Decanted 1,5 hours but could maybe have needed more time. In my opinion and based on this bottle this is starting to get into my preferred drinking window. Really nice traditional feel and taste, really happy to have several more.
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Story time: This wine has a big sentimental value to me. Drank this for the first time with my wife when we married 4 years ago and it was our "splurge" wine back then. I've had all vintages since then and explored a lot more Rioja. I was so happy when I found 2 of these at auction, the same vintage me and my wife drank on our covid lockdown honeymoon. Brought the bottle as a surprise for my wife at a BYOB restaurant we love and drank it there for our 4yr anniversary.
Now for notes! Dark ruby color with some minor bricking. The cork was in perfect condition. The newer vintages are a bit more dark fruit forward but the 2009 has started getting less fruit and more tertiary notes. Even so, you still get red cherry, strawberry and raspberry on the nose as well as the palate. Vanilla and coffee on the nose. Leather, tobacco, dill and cedar on the palate. This one was in a high acidity phase so I think it'll be better in more time. Tight tannins and a medium finish. I'll probably open my other bottle in 2029 as it's showing no sign of being over the hill. Love LRA and their entire line-up.
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still fantastic. primary lovely high acidity soft tannins gobs of fruit. phenomenal qpr at original purchase price. ardanza delivers the goods time and again
The cork crumbled a bit on the corkscrew, but was no ullage to worry me.
Wide-bottom decant for 2 hrs, tasted at room temperature in my kitchen.
N....dusty wood (cedar), ground coffee, some cigar, medium intensity only. Interesting. I liked it.
C.... Light to Medium body; red with a hint of fade on edge.
T....Did I say "Dry"? Sure did, it's dry. Beyond that it's a classy glass of wine with lovely concentrated fruit, intense flavours. Coffee, wood, molasses, liqorice, ripe fruit - there's shedloads going on, if you worked in Advertising in the 80s you'd maybe say. "it's busy". Gentle tannins, seductive mouthfeel.
Drinking very well at 14 yrs but not actually mature. Feels like it'll be a 95+ wine when mature. At 18-20 yrs?
VFM/QPR?.....I've forgotten what I paid for this yrs ago but today it feels like it's worth at least £50.00
Hm, still so big on the oak. Don't know if I'm getting just more sensitive to it or if Rioja Alta is really increasing its use of new wood, anyway this is still difficult to fully enjoy cause of the oak subduing the fruit. The quality is obvious, but the oak is very distracting. Couldn't really get over it at least today... 16.5/20
Mature Tempranillo tasting (Rioja, Ribera-del-Duero, Toro); 11/16/2023-11/17/2023: 24 hours after Beautiful old school rioja, Ardanza seem to produce some of the best wines in the world at this price point. Lots of vanilla oak and sweet fruit balanced with fresh acidity and savoury tobacco complexity. A very well balanced package drinking well already and a good few years ahead.
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Pretty close to the last one a couple of years ago, but I do think it's gotten better.
The initial sheen of resiny oak blows away with air to deliver juicy cherry, tobacco and earth. Tannins and acidity very well balanced. As you'd expect, fabulous with food. Even a bucatini Amatriciana was a great match. Drinking beautifully right now, although it could go on for years and years and develop more tertiary notes.
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Absolutely beautiful. This is ready to drink, tannins fruit and acid in perfect harmony. Notes of cedar and cherries abound in a medium long succulent finish. 94 points
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Fantastic! Bright berries, medium body, smooth, great legs, got better after 1 he decanting. Has plenty more to offer over time, but this drinks great now. Went perfectly with an assortment of empanadas.
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Perfectly in its drinking window now, no decanting needed. Lovely nose with oxidative sherry aromas and hints of malactic. Nose has forest floor, red berries, and other complex flavors. These bottles have cone around nicely.
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Last bottle and just heaven - fragrant, but not shy; smooth, but not soft; complex, but well knit. Everything comes together - the beautiful, layered red fruits, the fine tannins, subtle herbaceous oak. Delicious and probably several years left.
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Beautiful old school rioja, Ardanza seem to produce some of the best wines in the world at this price point. Lots of vanilla oak and sweet fruit balanced with fresh acidity and savoury tobacco complexity. A very well balanced package drinking well already and a good few years ahead.
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excellent Rioja at 14 years of age. nose is a bit restrained. savoury, some tabacco. it opens with some sweet spices and red fruits. Palate is warm but elegant, with a minty/coconut freshness from the american oak? ellegant and long. drinks perfectly but can be cellared a few more years with no problem
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Many colourful words could depict this classical Reserva, but why bother, its just an outstanding Reserva, period. Every time I come back to it, no matter the vintage, I am blown away by its quality. Medium garnet red colour, ruby hue. Perfumed aroma of coconuts, vanilla, spices, dried plums, hints of dried lavender, tobacco. Medium body, explosion of fragrant flavours, pronounced coconut and vanilla notes with every other promise from aroma. Stunning acidity integration together with fine tannic structure.
