Winery - La Rioja Alta
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Viña Ardanza is always a lean, stripped-back Rioja, and frankly it has never been a personal favorite. The 2000 is typically tight and austere, with minty red-fruit aromas mixed with herbs and vanilla. The palate is sharp-edged, with bold acidity. Thus if it’s a citric wine with light fruit and classic zest that you want, Ardanza will please. A Europvin, Christopher Cannan selection, imported by multiple importers, including Michael Skurnik Wines.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Big and noisy for a wine with 13 years of age behind it. The bouquet mixes raisin, tobacco and leathery aromas with great results. The palate is stylish and flows nicely, with tobacco, dried fruit and tomato flavors. Excellent on the finish, with classy oak and leather. Drink now through 2015. A Europvin, Christopher Cannan selection, imported by multiple importers, including Michael Skurnik Wines.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Alberdi from La Rioja Alta is a slight throwback. The nose has more than a twinge of tomato leaf, wet clay, tobacco and raisin, but also maturity and floral notes akin to a good Burgundy. Meanwhile, the palate pitches tomato leaf, cranberry, tobacco and dried plum flavors. A little bit light and reedy by modern standards, but alluring as well. Drink now. A Europvin, Christopher Cannan selection, imported by multiple importers, including Michael Skurnik Wines.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Leaner than ideal on the nose, with hot aromas of leather, earth and peach pit. A bit sharp in flavor, showing more pie cherry and apricot than anything else. Still a classic, however, but best be prepared for tea and juice notes more than beef and brawn.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Mature. Shows browning at the rim and plenty of leafy tobacco scents. There’s some sweet vanilla and cherry fruit, but the overall impression is of a wine that has nowhere to go but down. Drink soon.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
It’s old, it’s brown, and it’s good. Not much red fruit is left in this classic, but the peach and apricot flavors are intriguing, and the lasting acidity is keeping it surprisingly fresh.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Rather thin and transparent to the eye, but that lightness doesn’t translate into it being a thin, nothing wine. Just the opposite: It’s loaded with leather, cranberry and tea aromas and brisk cherry and cranberry flavors. Some chocolate on the finish adds heft to this old-school wine that really seems to have been made to go with food.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A classic old-school Rioja in that it has strong dill aromas on a bouquet of dried fruit, leaves and flower petals. The color is fading, but the mouth is alive with raisin, plum, cinnamon and tomato flavors. The acidity is huge; will be best with food.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Traditional Rioja, the delicate cherry and orange-peel scents mingle with those brought on by long aging in American oak-vanilla, cinnamon, cream, even coconut. A lovely, mature drink.
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