La Rioja Alta, Viña Ardanza Rioja 2017
Product Information
Country Spain
Region Rioja
Grape Variety 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha
Vintage 2017
ABV 14.5%
Experience the excellence of the 2017 Viña Ardanza vintage, a masterful blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha crafted in the heart of Rioja. This aged Spanish red wine is a limited-edition release with exceptional balance, freshness, and ageing potential, a true collector’s choice.
Vineyards & Grape Origins
• Tempranillo (80%): Sourced from 30+ year-old vines in La Cuesta (Cenicero) and Montecillo (Fuenmayor).
• Garnacha (20%): Grown in La Pedriza, Tudelilla (Rioja Oriental) at 550m altitude, on stony clay-limestone soils.
• All grapes are hand-harvested in small boxes with precise bunch selection for quality assurance.
Vinification & Barrel Ageing
• Grapes undergo optical sorting, followed by natural alcoholic and malolactic fermentation.
• Aged in American oak barrels:
o Tempranillo: 36 months
o Garnacha: 30 months to avoid oxidation
• 20% new oak, with 5 traditional barrel-to-barrel rackings by candlelight.
• Unfiltered and bottled in March 2021, ensuring complexity and structure.
Tasting Notes
This aged Rioja red wine reveals a vibrant cherry-red hue with garnet edges. On the nose, it opens with intense red fruit aromas, cherry, currant, and red plum, followed by balsamic and spice notes of black pepper, liquorice, vanilla, and toasted caramel. On the palate, it’s fresh, silky, and well-balanced, with a long finish combining red fruits and warm spices.
Why This Vintage Stands Out
• 97-point internal rating, considered an excellent vintage.
• Perfect ripening despite historic frost, resulting in strong polyphenolic content and long ageing potential.
• Limited production – ideal for collectors and Spanish wine enthusiasts.
Discover the timeless elegance of La Rioja Alta wines
Crafted with a perfect balance of tradition and innovation. Founded in 1890 in Haro, Spain, this historic winery produces award-winning Rioja Reserva and Gran Reserva wines that reflect over a century of expertise and passion.
Each bottle of La Rioja Alta wine tells a story, celebrating the heritage of the founding families: the Aranas, the Ardanzas, and the Alberdis. These names now grace the labels of their prestigious Reserva wines, aged meticulously in handcrafted American oak barrels made by in-house coopers.
At their state-of-the-art winery in Labastida, opened in 1996, La Rioja Alta focuses on enhancing quality and showcasing the purest expression of Tempranillo and other native Spanish grape varietals. Using sustainable vineyard practices, manual racking by candlelight, and long-term cask ageing, the winery delivers complex, structured wines that age beautifully.
Consistently recognized worldwide, La Rioja Alta was named the 4th Most Admired Wine Brand in the World by Drinks International in 2022. Order now for authentic Spanish Rioja wines aged in oak, ideal for collectors, connoisseurs, and lovers of fine red wine.