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Drinking well; considerable oak spice and vanillia that is nicely pressed together with red fruit and substantial acidity. Still lively and also with some mushroom and umami age. Nice intensity too.
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My comfort wine, very consistent across bottles and vintages and one I never get tired of and available at very affordable prices. All my previous tasting notes apply!
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Clear medium red. Black cherry, plum, antique shop and dill. Dry earthy black cherry flavours. The finish is quite tannic. If you like this style this is a nice wine showing lots of secondary development.
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Medium ruby with garnet rim. Very attractive nose. Cherry, vanilla, cedar, saline, flowers, a bit of dill. Nice complexity. Palate is developed, very dry, focused, tannic, oaky and demanding. Great acidity.
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Wow. Don't know if it's time or bottle variation or what, but this is so good-- much better than earlier bottles. Elegant cherry fruit, roses, and leather, with a lengthy, complex finish.
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At $33 a bottle I think this is the best QPR offering from La Rioja Alta. Love the well integrated sweet oak and dill. Great balance and length of finish. Dark and red fruits, leather, smoke.
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Clear copperish red color; 1st nose, eucalyptus and red fruits; 2nd nose, spices and roasted oak; on the palate, medium to full body with good balance of fruits and acidity. Medium to long finish. Great pairing with seared duck breast.
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This is a great bottle! Bouquet of dark fruit, mainly blackberries, vanilla and forest floor. The palate reveals more dark fruit, sour cherry, oak, leather, and a touch of spice. A great rioja has this perfect balance of acidity and oak treatment and I am finding it in this bottle tonight. Dry tannins and medium to long finish. Almost as good as a 2010 I had earlier this year.
The caveat here is that this is my 4th bottle over the last 2-3 years and none of my earlier experiences have been this good. One bottle I would have scored a 91, the others were below 90. I sourced my bottles from a couple of different vendors. But really I think this large scale producer seems to have problems ensuring consistent bottle quality.
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Continues to improve. PNP -drank over 2 nights and great on night 2 as well.
Brick red color. On nose, great mix of savory and sweet notes. Sweet cherry, leather, strawberry, mineral, and touch of dill. On palate, medium+ body, medium+ acidity, low tannins and very long finish. Flavor profile of red fruit (cranberry, cherry & strawberry - fresher than nose suggested) with some savory notes as well (mushrooms, soy, leather). Really enjoyable. 93+
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Nicely evolving 2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva ($28 in 2019). Mid-garnet, brick edges, some viscosity (13.5 alc.); red fruit, strawberry, sweet wood (American oak) nose; mid-body; softening tannins; long semi-chewy red fruit finish. w/beef stew. 16-16.5 UC Davis scale, 90-91 other scales.
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My most primary bottle in a while despite the 4 hr decant. The fruit and herbs were all dialled up with an intensity that was just a bit unforgiving. Beautifully fragrant and all the pieces were there, but this bottle was just a bit further behind the others I have had recently. The joy of seeing what a case does!
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Cherry, vanilla, dill, oakiness and a hint of licorice on the nose. On the palate, medium+ acid, sour cherry, a bit of gaminess early on, nice floral/lavender notes. Excellent wine for the money. Wish I'd bought a case of this 😁
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ME spices and dark fruits on the nose with a classic, mature rioja palate. Drinking very well now and expect this is not a wine that will improve with further aging
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Medium ruby with bricking Aromatics medium +. Prominent oak of coconut, vanilla and some dill. Sweet plums in the background Palate has medium body. Acid medium +. Tannins medium +, fine on the teeth and gums. Alcohol medium. Sweet cherry Finish ahs medium + length. Balanced Dry glass notes of oak The American oak aromatics still find me wanting this wine again and again, but they do seem to dominate. While it still has the structure to further age, I feel it is drinking well now.
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Pretty much on point to my last note. If anything the fruit feels more profound, though not necessarily more powerful. I promised myself I'd pace myself with these, but it has been very difficult to follow through on that. Clearly these are improving and gaining a wholeness in character, but they are so bloody good now that you're faced with quite the dilemma. The value here is just stunning.
