La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva 2016
(Rioja, Spain) - [JS 95] [WA 94+] [WE 94] [TA 94] [DM 94] [WS 93]

Notes from the Winemaker:
Suitable weather allowed for excellent canopy development and plant health throughout the growing cycle, which resulted in optimal ripening balance. These magnificent conditions offered fresh, elegant wines, with an intense fruit load, very silky, balanced tannins and a remarkable aptitude for aging.

Pairing:
Roast lamb, red meats, barbecues, large game, spicy fish casseroles, smoked and aged cheeses

Vineyard, Grapes and Aging
The Tempranillo (78%) comes from 30-year-old vines in our Cuesta (Cenicero) and Montecillo (Fuenmayor) vineyards. The Garnacha (22%) is from La Pedriza in Tudelilla, Rioja Oriental, a 40-hectare estate with unbeatable conditions for growing this variety.

We started picking in mid-October. We harvested the grapes manually and took them in refrigerated vehicles to the winery where, for the first time in the brand’s history, they underwent our rigorous optical selection process, examining each and every berry. Alcoholic fermentation took place naturally and malolactic fermentation concluded at the end of the year. In March 2016, the chosen wines were put in barrels to start aging separately: the Tempranillo, for 36 months, with six manual rackings, in American oak barrels averaging 4 years in age; the Garnacha, for 30 months, with five manual rackings, in American oak barrels with two and three wines. The final blend was bottled in September 2019.

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - James Suckling:
"Savory and complex with dried orange peel, cedar and plenty of sweet spices, walnuts, caramel, dried mushrooms and pine needles. Shows maturity here, with a medium body and superb freshness. Incredibly long finish with lots of truffle and walnut. Lasts over a minute. Very complete now, but you can still hold it." (11/20/22)

94+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
The 2016 Viña Ardanza Reserva was produced with 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha that matured in used American oak barrels for three years, where it was hand-racked from barrel to barrel six times in the case of Tempranillo and five times for the Garnacha, as it had a slightly shorter élevage of 30 months. Against all odds, I found the 2016 to be fresher than the 2015 and less developed, despite the fact that winemaker Julio Sáenz told me he considers it a warmer year. But I have found many wines I like in 2016, and the wine feels very clean and quite harmonious, younger and less developed, with more primary notes and a velvety mouthfeel. Drink 2022-2032."

94 Points - Tim Atkin, MW:
"Ardanza is a traditional pan-regional Rioja that marries Tempranillo from Cenicero and Rodezno with 20% Garnacha from Tudelilla. Aged in lightly toasted American barrels, it's sweet, spicy and complex, with leather, wild strawberry and red pepper notes, fine, scented oak and the freshness of the vintage. 2024-32." (2/2023)

94 Points - Decanter Magazine:
Huge tropical fruit, coconut, vanilla spice and black fruit aromatics with a superbly concentrated palate and long, grippy, velvety finish. Superb!

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
Ruby colored to the eye, this wine has a bouquet of blackberry, saddle leather and clove. Tannins come on full-bore but are offset by vibrant acidity and bright flavors of pomegranate and red currant. Soft spice notes and a sense of earthiness linger on the taste buds.

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
An intriguing red, with steeped raspberry, balsamico, dried black cherry, iron and iodine aromas and flavors. Silky on the palate and finely knit, this is a rich, medium-bodied red that offers supple tannins. A lovely example of Rioja in a more traditional style, this should open well in the decanter or with time in the cellar. Tempranillo and Garnacha. Best from 2025 through 2033. 9,000 cases imported."