Rioja: Bodegas Altanza
Visit a unique Rioja winery and discover Altanza, a place where wine tourism goes far beyond a tour with tastings.
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2016: best 2021 to 2041.
vintage5 yrs25 yrs27 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2023 | 2016 | 94/100 |
| Wine Advocate reviewed 2021 | 2015 | 93/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: red cherry, strawberry, vanilla, dill, dried herb
Palate: ripe red fruit, sweet spice, savoury depth, fine tannin
The house's most famous Reserva and a worldwide benchmark: Garnacha lends generous red fruit, American oak the signature dill and sweet spice, all over a fresh, savoury frame.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register. -
Roast partridge
Game finds the Garnacha-lifted Ardanza an ideal partner.
How to serve Vina Ardanza Reserva
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Vina Ardanza has been the house's signature Reserva since the 1940s, distinctive for its Garnacha component and long American-oak ageing. Certain great years are bottled as Especial selections.
- 1942: First Vina Ardanza Reserva
- 2001: 2001 Especial selection becomes a celebrated vintage
Facts
- Producer
- La Rioja Alta S.A. · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (80%), Garnacha (20%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 3 years in American oak with manual racking, then bottle ageing
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 25 to 45 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1942
Frequently asked about Vina Ardanza Reserva
What does Vina Ardanza Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red cherry, strawberry, vanilla, dill, dried herb. On the palate, ripe red fruit, sweet spice, savoury depth, fine tannin. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The house's most famous Reserva and a worldwide benchmark: Garnacha lends generous red fruit, American oak the signature dill and sweet spice, all over a fresh, savoury frame.
When should I drink Vina Ardanza Reserva?
Drink 5 to 25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Vina Ardanza Reserva?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Vina Ardanza Reserva vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Vina Ardanza Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (80%), Garnacha (20%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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