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Tasted after 2001 and 2005 Ardanza. Concentrated, ripe, quite pure and lifted on the nose. On the palate bright acidity, lots of fruit, tannic grip, good depth and length. Drink or (better) keep. 91-93
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Double blind tasting Light ruby color with mild bricking and moderate rim clearing - just a beauty to look at! Medium plus aromas of cherry/ rose but really dominated by vanilla/ coconut American oak influence Medium bodied wine with palate of cherry and leather Medium plus acidity and medium alcohol with medium plus well integrated tannins and a great length Consistent with my previous experiences with this wine, my dominant impression was balance - acid, tannin, fruit, oak - just amazing! American oak notes really left me nowhere else to go than classic Rioja The fruit here was a little less dominant and possibly not quite the cellar life I had thought previously - now or 3-5 yrs
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Enjoyed by all on the night of Ida in NJ. The BBQ was delicious but a few of the guests had an adventure on the way home or once they got home. Luckily everyone was unharmed if a bit waterlogged.
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This is a wonderfully crafted wine that is aging very gracefully. Glad I have a few left. Ate with ribeye last night.
Fully consistent with previous tasting notes, that old furniture aroma that makes you almost think you have port wine in the glass is something I can't get enough of.
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Not entirely dissimilar to my last note, but it feels even more integrated and open now. Two hour decant reveals beautiful perfumed nose of dark and red fruits, tobacco and incense. Silky on the palate, there is so much expansion that happens with each sip. Manages to finely balance depth and intensity with a very light touch. Plenty of life in these, but as such a superb value it's hard to resist drinking now.
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This was lovely with a ribeye steak (with the Cheongs) tonight. The nose was really attractive, with classic Rioja notes of red cherries and dried cranberries, with the fragrant Tempranillo notes of cigarette smoke alongside the sweeter hints of garnacha, and then lifted aromas dried spice and twists of thyme and oregano. Lovely stuff. The palate was completely on point tonight, with soft velvety tannins and fresh acidity wrapped around a lovely limpid mouthful of red cherries and berries, just gently infused with notes of earthy spice and a fragrant smokiness, these trailing away into a lightly perfumed finish. Delicious right now, with a nicely juicy sweetness wed to a burgeoning complexity lent to it by a decade in the bottle. Good enough depth too - certainly more than enough to make this a lovely pairing with the beef. Yummy, and crazy QPR at its sticker price.
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Good Rioja for the price. Drank without decant. Nose of cherries, figs, tobacco, leather and tomatoes. Medium bodied, lovely supple mouth feel, good acidity and plenty of fruit, tannins are rounded and integrated with medium finish. Paired with fried liver and onions. 90 pts.
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Nice clean closure. Colour a definite brick colour for this bottle which seems a little more developed than previous bottles. Nose is very expressive on opening with a real coconut hit from the American oak. Initially a real blue cheese note although happily this seemed to blow off with oxygenation. Once the wine settled it was a very correct expression of old school Rioja Reserva - nice peppery stewed strawberry with a taut acidity and savoury umami. Nice long finish with well integrated seamless tannins giving structure but quite unobtrusive. Great expression.
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Eileen’s HS graduation. Medium ruby in the glass. Leather, dusty, cassis nose. Light/smooth tannins, tart, tart raspberries, vanilla, port, syrup. It will be the tartness and syrup that I remember, both positive. Lingers and coats in the mid- to rear-tongue. After one glass I immediate searched online to buy more bottles.
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Love the taste of dill in this wine from the American oak used. Dried red cherries, leather, tobacco, and dusty, earthy notes. At a great spot with many more years to go.
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A post-lockdown springtime bbq (The garden): Short decant. Possibly a little past its peak, with all the classic characteristics there but the balance shifting, something slightly faded. The sweet red and black fruit has receded, and the body has lightened a bit.
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Decanted for about two hours. This showed really nicely. Rich, leathery red fruit. Pretty heavy on the oak, but I didn't get any dill pickle notes. Perfect wine to accompany a tapas dinner.
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A nose of dark fruits and spices, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied red blend, with black cherry, tar, vanilla and spice on long finish. www.winelx.com
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Magnum with a very clean seal on the cork. Garnet colour with a clear rim. Nose is coconut ice with wild berry fruit. Palate is a nice stewed plum, strawberry even rhubarb fruit with lovely mellow acidity and saline undertow. Fine taffeta tannin on the finish which is long, salty and super clean.
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Nicely evolving 2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva ($28 in 2019). Mid-garnet, amber edges, viscous; bright red fruit nose; spice, pepper, American oak, cigar box nuances; some depth; long semi-tight fruity finish. w/flank steak. 16-16.5 UC Davis scale, 90-91 other scales.
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Robe : rouge pas très foncé, avec des reflets orangés assez prononcés. De belles jambes se font jour à l'agitation du verre Nez : sur le caramel; la vanille, les fruits rouge avec une prédominance sur la fraise écrasée.Puis on revient sur la vanille. En bouche : C'est vraiment très très agréable. les tanins sont fondus, mais soutenus par une belle acidité. Il n'y a pas à dire, c'est une valeur sure ! Tout le monde est conquis.
