Winery: La Rioja Alta S.A. (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 81% tempranillo, 19% garnacha
ABV: 12,8% vol.
Winemaking
The Garnacha was sourced from very old vineyards in Tudelilla (Rioja Baja), while the remaining grapes came from the Viña Ardanza estate in Montecillo and small producers from Haro, Briñas, Briones, Villalba, and Labastida. The wine fermented and matured 18,000-liter oak tuns followed by 4 years of aging in seasoned American oak barrels, with a total of 9 manual rackings. Bottled directly from the barrel, not filtered, in December 1977 and January 1978. It rested for 24 months in the bottle prior to its commercial release. This is the second Viña Ardanza to be released as "Reserva Especial," a distinction shared in the 20th century only with the 1964 vintage.
Historical Context
The 1973 vintage was defined by a biting cold winter without frost damage, and a wet spring that provided essential water reserves. Despite irregular rainfall, the heat of the summer allowed for a concentration that explains the wine's remarkable vibrancy today.
Tasting notes
Appearance: Brownish-ruby
with medium intensity. Exceptionally limpid, displaying vivid reddish
highlights. Bright and pristine, it features a distinctive tawny rim
that transitions seamlessly toward the meniscus.
Nose: Medium
intensity, showing a pure profile free of initial artifice, though
marked by subtle reductive notes. It demands aeration to fully unfurl
its presence. This is a quintessential Viña Ardanza, exhibiting all the
hallmarks of the house. Remarkably fragrant and perfumed, it possesses
the poise of a truly great wine, offering layers of dried petals,
cloves, and leather, alongside aromatic herbs like lavender, sage, and
laurel. It is notably more expressive and open than other vintages. As
it evolves, it reveals concentrated notes of ripe red fruit and sloe,
framed by a refined toasted edge of freshly ground coffee, cocoa butter,
seasoned hardwoods, and tobacco leaf.
Palate: Defined
by finesse and a sense of weightlessness. It is light yet vibrant,
driven by an acidulous core, mature tannins, and sophisticated bitters.
While medium-bodied and subtle, its earthy character continuously gains
volume, releasing remarkable energy and "nerve." There is a significant
presence of spicy, evolved red fruit, showcasing the characteristic
roundness and near-sweetness of aged Garnacha. A magnificent 1973 that
captures the "Riojan Burgundy" style in a glass. This wine possesses
immense character and structural integrity, perfectly embodying the
magic of the 1973 harvest at the La Rioja Alta estate.
Personal Score: 97
Price: 180€
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