystal clear. A wine that was very much alive, it looked like it could handle another decade or more comfortably without much trouble -96/100 - There’s a few 98 and 99 scores I’ve given, I’ll need to keep looking for the 100 point unicorn
🍷🦄
I’ve got a 2004 Run Rig in the cellar - 99 Parker points 😂 It’ll be a nice drink, but will not be quite as alive and fresh as the 50 years older Rioja.
That Tondonia is extraordinary. Lopez de Heredia is one of my favourite producers. The only truly 100 pts wine I have tasted was the Nervi Conterno Gattinara Vigna Valferana 2016. Also opened too young, but it had unbelievable complexity, and a wine that pairs pure elegance, precision and freshness, with concentration and intensity. More finesse, lighter, than any high end barolo i've had, but still very dense and powerful as well. You can tell how incredibly precise the winemaking has been, but at the same time you never notice the hand of the winemaker. Pure perfection
This is interesting to watch. I would say that the more I've tasted wines the less I'm inclined to place a score on another person's work, artistry, and a moment in time. Having said that, there are bottles of wine that seem to have been etched into my memory because of their greatness. Some of these wines include: 2005 Didier Dagueneau Pur Sang (It changed my mind about Sauvignon Blanc in 2008) , 1976 Klosterkeller Siegendorf Pinot Blanc Trockenbeerenauslese (in 2010) , 1996 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill (changed my mind about Champagne in 2010) , 2007 Keller G-Max (2012).
So you drank Pur Sang only 3 years old and it was nice? I have one of them, and few Silex but I have feeling they require a lot of cellaring to be opened.
@@renderwood I would say that it does show it's best with age. I drank the 2005 a couple of times in the 3-6 year range and the last bottle was the best. I would suggest aging them at least 5 years and believe that the wines of Didier are still likely enjoyable, probably still profound at close to 20 years.
Love the LdH wines. All of them. Truly in a category of their own. Thanks for the excellent video & insights!
Very interesting. 100 points is going to be personal, and usually unavailable! Have also heard wine experts lament that the influence of Robert Parker is a mixed bag at best: causing wines from different regions to become more similar to meet RP’s criteria rather than emphasizing local styles. My 100 point wines are Napa merlots, just had a Blackbird Illustrator I loved.
Château Ausone 2010, tasted in a 6 wine comparison with the 2016 & 2000 + Chapel d’Ausone 2016, 2012 & 2010. The Ausone 2010 was so good it literally made my cry.
Haven't had my 100-point wine yet, but when/if I do I have a feeling it will be a confluence of great wine (of course), food and friends.
1967 D'Yguem is the only close to perfection wine I ever have had, even after tasting many 100 pointers.
Had it in March 2001 and it was likely my first 100 point wine (to me) - INSANE wine.
Amazing seeing you give 100pt and more amazing is that Tondonia still has time to evolve in the bottle, I was only able to taste some Reserva, but Rioja can make insanely good wines...cheers from Argentina!
Well, Barista Pinotage 2019 is the extraordinary wine, I enjoyed many times, really that year was a masterpiece in South Africa for that winery! 🥂
Love your Riedel Performance glass! I know you enjoyed that tasting, I really enjoyed it too!
The man is spot on. Tondonia is a great winery!
What a video, nothing but net! And some popped corks...ex voto is a dream on my list. So cool seeing you giddy about the LdH Gran Reserva. Must have been true heaven
I agree on the Tondonia. I had it this year on Good Friday and it was delightful! The only other wine I´ve ever thought perfect was Keller Pettenthal 2018. That really was just unbelievably good.
A lot of rating systems seem too gimmicky to me for too many reasons to list, but they can be fun to debate similar to the Wine Spectator lists each year.
I mainly try to focus on tasting notes and other factors.
Agreed ... anyone who starts talking points when conversing about wine ... turn around and walk away from them.
Loved this tasting! I was wondering if you’d ever dish out a perfect score and Vina Tondonia is certainly a deserving candidate! I’ve had a few vintages of their Reserva and was amazed at how it constantly changed in the glass. Time to find a bottle of this Gran Reserva!