Excellent
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Our last bottle and yet again the best... This was beautiful amber colored, and transparent yet with light red, dark orange hue, which was pleasure to just look at and appreciate in the glass. On the nose it had the magical tertiary elements, yet with deep fruits, which was so poetic, and bringing back memories of our evening walks in the provence. On the palate the beautiful and inner expressive fruits, just beginning to fade away gave flavors of leather, autumn forest, slightly smokey, and with a tinge of tannin in the back bone with a slight echoing of vanilla(just the right amount) to give each sip a true pleasure. Not a blockbuster, thank goodness, but rather a gentle lad and giving us à dreamy moment of appreciation and be grateful to know these moments exist in life, even with Covid and all. Quite uplifting indeed, and shared with my wife and children at home(rather than at school) due to pandemic. Cheers,
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Aroma is typical, with dark cherry fruit, tobacco, cigar smoke soaked oak paneled basement filled with leather bound volumes.
The palate was initially overwhelmed by the resiny, sappy, woody oak, but it fell into balance on day two, revealing delicious ripe black cherry over a background of herby tobacco and dill and woody oak.
Finish is long with soft, resolved tannins.
Will revisit in a couple more years when the oak is more integrated.
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Over 2 days, for me somewhat disjointed initially, sweet, tart,oak with the acidity high & too prominent. Day 2 everything comes together in balance, decant atm to get the best, great future ahead
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This is ready to enjoy now. Opened three hours before consumption and poured into wide Cabernet glasses. Notes of berries and caramel with a floral touch. Great QPR. Enjoy!
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That is really nice, pretty and serene. Served PnP (2) 375ml, little air helped over the hour open. All liked very well. Served w/out food. Good fruit and age is showing well, medium finish, and just beautiful for the price. No rush on these, next bottle years out to try. A calm and pleasing rioja...91+
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No need to decant: PNP and let it breathe in the (wide) glass. So don't be frightened by it! Sumptuous and long. This is in the good tradition of this wine, and it is very satisfying indeed. It will of course last for quite a while yet.
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Decanted two hours. Nice aromatics, matching the palate. Sweet and tart cherry, bramble. American oak, strong dill that was more integrated day two. Leather and cigar box. Nicely balanced structure, acidity, both medium plus. Early window, this will continue to improve.
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Rather weedy fruit, yet somehow contriving to be quite a forceful wine. Dominated by vegetal oak/barrel-aged character. My palate thinks this is uncomfortably close to being faulty, whereas others might see it as being complex or "traditional". Two bottles consistent.
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Scents of berries, walnuts, and hints of earth. One of us said this tasted of black cherries and the other said bing cherries. Tasty, either way. There's a hint of something cool, like mint, on the finish.
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Anton’s Wine Tasting Notes Viña Ardanza Winery: La Rioja Alta Ltd. Varietal: Tempranillo Area/Appellation: Spain, Rioja, Rioja Alta Vintage: 2009. Price: $39 Color: Dark Ruby, very slight browning, Legs: slow Nose: Dark Cherry, Leather, Balsamic, Palate: Dark Cherry, Blueberries, Oak, Balsamic, Leather, Creamy Finish: cigar box, oak, black cherry, hint of vanilla, some sweet cherry and blue berry, leather and oak Comments: in prime drinking window great QPR. Looking to try the 2010 Selección Especial and the 2012. Pairing Suggestions: Lamb (Any), Pork dishes, Tex Mex, Paella, Manchego, Hard Sharp cheeses. Score in terms of Vintage: 92 Score for the Wine: 92 Value for the Money: excellent Date Tasted: 10/10/2020 Tasted by: ACK
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Fruit burst out off the bottle at opening. The pallate shows some lactic hints. Myabe too young at the moment . Regarding the 2005 and 2007 this wine differs in acidity backbone. I understand they use some other plots since 2008. Maybe that makes the difference. Nevertheless a great Rioja for me.
Update day 2. The lactic is gone and the bright acidity appears. Like it as useall
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Medium ruby with mild clearing at rim Aromas exploding from the glass - cherry/ blueberry/ plum and leather all wrapped up in this intense dill/ coconut American oak package Just beautifully integrated Palate is equally complex - ripe sweet and sour red cherry with balsamic/ hoisin notes almost verging into soy sauce Medium tannins and medium plus acidity and medium plus alcohol which is all well balanced Long luscious finish Delicious and well balanced - very nice now but can only improve Not sure if a $30 bottle of wine gets any better than this
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Single blind tasting Light garnet Aromatics medium +. Oak, coconut, vanilla and blue plums Palate medium +. Acid medium +. Tannins medium, fine on teeth/gums. Alcohol medium +. Black sour cherry and umami. Finish has medium + length. Balanced wine with perfectly integrated oak. The higher alcohol is matched by the fruit, acid and tannin. This seems to be a great, consistent wine. I could smell the aromatics all day, but the palate adds to the experience through contrast OK to drink now, but waiting may create something more unique.
