{"product_id":"la-rioja-alta-s-a-vina-ardanza-reserva-2016-rioja-6x750ml","title":"La Rioja Alta S.A. Viña Ardanza Reserva 2016, Rioja, 6x750ml","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0936\/7391\/4696\/files\/Ardanza.png?v=1774019165\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eViña Ardanza Reserva\u003c\/b\u003e from La Rioja Alta is a remarkable wine for its consistency and its quality. Yet each year it feels like there is a gradual step forward in the detail and finesse from this great producer. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eWhen Ardanza was \u003cstrong\u003efirst made back in 1942, it was labelled as a ‘Burgundy style wine’\u003c\/strong\u003e and put in the now iconic Burgundy bottle. The 2019 shows all the elegance and finesse for which Ardanza is renown, with lifted floral notes, classic spices and beautifully silky tannins. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA blend of over \u003cstrong\u003e30 year old Tempranillo (80%)\u003c\/strong\u003e grown on steep high altitude clay-limestone soils in La Cuesta (Fuenmayor) and Montecillo (Cenicero), and \u003cstrong\u003e17 year old Garnacha (20%)\u003c\/strong\u003e grown at 550 metres above sea-level in deep pebble-rich terrains in La Pedriza (Tudelilla-Rioja Oriental). This Garnacha is the key to Ardanza’s structure, aromatics, and concentration: these vines are actually higher in altitude than most of the Rioja Alta subzone, and sit on barren, free-draining soils made up with large \u003cstrong\u003epudding-stones similar to Châteauneuf-du-Pape.\u003c\/strong\u003e The area is perfectly situated to grow the finest Garnacha. These two varieties are harvested and vinified separately, ageing around three years in American oak barrels which are produced in-house by La Rioja Alta S.A.’s own cooperage. Every berry that goes into Ardanza now goes through an optical selection process to ensure the highest quality product is made. The two grapes are then matured separately in American oak (Tempranillo 36 months, and the Garnacha for 30 months). During the maturation, the wine is racked by hand and by candlelight; La Rioja Alta S.A. are one of the handful of producers still to use this traditional technique in Rioja which ensure supple tannins and the savoury flavours that so defines their style.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt is interesting to note that the wine is aged long enough to qualify as a Gran Reserva, but as La Rioja Alta already have three Gran Reservas, and in order to keep the wine at this price point, it is labelled as a Reserva.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJosh Raynolds of Vinous.com wrote recently: \u003cem\u003e“One of Rioja’s most famed bodegas, this 300-hectare estate was established in the heart of Haro in 1890. All of the vineyards are in Rioja Alta, unsurprising given the name. La Rioja Alta has a long-standing reputation for producing some of the region’s best, most traditionally made wines, across the range. \u003cstrong\u003eSolid value is the rule here, from top to bottom. The entry-level wines are among Rioja’s best values.\u003c\/strong\u003e American oak is used exclusively, and its influence on the wines can be marked, even with age. While that style isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, \u003cstrong\u003eTempranillo fans of the old Rioja school, and there are plenty of them, are loyal followers of the estate with good reason.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe wonderful thing about Rioja, of course, is that it has already been matured for us and is ready to drink on arrival, without the need for extended cellaring, though it still has the ability to age for many more years and it doesn’t shut down like Pinot Noir or Cabernet-based wines, so you can drink this now, or in 10 years, or more!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e2016 Vina Ardanza received the highest score on the Wine Advocate (94+ points) since the 2010, and at 10 years of age it is drinking brilliantly but still has many years to go!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cellar Select","offers":[{"title":"In Bond (For Storage)","offer_id":54286726463816,"sku":null,"price":130.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Duty Paid inc VAT (For UK Delivery)","offer_id":54286726496584,"sku":null,"price":179.98,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0936\/7391\/4696\/files\/LaRiojaAltaArdanza.jpg?v=1769098605","url":"https:\/\/www.cellarselect.co.uk\/products\/la-rioja-alta-s-a-vina-ardanza-reserva-2016-rioja-6x750ml","provider":"Cellar Select","version":"1.0","type":"link"}