La Rioja Alta, Viña Ardanza Rioja Reserva 2020
Product Information
Country Spain
Region Rioja
Grape Variety 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha
Vintage 2020
ABV 14.5%
Buy Viña Ardanza 2020, this exceptional Rioja Reserva offers the classic La Rioja Alta style in a vintage defined by aromatic intensity, concentrated fruit, freshness, and impressive ageing potential. Made from 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha, the 2020 combines traditional American-oak maturation with vibrant fruit and elegant, structured tannins.
Why Buy Viña Ardanza Reserva 2020?
Viña Ardanza is one of Rioja's most iconic Reserva wines, made by La Rioja Alta using carefully selected grapes and extended maturation in American oak. The 2020 vintage is particularly appealing for Rioja enthusiasts looking for a wine with both immediate complexity and the structure to develop further in bottle.
La Rioja Alta describes the 2020 growing season as a high-quality vintage, characterised by a long vegetative cycle and excellent phenolic ripening. The resulting wines showed great aromatic intensity and fruit concentration, together with an excellent balance between alcohol and acidity. The winery officially rates the vintage Very Good, giving it an internal score of 94 points.
This makes Viña Ardanza 2020 an excellent choice if you are looking to buy Rioja Reserva online in the UK for drinking, gifting, or adding to a wine collection.
Viña Ardanza 2020 Vintage Overview
The 2020 growing season was climatically demanding, requiring rigorous vineyard and winery management. Despite the challenges, the long growing cycle allowed the grapes to reach excellent phenolic maturity while retaining freshness.
The Tempranillo comes from La Cuesta in Fuenmayor and Montecillo in Cenicero, from vines more than 30 years old. The Garnacha comes from La Pedriza in Tudelilla in Rioja Oriental, from vines around 17 years old.
Harvesting was carried out by hand in late September, with Garnacha picked around 20 days later. After careful selection, the finest lots were transferred to American oak in April 2021. The Tempranillo spent 36 months in barrel, while the Garnacha spent 30 months, with 20% of the barrels being new. The final blend was bottled in November 2024.
Viña Ardanza 2020 Tasting Notes
In the glass, Viña Ardanza 2020 is deep, clean, and bright, with an intense cherry-red colour and garnet rim.
The nose is complex and expressive, combining candied cherry, blueberry and redcurrant with pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Layers of cedar, cocoa powder and toasted American oak add depth and the distinctive traditional Rioja character.
On the palate, the wine begins with freshness and balance before developing greater breadth through its firm yet sweet, elegant tannins. The finish is long, persistent, and complex, with the returning fruit, spice and oak creating a deep and harmonious aftertaste.
How Does 2020 Compare With Other Viña Ardanza Vintages?
The 2020 has its own personality. Whereas the highly rated 2019 vintage is celebrated for its exceptional status, the 2020 emphasises structure, aromatic intensity, freshness, and long-term development.
For shoppers deciding which Viña Ardanza vintage to buy, the 2020 is especially attractive if you prefer a more firmly structured Rioja with the concentration and acidity required for extended bottle ageing.
Wine Critics' Scores: Viña Ardanza 2020
The 2020 vintage has already attracted strong independent scores, including:
James Suckling — 95 points
Robert Parker Wine Advocate — 94 points
Wine Up — 94.77 points
La Rioja Alta internal vintage rating — 94 points
Wine Up's 2020 tasting describes intense red and stone fruit followed by balsamic notes, pepper, liquorice, clove, vanilla, toasted caramel, and nutmeg. The palate is fresh and balanced, with fine, silky tannins and a long, persistent finish.
Food Pairings for Viña Ardanza 2020
The structure and savoury complexity of this Rioja make it an excellent match for substantial dishes. Serve it with roast lamb, grilled red meats, barbecue, big game, and richly seasoned fish stews. It also works beautifully with smoked and mature cheeses.
Serve at 16–18°C to allow the fruit, spice, and oak character to develop fully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Viña Ardanza 2020 a good Rioja to buy?
A. Yes. The 2020 offers a strong combination of fruit concentration, freshness, structured tannins, and long ageing potential, with scores including 95 from James Suckling and 94 from Robert Parker Wine Advocate.
Q. What grapes are in Viña Ardanza 2020?
A. Viña Ardanza 2020 is made from 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha.
Q. How long is Viña Ardanza 2020 aged?
A. The Tempranillo spends 36 months in American oak and the Garnacha 30 months, followed by bottle maturation.
Q. What is the alcohol percentage?
A. Viña Ardanza 2020 is 14.5% ABV.
Q. When should I drink Viña Ardanza 2020?
A. It can be enjoyed now for its fruit, spice, and oak complexity, but its firm structure and balanced acidity make it particularly suitable for further bottle ageing. The producer specifically highlights its notable potential to develop greater complexity and harmony with age.
Buy Viña Ardanza 2020 Online
For anyone looking to buy La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza 2020 in the UK, this is a distinctive Rioja Reserva with outstanding provenance and classic long-aged Rioja character. It is a combination of Tempranillo and Garnacha, extended American-oak maturation, excellent freshness and impressive critic scores makes it a compelling choice for Rioja collectors and lovers of traditionally styled Spanish red wine.