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2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva $28. Retasting. Similar result. Mid-garnet, light amber/brick edges; old world, red fruit nose, wood, brambles; mid-body, balanced; softening acids, tannins; berry and wood finish. 16-16.5 UC Davis scale, 90-91 other scales.
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Deep ruby color. Nose of aromatic cedar, sweet red berries, pencil lead, and a touch of yogurt. Medium bodied and juicy on the palate with a long finish. Great Rioja.
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I decanted for ~90 minutes and had it with a T-Bone. Crimson in color, with just a hint of bricking. Not much sentiment in the bottle. Aroma of plum with hints of leather. The palate was plum, cherry, oak with slight tannins. Finish was a moderate length.
This is a wonderful QPR and a nice break from cabernet / zinfandel rut that I have been in the last few months :)
This is drinking great right now and I imagine would have abit of upside left!
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This 2009 drinking wonderfully. How do I love thee?, let me count the flavors on the palate; plum, dusty dried cherry, dried tobacco, American oak dill goodness, well worn leather. This wine always puts me in my Happy Place.
Longer decant this time, this bottle was especially fragrant and enticing. Gorgeous berry and plum nose with soft whiffs of tobacco, smoke, dill, and leather. There is a lithe feel to this wine while also showing a silkier, smoother side. Long, satisfying finish, this was lovely with lamb. Excellent QPR.
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A Rioja I love to drink and have rated on many occasions. Had it last night with lentil soup with ham and bacon bits added. A wonderful pairing and a huge comfort food and comfort wine experience.
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Nez : cèdre, bois de santal, épices...steak spice, petites baies rouges...très beau nez intense. En bouche : rond et souple avec des saveurs de fruits rouges mûrs et de poivre. Milieu de bouche présente un soupçon salé. Longue finale sur des notes de griottes. Harmonieux et délicieux maintenant ! Boire d'ici 2-3 ans.
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I uesd to love Riojas in the 1970s and 80s until they became too global in style and too clean and very un Rioja like. Ardanza was always a favourite with great ability to age through an excellent balancing acidity. After a few disppointments I have to say I really liked this one. Thankfully you could see through the wine which was a start. A lovely currently fruit, soft tannins if tannins at all. Good weight and length and that all important balancing acidity that keeps it fresh and aging well. Could have done with a little more of that tell tale Rioja oak but otherwise very good.
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One hour decant. Black/ruby. Deep earth and dark fruit aromas. In the mouth, complex red fruits, nice length. This is ready to enjoy now, but will probably last a bit. The 2008 and the 2010 vintages of this bottling are superior.
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Wow. Delicious and fresh. Lots of fruit with secondary notes and a hint of tertiary notes. Tons of complexity and in a real sweet spot. Paul S. nailed it. Love it. Drink up over the next three years.
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From a half bottle paired perfectly with some Spanish food, this was young, but delectable. It had a lovely Rioja nose, with some of the fragrant ashy smoke that is so typical of traditional Tempranillo, this wreathed around a lovely sweet glow of red cherries, sour plums and some savoury earth and fig peel bites, all just sprinkled with a little sweet spicy twist of American oak. Lovely stuff. The palate was still very youthfully structure, with a chew of nicely round tannins and bright, juicy acidity shaping a succulent mouthful of dark cherries and red berries, these again seasoned with a nice little bit of savoury earth and smoky spice, and then some typical dill and menthol notes, especially as the wine unfolded into a surprisingly long and wide finish. Such a yummy drop - clearly with its best years 5-10 years ahead of it, but it was so delicious even now. Great with food too.
Masterclass - MW Tasting Exam Techniques with Tan Ying Hsien MW (Zoom): Medium ruby, slight browning and fading edges, An immediate hit of coconut on the nose, as well as some redcurrants, paprika, and mint. Still a bit of tannic bite though rounded, full bodied, and intense with lots of coffee, coconut, as well as some red cherry, and then quite meaty. A very good spicy persistence. Really good wine!
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Followed the recommendation of Los 12 Glotones to try this one as well, this is a complete different showing, very much fruit driven on the nose, ripe, delicate pruns and other dark fruit, balsamic as well, herbal, on the palate quiet more singing rigth after pnp, well , honestly needs an hour to start singing, then there is ripe fruit, cuban tobaco, dried herbs, the tannin ripe and delicious, the acid pronounced but not demanding as in the 2010 bottling, more attractive at the moment, if this will turn out the best Vina Ardanza of the three vintages from 2009 to 2011, honestly I really do not know, again a fine, complex LRA showing, no fruit bomb either, the lively acid adds the freshness, around 20(+)€ in the old world, a bargain again, recommended too! **(**-?), 92- 94(+) potential
Tasted blind. First impression is a warm and dense wine with vanilla from oak treatment, there is also lots of freshness and aromas of red cherry making the mix very interesting. Clearly too young. I would keep this for another 5 years before opening.
