La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva 2016 is a premium Spanish red wine that showcases the best of Rioja wine-making. This complex and well-balanced wine is a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes that have been aged for three years in American oak barrels and a further three years in bottle before release. This gives the wine a mature and refined character, with a beautiful balance of fruit and oak flavors.
On the nose, it exhibits a fresh and spicy aroma, with notes of sweet cherries, redcurrants, and ripe strawberries complemented by hints of black pepper, sweet liquorice, nutmeg, coffee, mocha, and cinnamon. On the palate, this wine is intense and well-balanced, with a soft freshness, delicate tannins, and a silky finish that lingers with a good aftertaste.
Vina Ardanza Reserva 2016 is a perfect pairing for roasted lamb, red meats, barbecues, large game, spicy fish casseroles, smoked and aged cheeses. It is a wine that will impress both wine enthusiasts and novices alike, and is perfect for special occasions or as a gift for a wine lover. This wine is ready to drink now, but it can also be cellared for several years to come to develop further complexity and depth.
Critic Ratings
James Suckling Review - Rated 95:
Savory and complex with dried orange peel, cedar and plenty of sweet spices, walnuts, caramel, dried mushrooms and pine needles. Shows maturity here, with a medium body and superb freshness. Incredibly long finish with lots of truffle and walnut. Lasts over a minute. Very complete now, but you can still hold it.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate Review - Rated 94:
The 2016 Viña Ardanza Reserva was produced with 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha that matured in used American oak barrels for three years, where it was hand-racked from barrel to barrel six times in the case of Tempranillo and five times for the Garnacha, as it had a slightly shorter élevage of 30 months. Against all odds, I found the 2016 to be fresher than the 2015 and less developed, despite the fact that winemaker Julio Sáenz told me he considers it a warmer year. But I have found many wines I like in 2016, and the wine feels very clean and quite harmonious, younger and less developed, with more primary notes and a velvety mouthfeel.
Wine Spectator Review - Rated 93:
An intriguing red, with steeped raspberry, balsamico, dried black cherry, iron and iodine aromas and flavors. Silky on the palate and finely knit, this is a rich, medium-bodied red that offers supple tannins. A lovely example of Rioja in a more traditional style, this should open well in the decanter or with time in the cellar. Tempranillo and Garnacha. Best from 2025 through 2033. 50,000 cases made, 9,000 cases imported.
