| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | Spain > Rioja |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by La Rioja Alta
A 126-year-old winery at Haro’s Barrio de la Estacion which built its success on a number of prestigious brands, Vina Ardanza being one of the most renowned. This wine is classic Rioja at its best: 80% Tempranillo grapes from Alta and 20% Garnacha from Baja, aged between 30 and 36 months in used American oak barrels and at least one year in bottle. A flagship reserva.
PBT The best classic style of Granacha and Tempranillo pulling together joyful fruit expression and serious depth. In the mouth it is amazingly complex, and unique. A benchmark Rioja blend.
SJE A rich , sweet and savoury reserve style with loads of red cherries and a strong Garnacha influence. It is somewhat old-fashioned, in a good way, with plentiful integrated oak and a fine rasp of tannin.
PM This has a wonderful oxidative style, giving it superb savoury nose of leather. It is a perfect combination of mellowness versus vigour, and at the same time exudes great finesse.
Drink 2017-2024
Vintages for Viña Ardanza seem to be going fast. It seems like yesterday that the 2001 was released and now the 2008 Viña Ardanza is already here. This is the first vintage when they have been able to use the fruit from their new Garnacha vineyards in the village of Tudelilla (Rioja Baja), La Pedriza, which represents 20% of the blend complementing the majority of Tempranillo. The wine was put in barrel in March 2009, separately; the Tempranillo was in four-year-old barrels for 36 months with six rackings, and the Garnacha in second and third use barrels for 30 months with five rackings. Vintages might go fast, but the wine does not feel too young, which was my fear. There are notes of stewed meat, cured leather, cloves, other spices and an overall balsamic character. The palate feels solid, consistent, nicely built, with abundant tannins and good balancing acidity. This should stand up to food and be able to develop in bottle.
Aromatic nose of dried strawberries and flowers follows through to a full body, soft and velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Opulent and delicious yet refined. Drink now.
Using Garnacha from the winery’s own vineyards in Tudelilla (Rioja Baja) for the first time, this is exactly what a traditional pan-regional Rioja blend should taste like, with 80% Tempranillo making up the balance. Elegant, sweet and aromatic, it’s light, refined and slightly gamey, showing the freshness of a cooler vintage. 2017-25