The riesling I haven't tasted but others I have and I agree with Konstantin's ratings!
Wow!!!! You actually gave a 100 point score. Now after seeing and following all your videos I have no choice but to seek this one out. Glad to see the Tondonia is actually somewhat well priced. Great video as always. Cheers!!
Awesome post. I’m a huge white northern Rhône fan! Well, southern Rhône too, but the north is more my favorites. I’ve the Ex Voto, as good as it is straight out of the bottle, I found it even better the next day. Never had that Riesling, will look for it. And the two reds I very very much enjoy too. Cheers and thank you.
konstantin going out on a limb! not surprisingly on a rioja, at best a flower unfolding every petal in unmatched grace.
Ok.. that does it.. Tondonia riserva is one of my favorits, when ti comes to value..
Now im getting the 2004 grand riserva.. 😁
I have a number of unopened RP 100pt wines in my cellar ('05, '09, '10 Bordeaux), but haven't sampled any yet. Hoping that at least one of those 20 or so bottles hits it out of the park for me. But, like you, I think that it will be hard to say, "this is perfection." Still, the difference in enjoyment between 98 and 100 is more about personal mood and drinking environment than what's in the bottle.
It always surprises me how some white wine can be 12 abv and be so concentrated and flavourful
12:09 i thought i heard something else there 😅 Great video as always nonetheless 🍾
Torbreck RunRig is one wine that I will drink the day I die. Like, if I know it is my one last chance to drink wine, it's definitely going to be RunRig. My friends had similar comment that the wine is too big and kinda in your face, but I just love the power of the wine. It's kinda wine that I'd describe it as 'vivid', almost loud. Everything in RunRig is screaming and I just am a kinda person who prefer to be in a loud environment, lol. I'm so happy to see it feature in this channel.
A 100-pt Konstantine wine must be special indeed! What do you do with all the wines you have left over from your videos? Especially the really good ones. Do you share them with friends and family that day? Use a vacuvin and drink them yourself for a couple days? Or (gasp) pour them out?
I just bought a 2001 Tondonia Gran Reserva for my recent birthday. It by far was the best wine that I’ve had in the past year! The length went on for days!! I can taste it now while thinking about it.
Whilst your credentials as a taster far outstrip mine, I certainly agree in many ways with the Tondonia GR 2004 being pretty much a perfect wine and expression of what a big but balanced Rioja should be. My only issue is that if the 2004 is a true 100 point wine we need a new classification of 100 + for the 2001 GR! 2001 Rioja has to be amongst the finest European vintages in the modern era and the Tondonia 2001 GR is even better and will tolerate cellering for many years to come!! What fantastic wines, and as Konstantin rightly notes, they seem to want to price their wines to make them available to more of the fine wine market, bravo! Great content Konstantin, thank you
👍🏻👍🏻
(Being myself, I'd take the Riesling and be very happy!)
@KonstantinBaumMasterofWine
Love your channel. I learn a lot with it.
It’d be great to have a review about Le Nez Du Vin aromas set and compare it with what you actually smell and also with other aromas set brands. That’d be amazing!
Robert Parkers reviews consistently synced with my pallette where wine spectator especially suckling seemed to way over rater their wines
I have many concerns about the 100 point scoring system, most having to do with bias. But…this wonderful vlog touches on one of my concerns: pro reviewers generally rate on release, when most great red wines are too young. I wish some pro did ratings over time, returning to some of the same wines after a few years…and again a few years more. I realize this will never happen. But I wish it would!
Best video for a while but also love your blind tastings!! Am enjoting Puglia Fiano today, fresh walnut, could be a dry sherry!!
The wine 100 point scale is SO different to the whisky 100 point scale. Just thought I'd share this. For those who are into whisky and wine, im sure you've noticed this too. Regardless, very interesting to see how the other half, so to speak, lives. Subscribed!
Great video! My personal 100 point wines - the 1994 Taylor's vintage port and the 2018 Gitana Saperavi.
The 1994 Taylors Vintage was one of my greatest Port Experiences.
