La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva 2019 (750 ml)

La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva 2019 combines Tempranillo and Garnacha from Rioja, bringing together structure, fragrant red fruit, and classic American-oak maturation. The two varieties contribute complementary weight and lift, creating a Reserva with depth and a refined traditional profile.

Cherry, redcurrant, and strawberry tones meet pepper, licorice, nutmeg, coffee, mocha, and cinnamon. The palate is intense yet balanced, with fresh acidity, elegant tannins, and a silky finish that suits roasted lamb, red meats, barbecue, game, and aged cheeses.

Critic Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck Review - Rated 96:  The subtle, balsamic, structured and elegant 2020 Viña Ardanza Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo from Rioja Alta and around 20% Garnacha from Rioja Baja. It fermented destemmed in stainless steel and aged in American oak barrels, 20% of them new, for a period of 36 months in the case of the Tempranillo and 30 months for the Garnacha, then the two wines are blended before bottling. It's a textbook example of the label, with the perfume and elegance of the Garnacha and the clout from Tempranillo. It has clean aromas and is still quite fresh, only starting its tertiary phase. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol and keeps a pH of 3.57 and 5.7 grams of acidity. It's balanced, seamless and well-built, and its tannins are mostly resolved. It should live long in bottle. 500,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2024.

James Suckling Review - Rated 95:  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.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate Review - Rated 94:  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.

Wine Spectator Review - Rated 91:  Hints of cocoa powder and anise wind through the warmed cherry, plum and fig fruit flavors on display in this plushly textured red, backed by lively acidity and lightly chewy tannins. Hints of iron and herbs linger on the finish. Tempranillo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2036.