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Taste Profile
Notes: Cherry Strawberry, Fig Dill Oaky Dried Fruit Tobacco
Body: Medium +
Dryness: Very Dry
Acidity:
Tannin: Medium +
Alcohol (%):
Winemaking
Origin: La Rioja, Spain
Maker: La Rioja Alta
Grape:
- Tempranillo (Aragonez, Tinta Fino, Tinta Roriz)
- Grenache (Garnacha, Cannonau)
Fermentation: Heavy Wood
Awards: >95 pts
Serving Recommendations
Decanting:
Asian Food Pairing: Chong qing grilled fish, kbbq
Western Food Pairing: Roast lamb, smoked and aged cheese
Description
La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza
La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza has an outstandingly bright, lively and intense garnet red with an incipient cherry red rim. The aroma you’ll first notice is very intense spicy, balsamic and ripe fruit notes. After swirling, aromas of black pepper, sweet liquorice, nutmeg, coffee, vanilla and cinnamon make their appearance. The flavour in the mouth is full, with pleasant acidity and balance and very polished tannins that enhance the harmonious structure. It has a complex and elegant aftertaste with spicy and balsamic hints. To enjoy right now, but with a long life ahead.
The superb condition of the grapes was remarkable in view of the unevenness resulting from that year’s drought in the region. Fortunately, their excellent condition and, particularly, the late September rains had a very positive effect on vine development, ensuring very wellbalanced berry ripening. The grapes entered the winery in magnificent condition and excellent balance of alcohol content and polyphenols.
The Tempranillo (78%) comes from 30-year-old vines in our Cuesta (Cenicero) and Montecillo (Fuenmayor) vineyards. The Garnacha (22%) comes from La Pedriza vineyard in Tudelilla (Rioja Oriental). This 70 hectare property offers unbeatable conditions for growing this variety. Its nutrient-poor soil, covered with boulders, results in great varietal typicity, rich in aromas, with a pleasant, elegant structure.
The grapes were picked and harvested manually from these plots in mid-October. They were transported to the winery in refrigerated vehicles. Alcoholic fermentation took place spontaneously. Malolactic fermentation concluded at the end of the year. In March 2013, the selected wines were put in barrels to start ageing separately: the Tempranillo for 36 months with six manual rackings, in American oak barrels averaging 4 years in age and the Garnacha for 30 months with five manual rackings, in barrels with two and three wines. The final blend was bottled in March 2016.
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14.5%
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Warming, nutty, complex Rioja with layers of fruit and a softness of dark cherry fruit on the palate. Soft tannins and elegantly poised with a long, savoury finish. *Best Spanish Red of 2020
- 93 Points
Bright ruby-red. Vibrant, spice- and mineral-accented scents of fresh red fruits, succulent herbs and spice cake are complemented by an emerging floral overtone. Juicy and pliant in the mouth, offering gently sweet raspberry, cherry cola, spice cake and rose pastille flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. In an energetic style, showing fine clarity and silky tannins that frame a long, smooth finish.