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La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Spain 2019

La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Spain 2019

HK$338
HK$338
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Aromatic, Silky, and Wonderfully Complex

Hailing from an exceptional, officially classified "Excellent" vintage, this landmark Rioja Reserva delivers the pinnacle of traditional Spanish winemaking. A meticulous blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha, it leaps from the glass with complex aromas of wild red berries, sweet tobacco, leather, and vanilla. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and remarkably silky, balancing a vibrant line of acidity with soft, fully integrated tannins that resolve into a long, endlessly savory finish.
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Style Profile at a Glance

Attribute Profile Scale
Body Medium to Full-Bodied ●●●●●
Tannins Soft, Resolved & Satiny ●●●●●
Sweetness Dry ●●●●●
Acidity Vibrant & Refreshing ●●●●●
Fruit Wild Strawberry, Raspberry & Red Cherry ●●●●●
Oak Traditional American Oak (Fully Integrated) ●●●●●

Expert Tasting Notes & Estate Reputation

  • 95 Points – James Suckling: "This has classic Rioja aromas of cherries, dried flowers, earth, spices and orange peel. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Juicy, with opulent fruit. Drink or hold."
  • 94 Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "No 2018 was produced, so after the 2017 I tasted last year, we jumped to the 2019 Viña Ardanza Reserva, produced with a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. It fermented destemmed in stainless steel and aged in American oak barrels, 36 months for the Tempranillo and 30 months for Garnacha, and was blended before bottling. 2019 is a very good year for them, a small crop of powerful and concentrated wines when they produced all their brands, an exception. This is spicy, structured, balanced and powerful in this warm year, reaching the customary 14.5% alcohol and keeping a pH of 3.54 and 5.5 grams of acidity. It's still very young and undeveloped, with the classical profile, generous in American oak aromas and flavors that should slowly integrate in the wine with years in bottle. For them, 2019 means a change in Ardanza, less spicy (but still quite spicy, with clove, vanilla and tobacco leaves) and with more fresh fruit from the Garnacha. But the year is a modern version of 2015. 500,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2023. No 2023 or 2024 will be produced either."
  • A Legendary Rioja Benchmark: Founded in 1890, La Rioja Alta, S.A. remains one of the absolute pillars of traditional Rioja Alta winemaking. They are unique in crafting their own barrels from imported American oak, and the Viña Ardanza bottling stands globally as a benchmark for its highly consistent, elegant aging style and remarkable longevity.

Highlights

  • A classic Rioja blend consisting of 78% Tempranillo sourced from 30-year-old vines in Fuenmayor and Cenicero, and 22% Garnacha from old bush vines in Pedrejón.
  • Aged separately in house-made American oak barrels: 36 months for the Tempranillo and 30 months for the Garnacha, with manual rackings by candlelight every 6 months.
  • Grown during an exceptional growing season characterized by small, highly concentrated berries that naturally preserved pristine acidity levels.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance: Bright, clean garnet red with an elegant tawny rim.
  • Nose: Intensely fragrant and complex, showcasing dried red cherry, wild raspberry, and pomegranate fruit, layered with sweet tobacco, old cedar, vanilla bean, shredded coconut, and cinnamon spice.
  • Palate: Medium-bodied, fluid, and incredibly harmonious. Seamless flavors of stewed red plums and forest berries are propelled by a vibrant, energetic acidity. The satiny, soft tannins melt across the tongue, leading into a long, complex, and intensely savory finish layered with vanilla and dried herbs.

Serving Suggestion

  • Temperature: Serve at room temperature between 16–17°C to allow the tertiary complexities to completely bloom.
  • Decanting: A brief 20-to-30 minute decant is highly beneficial to allow the wood spices and earthy characters to integrate perfectly with the red fruit. This wine possesses an ironclad structure and is capable of cellar aging for another 15–20 years.
  • Western Pairing: An excellent matchup for slow-roasted lamb shanks, duck confit, grilled pork loin with mushroom sauce, or semi-cured Spanish cheeses like Manchego.
  • Asian & Cantonese Pairing: Traditional Rioja’s high acidity and fully resolved, silky tannins act as a perfect counterweight to savory glazes, soft poultry fats, and five-spice aromatics. It pairs flawlessly with 明炉燒鴨 (Roasted Duck), 蜜汁叉燒 (Honey-Glazed Char Siu), or 紅燒乳鴿 (Braised Roasted Pigeon).

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