La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Rioja Reserva 2017 Rioja DOC

La Rioja Alta established in 1890 and is now recognised as one of the most important estates in Rioja. With over 400 hectares of vineyards in the best sites, giving them total control of all their fruit requirements; iconic labels, a new state of the art winery, their own cooperage, attention to detail from vineyard to the bottle has seen this old company back to the pinnacle of Riojan winemaking.

Viña Ardanza is one of the most famous labels in Rioja,  named after one of the founding families is also maybe the most elegant stemming from the high quantity of Grenache, 20% from an old, high lying, stony vineyard in the Rioja Baja. The Tempranillo and Grenache are aged separately in 4 year old American oak casks for 36 and 30 months each before being blended before bottling and further aging.

Complex and spicy, with hints of sweet cherries and blackcurrant chocolate, with notes of black pepper, tobacco, nutmeg, coffee, mocha and cinnamon; very long on the palate and also in life.