AJ McClellan
La Rioja Alta has been one of my favorite Spanish producers for some time now. We had the opportunity to taste the La Rioja Alta wines last night and they were stupendous! I really enjoyed the depth and complexity these wines had to. La Rioja Alta does a great job of holding their wines until they are ready to drink – as you can see with the 2000 Reserva and 1995 Gran Reserva current releases.
The 2000 La Rioja Vina Ardanza is a great everyday drinker at only $40 a bottle. Wild berry aromas predominate, blended with hints of coconut, cinnamon, tobacco and leather. Full-bodied and well structured on the palate, with silky and enveloping tannins.
The initial aroma is both complex and powerful. On opening aromas of toast, leather and caramel mix with tones of dried prunes and fruit compote. In the mouth the wine is powerful and balanced with smooth and silky tannins coupled with a noteworthy light acidity. The aftertaste is full and very complex leaving the flavors full on the palate. Outstanding sensations are generated by its long and careful barrel ageing.