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
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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.
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.
- 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
Scores
- Tim Atkin 94 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2023)
- Wine Advocate 93 (2015 vintage, reviewed 2021)