'A prototype of polished and aged Rioja' - Luis Gutierrez
Rioja is a big region making a lot of wine; there are some 600 wineries here, working in a diversity of styles. Many of the most renowned vineyards lie in the lee of the Sierra de Cantabria, but there is a lot of geographic and climatic variation from east to west to north; different areas very much favour different grape varieties. It can be a confusing panorama. Yet if any one winery here has established itself as the standard bearer of classicism, it is La Rioja Alta; and the sweet spot in their range has always been Viña Ardanza.
Founded in 1890, La Rioja Alta has always been quick to adopt best new practice in winery hygiene and professionalism, but has never veered from a traditionalist winemaking model. Their wines are matured in American oak for long beyond what is required by regulation; Ardanza is a Reserva, but would easily meet the requirements to be classed as a Gran Reserva. It blends Tempranillo from the variety's homeland in Rioja Alta with Garnacha from the high, barren, stony La Pedriza vineyard in Rioja Oriental. The Tempranillo brings finesse and more floral, red fruit aromatics; the Garnacha brings structure, darker fruit and concentration.
Viña Ardanza is not made every year (they skipped 2011 when the Garnacha struggled) but 2012 saw a hot, dry vintage that has brought layers of fruit to the Tempranillo and concentration to the Garnacha. After three years of barrel aging and a further five in bottle, it is already in a glorious place, and is set to stay there for a long time; the intense bouquet packs in cherry, orange, nutmeg, incense and tobacco. The palate is satisfying and persistent, with sweet, ripe fruit lifted by the complexing acidity on the finish. Small wonder that in their November review of wines released in 2020, Decanter scored 2012 La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza higher than any other Spanish wine - and on a par with some rather grand names from elsewhere. /NT
'Garnacha is an important component in the 2012 Viña Ardanza Reserva, where it represents 20% of the blend (the rest is, of course, Tempranillo). 2011 was a difficult vintage for Garnacha, so Viña Ardanza was not produced that year and they jumped from 2010, which had the mention "Selección Especial," to 2012, where it returns to the regular Reserva. The wine is a prototype of polished and aged Rioja with a ruby color with some orange and a developed nose with subtle aromas of decayed leaves, sweet spices and some cherries in liqueur even, quite complex and harmonious. The palate is velvety but rich, with resolved tannins and a fine chalky mouthfeel, sleek and elegant, terribly balanced. The flavors are pure and defined, and there is an overall sense of harmony that I like very much. Brilliant Ardanza! They produced no less than 600,000 bottles of this wine, which is remarkable. It has been in bottle since March 2016, so it`s very approachable but should also age nicely in bottle. Drink or keep.' - 94 points, Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com, Oct 2020
Offered subject to remaining unsold; available now
