La Rioja Alta, Viña Ardanza Reserva, Rioja, Spain, 2015

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Overview of the Wine
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. The official vintage rating was Very Good.

Grape / Blend
78% Tempranillo, 22% Garnacha

Origin
Rioja, Spain

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Garnet red, medium-high depth, with an elegant palate. The nose stands out for its power, a highly-complex blend of spicy and balsamic aromas of sweet licorice, patisserie, vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa, coffee and nutmeg, and notes of stewed red fruits. Outstanding balance, pleasant freshness and great structure in the mouth, with supple, round tannins. Very pleasant mouthfeel. An ample aftertaste of spicy notes, sweet licorice and ripe fruit makes this a timeless wine, with tremendous laying-down potential.

Pair with roast lamb, red meats, barbeques, large game, spicy fish casseroles and smoked and aged cheeses.

96 Points - James Suckling
A rich nose of raspberry, crushed strawberry, blueberry, coconut, cedar and sweet spice. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins and fresh acidity. Creamy, balanced and layered with vibrant, spicy character. Long and polished.

94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I tasted two vintages of their sleek and polished blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha, the oldest of which is the 2015 Viña Ardanza Reserva. It's a blend of 78% Tempranillo and 22% Garnacha (because they found that they needed a little more volume in the wine) from a powerful, warm and ripe year, very interesting to compare with the 2016. They consider 2015 a very good vintage; they compare it with 2001, a year when they produced all the wines. There are three wines from 2015, and there is something in common in all thee wines. The grapes were picked in mid-October and put through optical sorting to ferment followed by malolactic until the end of the year. The wine matured in used American oak barrels—the Tempranillo for 36 months with six manual rackings and the Garnacha for 30 months with five rackings.

93 Points - Decanter
Bright beacon of freshness, layers of dark cherry fruit, with hints of a bright Garnacha. Fine and soft tannin, lots of mocha and cacao. Juicy, lively, with a long finish. A model blend, excellent.

91 Points - Wine Spectator
This smooth red has a balsamic undertone, with dried cherry, herb, tobacco and anise notes mixed with sanguine and woodsy details. A refined, traditional style red. Drink now through 2030.

Product size: 750ml