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Acid not in balance with fruit and tannin. Where will this go? I hope the fruit will keep and acid mellow out, but who knows? hold a few years, judging by this bottle.
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Medium ruby in the glass. A lot of coconut, vanilla and dill on the nose immediately after opening, which made me worry about oak integration, but fortunately these strong oak notes evaporate very quickly with just some swirls of the glass, leaving behind beautiful, spicy cherry fruit. On the palate this vintage of Ardanza is exceptionally smooth and elegant, with very gentle tannins, some warm, spicy, candied red fruits and a heavy kick of blood orange on the medium length finish. I miss the acidic and tannic bite of the top vintages and do not think this Ardanza is one for the long haul, but it is beautiful to drink now and for the next couple of years. 17/20
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JS 96 jamessuckling.com, August 2018 Very fresh and vivid 2009 with berries, dark spice and hints of walnuts. Full-bodied, reserved and so held back and muscular, but you don’t feel the tannins and the strength. A great wine. Give it two or three years. Try in 2020-2023
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Je ne suis pas un grand fan de vin espagnol, mais je dois dire que celui-ci m'a charmé. Il démontre une certaine maturité ainsi qu'une belle complexité autant au nez qu'en bouche. Tout est bien intégré et je doute qu'il s'améliore avec le temps. Enjoy!
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A little rusty at the rim. No sediment. Elegant, complex and clean aromas that just makes you happy. Everything is integrated so not easy to differentiate. Both red fruit (cherry) and dark fruit (plum), vanilla (subtle), cedar and pepper. Very balanced. Integrated tannins and nice acidity that keeps it fresh. Long and pleasant finish. Didn’t improve from decanting but brought out some barnyard and mint aromas.
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An all time great rioja with fantastic balance and excellent p/q ratio. I had few bottles of 2001/2004/2005. Now 2009 is in best tradition and style.
My favoirite was the 2004 with great elegance and complexity and little more expressive fruit. As always a hallmark of the long vinification process with american oak touch and good harmony. Nose, palate, length, salivation and power in fine balance. Malt candies with vanilla and very dark cherries and a little plum delight the nose. Fine acidity with medium fine body and good length. Ends up with liquorice and a little balsamico touched cherries. Great(best)producer for affordable sophisticated harmonious classical elegant balanced Rioja. Already bought 2010.
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Didn't do much for me initially, but after a couple days under vacuum seal in the fridge it came alive. Red fruit, earthiness, and pickle. Normally I don't care for that pickle note, but here it worked. 91 on the last day.
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Served with grilled flat iron steak. Have enjoyed several bottles of this vintage of LRA Ardanza and I think it is one of the better Riojas in the market place and a great value. Look forward to drinking this vintage over the next 10 years or so.
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Day 1: Pop and pour and excellent! Perfumed wine featuring wood, mild dill, raspberries, strawberries, minerals and dried herbs. Medium to long finish and nice acidity. This is a winner! 93 points Day 2: Good but not quite the intensity of day 1. Dill, wood, dried herbs, earth and minerals. Medium plus finish. 91 points Day 3: For sure this is a pop and pour wine. I like it but compared to day 1 not nearly as good. Lacks the fruit from day 1. 90 points Recommendation: Normally I find the Ardanza gets even better on day 2 and 3 but not this vintage. I would drink these on the younger side through 2024. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REJa2hUndtQ
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Pleasantly youthful with emerging complexity. Fragrant red berries and plums with whispers of pipe tobacco and spice. There is some density here, but also restraint. Rather fine tannin and good acid backbone. Definitely will enjoy watching these emerge over the next 10 years, but they are delicious now with a few hours in the decanter.
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Classy red, not mature but drinking really well; complex and interesting, a lovely glass. Worth every penny, in fact an 11 year old Reserva from the quality outfit that is La Rioja Alta for this price is a bit of a bargain.
C.....fading red, beginning of brick red/brown. Medium+ body. Lots of legs on glass , 13.5% alc
T.....lovely heavenly coffee, mocha, sweet toasted and dusty oak, liqourice, burnt sugar, bitter choc, medium+ intensity, nice length, full of charm; leathery; long warm flavours; not especially dry, gentle tannins; cellar another 5 yrs at least.
VFM?.....worth every penny - and more, esp' as it is 11 yrs old available off the shelf. Feels like £35 wine.
