Reviews
- James Suckling -
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
- Tim Atkin -
- Guia Penin -
- Wine Spectator -
- Vinous -
Technical Details
- 80% Tempranillo and 20% Grenache
- Julio Sáenz
- Spain
- La Rioja
- Rioja
- La Pedriza in Tudelilla
- American oak
- 36 Months for the Tempranillo and 30 months for the Grenache
- 14.5%
La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva Rioja 2017
33% OFF RETAIL!
This classy and classic 2017 Rioja from the historic La Rioja Alta winery is an absolute gem – especially for only $39.95! Made of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha, with 95 points to its name, this is simply a rich and polished wonder to taste. We only wish we could’ve gotten way more, so get a move on!
La Rioja Alta is one of Spain’s most magnificent estates, with a history spanning three centuries of world-class winemaking. A blend of 80% Tempranillo, with 20% Garnacha from holdings across Rioja Alta, this is a testament to the legacy La Rioja Alta has built over the centuries. They farm over 1,000 acres in Rioja alone, have their own on-site cooperage utilizing the finest American oak that is air-dried for two years, and make a handful of cuvees that are consistently impressive for their overall quality and relative value.
This 95-point wine is a testament to their storied success, and one sip is enough to confirm exactly why the critics are so completely floored by this wine. I’m particularly fond of Vinous’s remarks: “Viña Ardanza is a wine that embodies the long history of Rioja... This is a vibrant red wine with harmonious balance.” Or this from Wine Advocate: “2017 was not an easy harvest, but it produced some beautiful and classical wines, like the 2017 Viña Ardanza Reserva, which shows a little more advancement and polish and is ready to drink.” It’s true, 2017’s harvest threw some curveballs, but despite low yields, the best producers were able to produce elegant, ripe, ageable wines of great quality, as we can very well see here.
Peruse all of the glowing reviews below at your leisure, but just be sure you get some of this spectacular bottle before it is gone forever! Richly fruited and vibrant, this takes you on a wild ride from strawberries, blackberries, and figs to damp earth, warm spices, and balsamic, finishing with layers of bay leaf, licorice, and a tinge of vanilla. Dry yet smooth, with a poised balance and generous richness – this is all-in-all exceptional, I can’t stress that enough! While it lasts!
PAIRING IDEAS: Go with your favorite aged cheese – I’m thinking a nice manchego – and build an epic cheese board around it. Don’t forget marinated spicy olives and some jamón!