Wine: Viña Ardanza 1996 Reserva
Winery: La Rioja Alta S.A. (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha.
ABV: 13.3%
Winery: La Rioja Alta S.A. (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha.
ABV: 13.3%
Winemaking
The Garnacha is sourced from vineyards in Tudelilla, while the remaining grapes originate from the Viña Ardanza estate in Montecillo and smallholders in Haro, Briñas, Briones, Villalba, and Labastida. Primary fermentation was conducted in stainless steel tanks. The wine was racked into 225-liter American oak barriques in April 1997. It underwent an aging period of 40 months, with two traditional manual rackings performed each year. Bottled in July 2000. A minimum of 24 months of bottle aging was completed in the winery’s cellars prior to its commercial release.
The Garnacha is sourced from vineyards in Tudelilla, while the remaining grapes originate from the Viña Ardanza estate in Montecillo and smallholders in Haro, Briñas, Briones, Villalba, and Labastida. Primary fermentation was conducted in stainless steel tanks. The wine was racked into 225-liter American oak barriques in April 1997. It underwent an aging period of 40 months, with two traditional manual rackings performed each year. Bottled in July 2000. A minimum of 24 months of bottle aging was completed in the winery’s cellars prior to its commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Luminous reddish-ruby of medium depth;
clean, brilliant, and remarkably stable with no signs of sediment. It
displays copper and amber glints with a developing orange-tinted rim.
Nose: High intensity and complexity. It possesses all the hallmarks of a great "youthful" Ardanza: pipe tobacco, fine cabinetry (ebanistería),
red fruit jam, candied orange peel, and a background of cocoa powder
and aromatic, lightly roasted coffee. Open, expressive, and
well-defined, showing no initial signs of bottle reduction.
Palate:
A wine with substantial cellaring potential. It is vigorous, fresh, and
savory, packed with ripe red fruit and supported by round, "fatty"
tannins. It strikes a perfect balance between power and poise, maintaining a vibrant acidity and an unusual "nerve".
This 1996 is a superb expression of the house style that promises to
evolve significantly. These 1996s continue to surprise, showing a
quality that rivals the celebrated 1994 and 1995 vintages. A remarkable
find within the lineage of the estate's finest classics.
Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Score: 92
Tasting Group Score: 92
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