2019 Vina Ardanza from La Rioja Alta

La Rioja Alta is a benchmark producer for traditional Rioja. The best-known wine here – and one that epitomises the house style – is Vina Ardanza. We tasted the 2019 vintage of this wine in Spain last year and were extremely impressed. Rich and structured with classic vanilla and spice, this is an outstanding wine for less than £30 including VAT. 

Founded in 1890, La Rioja Alta is known for extended ageing in American oak. It is one of the few remaining Rioja houses to use 100% American oak for many of its wines, and the family takes oak very seriously indeed. They import their own wood from the US and make their barrels themselves. The wines are only released when they are ready to drink.

For Vina Ardanza, this is at around six years old. The wine consists of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnarcha, each of which is aged separately in barrel for around three years. A further three years in bottle follows. The long ageing makes for a refined tannic structure and complex aromatics.

2019 was a superlative year in Rioja, given the top rating of “excellent” by the region’s regulatory body, the Consejor Regulador. The wines are notable for their structure, balance and excellent ageing potential.

This is a top-notch vintage of one of Rioja’s best-loved wines.

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