1995 La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva
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Tasting notes
Bottled October 1999. 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. In this era, higher yields and prices for Tempranillo meant that Garnacha was being replanted with Tempranillo. Medium garnet with a yellowish tinge to the rim. More like black fruit than red fruit on the nose. Savoury, meaty – like beef juice. Some mustiness on the mid palate but totally ripe fruit. (RH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(this is the only wine from this bodega that includes garnacha) Medium red. Wild aromas of redcurrant, cherry and plum, along with sweet tarry, vanillin oak. Juicy, firm and sharply delineated; a rather elegantly styled wine despite its grenache component, but also suppler and shapelier than the Vina Arana bottling. Enticing flavors of red fruits and oak spices. Still quite young. Finishes with lovely subtle persistence. A very strong showing.
About the producer
Based in Haro, La Rioja Alta is one of Rioja’s most famous, traditional wine producers – alongside the likes of López de Heredia, Muga and CVNE.