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Forgot to write a note at the time, however this was a very pleasurable wine. I have 07s and 08s too but the 09s are the best of the three vintages from my perspective. Very easy to drink, balanced, good fruit flavours from memory.
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This is a perennial favourite of mine. It’s light and ethereal on the tongue and is so fabulously integrated that it challenges you not to descend into descriptions of roses, leather, cedar, raspberries or what have you, even though those are all present. It’s seamless. The alcohol is light. While not a deep or particularly complex wine it gives great pleasure to drink.
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Attractive and complex nose of currants and sweet oak. Mild and fully mature, very nice concentration and balance, hidden alcohol and acidity. Drinking alone gives pleasure but will work with food. Excellent.
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Lovely drinking at the moment - somehow more integrated than earlier vintages. Drank at Christmas lunch, so somewhat overwhelmed by the food and family chatter.
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My third bottle of this wine which I did not decant this time. As noted previously, cassis, wood and spice in the initial flavors with good acidity, balance and finish. While an excellent Rioja Reserva, I currently prefer the 2007 Ardanza, but I am very glad I purchased a case of this wine along with a case of the 2010.
92/93. Has intense aromas of cherries, cloves, flowers, strawberries + leather. Its medium bodied classy, vibrant multi-dimensional, spherical, yet elegant, silky nicely oaked red fruits palate has superb depth + freshness. Ends very long, supple + stylish with lip smacking acidity. 13.5%. Can be laid down 5-10 years +. Needs 3-4 hrs+ aeration. Drinking well now!
Peu de notes mais bon. Bonne présence de fruits, tanins fins, un peu de bois mais pas excessif. Bien intégré, prêt à boire mais continuera d'évoluer correctement pour plusieurs années.
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Similar notes to previous bottle, but not quite as memorable. Still a great drink, might have been stirred up in the wine suitcase and needed more time to settle down (?).
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Blood red. Classic rioja nose. Red cherries, a touch of varnish, some leathery complexity. Round and a little bit developed for the age. Bright red fruit in the mouth. Spiky acid line. Nice balance and depth.
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Leathery, dried berry, toasted pumpernickel, smoky wood, and grilled beef on the nose. Flavourful, elegant, and integrated palate; multi-faceted complexity with clear minerality. 4.5/5
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Both smoky, fruity, easy going, yet serious with some depth, no age showing, really, very well balanced wine, ending with some dark spices. #Mielcke&Hurtigkarl
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I made the mistake of slow-oxxing this one for too long... almost 12 hours. And while the wine was still good, it had lost its edge I’m afraid. The black olive flavors I mentioned in my review a year ago were gone, however. Not much else to say, as the wine was damaged due to my own mistake.
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Double decanted and served with an excellent, spicy meat loaf recipe from Alton Brown. Rasberries, cherries, and plums in the nose and mid-range. Balanced acidity, modest tannins, and excellent finish. This is an excellent Rioja, particularly for the price.
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Tasted at Summerhill LCBO 2009 La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva was clear and medium garnet in colour. The aromatics were evolved and complex, with sour cherries, forest berries and licorice, followed by a touch of funk and Wolcesteshire sauce. On the palate, it was medium-bodied and medium acidic. Savoury characters and mature melting tannin in a long finish were the hallmark of this 10-year old wine. (91)
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2019 Hennepin Lake Charity Event (Minneapolis, MN): Top 3 wines of the night. This wine does have some dill but also features wood, raspberries, floral, minerals and leather. Complex and long finish. I love the concept La Rioja Alta lives by. Release the wines when they are entering the drinking window. This wine has another decade of enjoyment. 93 points now with 95 potential.
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I love this wine and this winery but this bottle was disappointing. Very sharp acidity with quite a bitter/sour mouthfeel. 09 was a ripe vintage and at this stage of its evolution I had expected a more rounded fruit forward profile. I know Ardanza is never a fruit bomb, obviously, but there was neither the orange peel quality of aged Ardanzas nor the vanilla oak and fruit of younger releases. It's a large production wine so hopefully this is just a ringer.
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Highly aromatic with earthy, wood spice, and savoury aromas. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with mature, savoury characters along with leather, earthy and hints of dried berry and floral notes. It has very good acidity while tannins are a touch grippy and the finish length is excellent. Enjoy over the next 6-7 years. 80/20 Tempranillo and Garnacha.
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Medium red with pink edges. The nose is a bit tighter then previous bottles. Dark fruit, earth, light dill and a bit of roasted meat. Red cherry and berry flavours and a very dry tannic finish.
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Fruit forward and showing nicely. A bit more nuanced complexity showing a range of qualities from herbal notes like thyme and sage to rich plum and cassis.
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Had this in half bottle at a restaurant in San Sebastian last week (Bodegon Alejandro), with jamon, lamb, and cheese (that's a balanced meal right?).
