A truly iconic wine of Rioja, this represents time-honoured traditions, modern excellence and some of the greatest grape and vineyard sourcing in the world; you're in for a real treat.
This is beautifully aromatic and intensely layered with red and black fruits, perfectly laced with pepper, licorice, clove, nutmeg, vanilla and even mocha notes that lead to a simply stunning palate. There is a truly wonderful mouthfeel: really, this is a perfect balance of elegance, concentration, yielding silky tannic tension and mouth-coating deliciousness, all balanced by poised freshness and a long, satisfying finish.
It is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha, coming from 30 and 40-year-old vineyards respectively that are some of the most desirable plots in the whole region.
Ageing is in line with all of their wines and with the traditions of the Rioja faithful, using American barrels, but with the the added privilege of being able to make their own barrels on site in the winery. This Reserva ages in two different manners: the Tempranillo for 36 months and the Garnacha for 30, as they prefer a less-oaky Grenache flavour ad have to prevent the possibility of early Garnacha oxidation. 20% of the barrels are new and the wine is racked carefully during its maturation to allow for the gentle removal of sediment, thereby reducing the need for aggressive filtering at bottling.
We are very glad to be able to offer this stunning, imposing and delicious wine, which is one of the most celebrated of Rioja wines and is highly desired across the globe.
Established in 1890 the winery of La Rioja Alta began as a co-operative of five Rioja and Basque families as a vehicle for making wine from the grapes they grew. The building was strategically placed in the 'station district' of the town of Haro, where it still is today, so as to be able to transport wine to export markets with relative ease. Their first president was Doña Saturnina García Cid y Gárate and the first winemaker was a chap called Monsieur Vigier, who, like so many French winemakers, left the phylloxera-ravaged vineyards of his own land to look for winemaking opportunities in other European countries. The first Reserva made in 1890 was the predecessor of today's Gran Reserva 890. And in 1904 one of the founding members, Don Alfredo Ardanza, suggested a merger between the new La Rioja Alta winery and the other winery that he owned, Bodega Ardanza, and the structure was set for the subsequent 120 years. They celebrated that merger with a Reserva that they called 1904, which was the predecessor of today's 904 Gran Reserva, followed by the creation of this wine as a separate brand in 1942.
It is a very special bottle of wine.
It celebrates moderation and a sense of sophisticated calm akin to a deep satisfaction that comes from a position that one might take, diametrically opposed to much of the world's noise and hysteria, saying: it's ok, everything will probably be alright.
Viña Ardanza Reserva 2017 Scores
96 Points Proensa
95 Points James Suckling
94 Points Robert Parker
94 Points Tim Atkin MW
Region: Rioja Alta
Country: Spain
Grape(s): Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano, Garnacha
Style: Svelte, Soft, Smooth, Silky, Pure, Profound, Perfumed, Organic, Medium Bodied, Meditation, Iconic, Fruity, Fresh, Elegant, Complex, Bright, Balanced
Best food matches: Wild Boar, Warm Salads, Venison, Veal, Steak, St Stephen's Day, Soft Cheeses, Sausages, Salads, Roasts, Red Meats, Poultry, Mature Cheeses, Lamb, Hard Cheeses, Grills, Grilled Vegetables, Game, Fine Dining, Duck, Christmas Dinner, Cheeses, Charcuterie, Beef
Alcohol: 14.5%
