1989 (x2) & 2000 La Rioja Alta, Viña Ardanza - Rioja Reserva - 3 Bottiglie (0,75 L)

Three bottles of the classic viña Ardanza, year 1989 x 2 and 1 x 2000, reserve, impeccable condition of the three bottles, to continue the guardianship

Winemaking: The Grenache comes from old vine plots located in Ausejo and Tudelilla, Rioja Baja. The rest of the grapes come from the Viña Ardanza vineyards in Montecillo, Cenicero, and La Cuesta, Fuenmayor, as well as from small producers in Haro, Briñas, Briones, Villalba and Labastida. The first fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks for 14 days at a maximum temperature of 28 degrees. Malolactic fermentation took 21 days. It was racked into 225-litre American oak barrels, with an average age of 4 years, in March 2001. Aged for a period of 36 months, with a total of 2 manual rackings each year until bottling on 1 March 2004. It is aged for a minimum of 48 months in the cellars of the winery in Haro before being marketed.

Tasting notes: Medium-high, dark, dark, dark reddish-garnet colour. Clean, luminous. Lively, bright, orangey glints. Narrow rim, very marked with respect to the meniscus, coppery. Strong sensation of thickness.

Full-bodied, open, very expressive, with a very slight predominance of reduced red fruit to which it adds notes of fine reduction in the background (leather, cedar, blond tobacco). A tidy, solid red wine, halfway between the classic Ardanza and the current Ardanza. It has enough room to open up slowly and show greater depth. Varietal, aromatic, bringing out hints of jam and worn flowers.

On the palate it is ripe, slightly jammy, sweet, with a good amount of fruit supported by an adequate acidity and nerve that elevates the whole. Tasty, full, integrated, without edges, very round. Surprisingly well-integrated at this point. It was a perfect accompaniment to some ravioli stuffed with dupuy lentils.

An honest and more than satisfactory Reserva that seems to have already reached its peak and is drinkable in its fullness. A remarkable vintage of Ardanza although it does not seem to reach the level of 2001 or 1996. The debate about the future bottle development and life expectancy of the current Viña Ardanza is still open. There is no way of knowing what their potential is or whether they will be drinkable in 30 or 40 years' time, but we must admit that they are very enjoyable wines.