I loved the regular reserva from 2004 so much ❤
Château Cheval Blanc 1988 was the best wine I’ve ever tasted. Also rated very highly if I remember. I’m really grateful to have had that experience.
Recently drank Albert Boxler Grand Cru Brand Pinot Gris 2019… has the most incredibly and beautiful long finish. It wasn’t quite a 100 points but I reckon in 5 years it will be. According to my wines on Vivino, it has to be Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rose 2009… what a wine that is!
2009 Côte-Rôtie from Jamet is definitely out there, as well as Bollinger Grande Année 2000! Drinking Caillerets 93 from d'Angerville was also quite special since it is my birth year... very much alive after 30 years!
Really made me happy that out of all those wines, the Tondonia was the one you gave 100. I've had the 05, 07, 08, 2010, 2011, with the 07 being the best, imho. the 2010 & 2011 were too young. It's one of the most complete wines, at any price. The fact that they're really relatively affordable at this level of quality, is pretty impressive!.
He is talking about the gran reserva, though
I have had the pleasure of tasting a few 100 point wines but that was always years before they had the cellar time to reach their drinking windows. So I did not give them 100 point scores but was mightily impressed all the same. I must say that I see myself as much more of a curious wine drinker and also a seeker after value. Looking for value depends on your budget, of course. Someone may be king of the $12 bottles while someone else might be laboring hard in the $25-50 range. Great tasting. I can clearly see that 20 years ago I would have loved the Torbreck.
PLEASE more videos regarding high end wines konstantin 😍😍😍
First off, thanks so much for doing this and for the 100 pts my beloved Tondonia.
The idea of the original Robert Parker giving anything but the back of the hand to a dry Riesling is hilarious to me😂😂😂😂
And I’m so tired of the Australians insisting on calling Syrah, “Shiraz.” Genetically it’s the same grape. All it does is give the consumer another thing they “need to know.” A bad thing in a time when younger consumers are turning away from wine.
FYI, 2007 and 2009 Tondonia on the shelves in Colorado, USA.
I realise that I have another Parker 100 point wine in my collection. It's rather special and I doubt anyone else here has it. It's the Toro Albala Don PX Convento 1946. I prefer the Valdespino Toneles but I love this too (I opened the sample phial that accompanies it). It has been sold in small batches over the years but the casks that held it are finished. We don't know how much is left. The wine itself is a legend as it was made from the first grapes harvested in Montill-Moriles after the end of the Second World War. I bought my bottle before wines like this were on the investor radar. To find a bottle now will hit you in the pocket and you also have to be aware of fakes.
99 points for the 2010 Ermitage……it deserves that extra point old boy.
I had a tondonia Gran reserva 2001 with my wife and a couple of friends some time ago. Looking forward to taste the 2004 now...
A degree of subjectivity of course must come into a situation like this, so in a way it's reassuring how much concensus there is here.
I'm not sure but I think my 100pt wine would be some sort of white Burgundy..
A most enjoyable film, thanks Konstantin! 🍷🌟👍
Great tasting Mr Baum, it made me want to go out and buy them all, especially the Tondonia. If you are interested in discovering wines from the Empordà region in north eastern Spain (where wine was first introduced to the Spanish peninsula by the Phoenicians 2600 years ago) then it would be my pleasure to invite you to Arrels del Vi, a wine fair showcasing the best wines local wines on the 7th & 8th of June 2025. Just give me a shout if you’re up for it!
I think I’d like the Torbeck. I’m a big fan of big wines - too much is enough! More is more.
Hola Konstantin 😃 gracias para este video
I too, am still in search of my 100-pt wine. Have high hopes for a few in my cellar, including a bottle of The Relic (Shiraz/Viognier), but need to wait 5+ years to find out!?! lol
I just located a bottle of the 2004 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva.
I've experienced other 100 point wines by other reviewers, but none that you have judged to be perfect.
It should be quite an evening when the cork is extracted.
I honestly don't believe in any rating/awards system... Just like any commodity in the world, the consumer needs a benchmarking system to define a value on it (same as it happens in the stock market for those who consider wine an investment tool), but for me I just take the ratings as a guide to discover new ones which are unknown or never heard of, and I would judge them myself... Having said this, I understand the commercial need to ratings for the financial viability of the market 🍾🍷🥂 Great content Konstantin!!
