Viña Ardanza Reserva 2017
A great classic that’s been expertly updated
The Viña Ardanza brand was founded in 1942 and is one of the main international icons of Rioja and the wine chiefly responsible for the fame La Rioja Alta, S.A. enjoys today. Viña Ardanza Reserva 2017 comes from a vintage that ripened perfectly, making it possible to produce this very fresh red with great laying down potential. It’s been aged for a long period equivalent to that of a Gran Reserva.
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Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
20% Garnacha tinta, 80% Tempranillo
Type of barrel
American oak barrels
Type of bottle
Burgundy
Barrel aging time
36 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Total acidity (g/l)
5.3
pH
3.59
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14.5
General Information
Viña Ardanza Reserva 2017 is made from Tempranillo grapes (80%) from vines over 30 years old that grow on the La Cuesta and Montecillo estates in Fuenmayor and Cenicero. The Garnacha (20%) comes from La Pedriza in Tudelilla (Rioja Oriental), an estate with optimal conditions for cultivating this grape variety: very poor pebbly soil that yields a Garnacha packed with rich aromas and with a refined structure.
The 2017 grape harvest was marked by the historic frost of 28 April that affected some of the winery’s vineyards, but not those located in Cenicero (Tempranillo) and Tudelilla (Garnacha). Although a smaller than usual quantity of Viña Ardanza Reserva was made, ripening was perfect, making it possible to design a red with superb freshness and ageing potential owing to its high polyphenolic content.
The grapes were harvested by hand in crates and the bunches were sorted at the vineyard. They were transported to the winery in refrigerated containers and underwent optical sorting. After fermentation, the wines were aged separately: the Tempranillo for 36 months and the Garnacha for 30, both in American oak casks crafted by the winery. Twenty percent were made of new oak and the rest were three-use. Racking was carried out five times in candlelight to separate the sediments manually and avoid aggressive filtering.
Based in Haro's Station District, La Rioja Alta, S.A. has been synonymous with high quality for more than a century and is one of the creators of the classical Rioja style. Its catalogue includes some of the Rioja wines with the most awards, such as Viña Ardanza and Gran Reserva 904. These wines are faithful to a traditional style, pleasant to drink, smooth and elegant. Oblivious to changing fashions, La Rioja Alta, S.A. has only needed subtle updates to maintain its leading position as the standard-bearer of the best classical style.
Viña Ardanza Reserva 2017 (D.O.Ca. Rioja) is ideal with roast lamb, red meats, barbecues, large game, highly seasoned fish stews, and smoked and cured cheeses.
Creators' opinion
Deep cherry-red with garnet-red in the rim. Powerful nose with initial fruity aromas (cherry, blackcurrant, red plum) give way to balsamic and spicy notes (pepper, liquorice, clove, vanilla, toasted caramel and nutmeg). Fresh and balanced on the palate with fine, silky-smooth tannins. Full finish combining red fruit and spices with a lingering freshness.
The winery
La Rioja Alta, S.A., has gone down in history as one of the emblems of the best-understood Rioja classicism, a style that has brought worldwide fame to this region. From its operations center in the famous Barrio de la Estación in Haro, considered the heart of Spanish wine, this century-old company has stood for over a century as a champion of the highest quality. La Rioja Alta, S.A., has managed to evolve very well over time, introducing small changes but without breaking away, reaching today as one of the most prestigious and active winemaking companies in the country.
Despite its long and successful winemaking trajectory, La Rioja Alta, S.A., has not rested on its laurels. In 1995, it began its expansion strategy with the acquisition of Torre de Oña, also in the D.O.Ca. Rioja, a beautiful winery with vineyards surrounding the facilities, in the style of French châteaux. And already in the 21st century, it has extended its domains beyond Rioja, investing in two of the most important denominations of origin in our country: Ribera del Duero and Rías Baixas.