2015 Viña Ardanza Reserva, La Rioja Alta, Rioja, Spain
OVERVIEW
The flagship wine from La Rioja Alta is immense in any vintage but a standout in 2015. Garnering 96 Suckling points, this traditionally crafted Rioja is simply silky, delicious, long and complex. Just entering its drinking window, this wine will evolve nicely over the coming decade. Just incredible value for the price.
CRITIC REVIEWS
A rich nose of raspberry, crushed strawberry, blueberry, coconut, cedar and sweet spice. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins and fresh acidity. Creamy, balanced and layered with vibrant, spicy character. Long and polished. 80% tempranillo and 20% garnacha. Drink or hold. 96 Points. James Suckling
An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black raspberry, cherry cola, potpourri, tobacco and exotic spices, plus a smoky mineral flourish. Sweet and broad in the mouth, offering lush red and blue fruit, spicecake, mocha and coconut flavors that firm up on the back half. Finishes extremely long and spicy, with resonating florality, gently chewy tannins and lingering oak spice notes. Drink 2024 - 2034 94 Points. Vinous
One of two vintages of Ardanza that are currently on the market, the 2015 is a cuvée of Tempranillo from Fuenmayor and Cenicero and 20% Garnacha from high altitude Tudelilla in the Rioja Oriental. Savoury and aromatic, with a slight animal note, this has raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, scented oak and sweet baking spices" Drink 2021-2027. 94 Points. Tim Atkin
FOOD PAIRING INSPIRATION
This iconic Rioja Reserva will pair well with all meat dishes however prepared. A perfect partner for lamb, however it is prepared and meaty stews.
VINTAGE AND WINEMAKING
Considered an excellent vintage by the Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator and certainly the best of the last five vintages. 2015 was a cooler recent vintage but still produced top quality fruit from lower yields.
Made from a blend of Tempranillo (78%) and Garnacho (22%) from the famous 'La Pedriza' vineyard in Tudelilla. The wine is matured for six years and racked twice, aged in 140 year old casks plus further bottle ageing. The manual harvest started in mid-October and every berry was inspected. Alcoholic fermentation took place naturally and malolactic fermentation concluded at the end of the year. In March 2016, the chosen wines were put in barrels to start aging separately: the Tempranillo, for 36 months, with six manual rackings, in American oak barrels averaging 4 years in age; the Garnacha, for 30 months, with five manual rackings, in American oak barrels with two and three wines. The final blend was bottled in September 2019.
PRODUCER NOTES
The traditionally styled Riojas of La Rioja Alta are some of the finest and best value in the world. La Rioja Alta was founded in 1890 with their three Reserva wines all names after founding members, Alberdi, Arana and Ardanza. Like LdH, La Rioja Alta owns its own vineyards and can take the excellent quality and attention to detail from the winery also into the vineyards.
The Gran Reservas, the 890 and 904 are considered two of the finest Riojas ever produced and are only created in exceptional vintages.
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SERVICE AND STORAGE TIPS
The wine will can be enjoyed today or held for several years.
This wine should be served at room temperature and stored around 12°C.
DELIVERY INFORMATION
Delivery is free when you spend over £150. For orders under this amount then a £9.99 delivery charge will be applied.
We use a tracked DPD delivery service who provide text and email tracking updates.
Every bottle sold by CoolerSomm is subject to our quality guarantee. If a wine is corked or faulty, we will replace it.
2015 Viña Ardanza Reserva, La Rioja Alta, Rioja, Spain
| Wine Card | |
| Wine Producer | La Rioja Alta |
| Wine Region | Rioja |
| Wine Classification | Rioja DO |
| Wine Type | Red |
| Grape Variety | Tempranillo |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Vintage Quality | Outstanding - Parker |
| Maturity | Drinking Now & Will Improve |
| Body | Mid-Full Bodied |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Alcohol % | 14.5% |
| Bottle Type | Bordeaux 75cl |
| Serving Temperature | 14-18°C |
| Food Pairing | Lamb, Morcilla, Cocido, Iberico |
| Awards | 96 Points - James Suckling |
| 94 Points - Vinous |
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