Nice tasting. I always learn something from your videos.
Awesome, thank you!
1) LEUTA red wine is really close to 100. Unfortunately I don't remember exactly the vintage.
2) FOCUS 2013.
3) Beykush Arbina Rkatsiteli 2016 - The orange wine from my homeland.
The Runrig is definitely a big wine but needs to be at least 10 years old before approaching and settles considerably after a two hour decant. Love your videos from Oz. We also have a lot better Shiraz from Oz to consider trying like Henschke Hill of Grace, Standish wines, Clonakilla, Rockford, Astralis+++
Spain for the win!!!!
Konstantin, we need you to take a trip here to TX to try out some of our wines both from Fredricksburg and there is a lovely place called the Vineyard at Florence up outside of Austin.
I really don't understand how can a 12-24 months oak-aged wine be evaluated with any seriousness less than 5 years after it's launched since it's bouquet it's still developing.
So thank you Konstantin for bringing wines that have fully matured and are ripe for the corkscrew :)
My 100 point Parker wine is Valdespino Toneles. It's the 100 point wine by which all are judged.
100 pt wines 2020 Domaine de la Vougeraie Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot and 1996 Salon.
Are those the beautiful Riedel Performance Glasses? Or who is the wine glass maker?
Love LdH! Especially the Blanco's and the Rosado's. Have a bottle of the red tondonia gr 2004 in the cellar. Let's hope it peaks before I decline 😅
1947 ch Margaux, I drunk it on a Sunday morning and was blown away,
2014 Dagueneau Les Clos closest to 100pts for me that I've tasted. (Found it on a restaurant list at a weirdly reasonable price. They subsequently 'corrected' that sadly.)
I guessed four out of four of your scores, based on your reactions. Does that make me a Master of Wine as well? 😜
Incredible tasting though. I did feel that you short-changed the Guigal, it sounds like a perfect wine as well. But all in all, it’s obvious that anything above 95 points is simply amazing.
Well done!
Interesting that you mentioned a big red should be served at lower than room temperature. I find that most reds benefit from a slight chilling, despite the fact that every wine bar near me serves all reds at room temperature. I find them too alcoholic at the higher temperature.
The 2005 Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Premier Cru Côte de Lechet. The most perfect wine I have ever drank.
That being said, every single wine I have ever had from Lopez Heredia, cheap to splurge, have all been outstanding, so no surprises here!
Perfect, just the video I asked 😂 great video!
I didn’t know Parker had rated Runrig at 100…fwiw (nothing😳😁), there’s several in my cellar and it’s great booze; particularly the 09. Mind you, the 09 Armagh and 2010 Ringland Hoffman Shiraz are just as good; with Astralis and Rockford basket press close behind…dunno about Torbrecks Laird as it’s too expensive for me - obviously I’m Oz centric w Shiraz. Have not opened the 16’ yet…it might need another 5-10 yrs - they are renowned for their balls. Will find some tondonia. Thanks Konstantin 🤡
Tried a 94’ Chris Ringland Three Rivers in a tasting against the 1998 Grange and Hill of Grace and it was a bit of a flop - super tannic and fruit had gone, that was in 2013 - Have enjoyed other Ringland wines since then, 2010 is special vintage. Message Toro Wine & Spirits in Oz for a Tondonia stockist
@@tonyturner4602 will do thanks..not at langtons
This is an excellent video and very helpful. How can one know what are the good years for wine, for example, 2016 for France, Italy, and Spain, and 2017 for Argentina? Thank you
My only perfect wine sofar is the Guigal Cote Rotie La moulin 2007 (had it in 2019) and a close second Château Pichon Baron 2006 (drank it in 2022) Best riesling Ive had was a Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Trocken GG, But I havent tried that many high end German wines yet
I think it's fair to mention that the Parker network tends to score wines higher than others and that the financial incentive from being such a big and apparent commercial driver in the market is potentially very large indeed. I can't assert that money changes hands, but we do live in the real world and the implication is hardly unjustified. The more money the bigger the likelihood, and his is a network (Michelin) that potentially generates fortunes that set the recipients up for something akin to nobility for generations. Just so we're clear that there might be more to a score than what's inside the bottle, especially when that score is 100.
Citra Montepulciano D'Abruzzo DOC and Pepperoni Pizza 100 points every time. It's heaven on earth.
The only two wines I would have given a 100 point score , not that I sit there and score wines anymore. I just enjoy.
but the two that always stand out to me are the 1982 Mount Mary Quintet and the 1998 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape.
They are 2 wines I always remember. Luckily I still have a couple of bottles of the Telegraphe!
That's how Canucks say 'schedule'.
My 100 point wine is the 2004 Kruger Rumpf Münsterer Dautenpflänzer Riesling Spätlese
Thanks!
Thank you 🙏
I had the woodcutter and the stuie from the same vintage if the runrig is any bigger I agree may be to much for my palate
I can almost taste these based on your descriptions! What glass are you using for the Tondonia?
Riedel Performance Riesling
For me, this raises the question of whether for the first three bottles there are even other labels of the same type of wine that you'd score 100 points? I ask this specifically because part od the reasoning for the last wine seemed to have been that it is as good as it gets for such a wine. I certainly know that impression. I am just not sure whether all the famous regions etc. even hold the potential for wines that I'd score 100 points. So I'd be very interested to know: do you have a list of regions/styles etc. that for you personally have the potential of 100 point wines? And which famous regions will necessarily always fall short of such a rating in your case?
As a Spaniard, Im truly glad you gave 100 to Tondonia G.R. 🎉
Thanks for the spoiler!
Same!
F*ck youtube for showing the top comment when I never asked for it.
@@tedgunderson67sorry! 😢
@@JabadSBS I jest I jest!
You should drink the 1990 Paul Jaboulet Aine. It’s the best wine I’ve ever drank and I have 1,000’s in my cellar. 100pts for sure. Try it. I think you’ll agree.
These are my 100 point wines 2023/2024:
Molitor 2013 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** (golden capsul)
Staatsweingüter Eltville 1971 Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling TBA
Paul Hobbs 2015 Beckstoffer Dr. Krane
Robert Mondavi 1967 Cabernet Sauvignon
Giacomo Conterno 2002 Barolo Monfortino Riserva
Roederer 2008 Cristal
Kongsgaard 2014 Chardonnay The Judge
Dunn 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
Friedrich Becker 2019 Pinot Noir Hommage
Château Mouton-Rothschild 1986 Pauillac 1er Cru Classe
Kongsgaard 2016 Syrah
Federico Paternina NV Gran Reserva Blanco (from the 1920s)
Gonzales Byass 1964 Finest Dry Oloroso Sherry
I’ve had the RunRig 2016 and just found it over the top… not refined… too sweet… typical Parker 100 pt fruit bomb… fun but crass..
I struggled with the 2010 Clarendon Hills Astralis (100 PP): I couldn’t drink a second glass - the wine was so fat and extracted, it wasn’t fun to drink at all. Yikes.
Why did you scrape the hard wax after pulling out cork? Debris must have gone into the wine.
Hey Konstantin! As an Aussie I was interested in your assessment of the Torbreck Runrig. I think that it is interesting that RP had preferred big wines (maybe still does) but your inclusion of white wines was a real eye opener. It was also a surprise in seeing how non-objective RPs 100 point scores were. Nevertheless, I still prefer the 100 point scale over the 20 point scale with it's +/- variations. Can you do a video on old vines versus new vines? I see a lot of winemakers bragging about how old their vines are (Veille Vignes). What do you think? It's hard to stay thirsty with such good quality at reasonable prices. Does Babbel help with Aussie slang mate? Cheers!
I always feel like Parker likes the big powerful wines. I think my pallet is closer to Konstantins I like my wines to be subtle and with loads of complexity. The powerful wines just wear my pallet out and often find your first few sips is as good as it gets. While other wines can keep revealing new complexities even 15 minutes later.