Beautifully fresh Rioja with quite a bit of american Oak spice prevailing over the plummy red fruit and balsamiche. Given the style the oak does not offend at all and goes quite well with the roast lamb. There is a saltiness to my favorite Riojas (call it minerality if you want), that makes it a surprise hit when paired with the Jamon Iberico.
Quite fresh, with fine tannin, this will keep developing for some time.
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P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it seamlessly evolves into a LONG, BALANCED finish with a lovely tangy/swtness to the firming, FAIRLY innocuous, dusty tannins. DESERVES/needs through '20 (though may work now with food), then EASILY making its 15th. 13.5% ABV; My EXC, & could well improve over the next few yrs? [This vendor's $29.95 now puts it in the top 20% of wine-searcher's current offerings.]
Note: Also tasted on 9/1 & 11/17/18, + 1/12 & 2/16/19, this being the best showing of the lot.
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- Garnet color and aromas of cherry, tobacco, licorice anise and fig. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry and black pepper with a medium/full body. Round texture with a long finish - Long finish. Delicious rich fruit. Still a very young wine.
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Tasted at Praelum, Singapore. Deep ruby with soft red/pink halo. Luscious plum skins, cherry drops, soft woodiness (almost cedar?) on the nose - jumps out of the glass. Medium to full body. Every so slightly restrained at first but fruit becomes more present as it opens up - blackberry, very subtly lifted cherry notes, creamy vanilla oak, cigar spice, nicely integrated black pepper and supple velvety tannins that never overwhelm. Superb balance, a real treat.
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I like it but the tannins suggest could use a few more years of aging. Strong cherry notes with some wood and longer after bite with the tannins. Very tasty and medium finish.
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I wanted to like this more but still think it is a well aged Rioja that may be peaking. Whether it has a lot more life or not I will judge in another year.
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2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva $28. Mid-garnet, brick edges; woody, brambles, old world fruit, raspberry nose; mid-body; still tight; good fruit and flavor; some style; hot finish. 16 UC Davis; 90 other scales.
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Medium body, mature ruby color. Impressive aroma of red fruits, wood, tobacco and spices. Fresh cherry and dewberry palate with lingering juicy finish. Saturated and complex but harmonious and well balanced, wild berries acidity and silky tannins. Food friendly, best match is meat dishes, tasted with stewed in vegetables poultry. Open about three hours ahead. Serve 17º - 22º. Ready, drink now and next six/eight years.
Great example of a quality Rioja, good QPR. Low tannins, good concentration and structure. Great acidity. Notes of red cherries, dust and a cellar (in a good way). Already approachable, but could benefit from 3-5 years in bottle.
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Had at the La Rioja Alta winery in Haro, Spain. Dark, cherry chocolate, raisin, brown sugar all on the nose. The palate has the same flavors, along with some nutty qualities and slight dill. Much better than my first rating from a few months back.
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For the price point this is a nice bottle of Rioja. Blackberry pie. Violets. Black pepper. Cream. New leather shoes. Velvet texture. Nice medium finish. Lots of fruit on the tongue without the sweet overkill.
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Black fruit (plums?), violets on the end, leather in the middle. Definitely a bit medicinal, which I didn't love, but there's a lot going on. Can catch some of the oak in this one - this isn't super subtle. Little bit of spice in the beginning, but not much.
I suspect my notes will be different each time with this one - there's a lot going on, and I pick out different flavors each time.
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Attractive dark red color. Quiet nose. Ripe dark fruit, bright and elegant, subdued oak and tannins. Already showing some of its stuff, but has plenty of time ahead of it.
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Opened after finishing off a 2008 Batailley. Let it breathe about an hour, but did not decant. Cassis, wood and spice in the initial flavors with good acidity, balance and finish. Need to taste this with the 2007, but this is a very good Ardanza. Look forward to drinking the case over the next several years.
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Russk. Wine Spectator grand tour. Ready. Earthy. The Spanish WOTN, along with the Riscal. I think I like it in this vintage more than recent priors. 92‐ pts. Get some.
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Medium purple. Ripe blackberry and white pepper; very nice nose and would come across as Northern Rhone to me if blind. With more air iseems more like fresh earth and old worn leather. Medium to full in body. Quite spicy on the palate. Red plum and red cherry. Wine is juicy and the tannins quite velvety on this. Very drinkable.
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PnP - drank over 3 hours. Medium ruby in the glass thinning to a clear rim. Classic Rioja notes of red cherries, leather, vanilla, wood, sweet tobacco and spices. Really nice acidity gives sour cherries on the palate, medium body but well structured. Low tannins and medium finish. Think this can easily sit for another 5 years, but already so delicious now, and great QPR.
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Varietally correct. The nose is leather, wood, and barnyard funk. On the palate pretty smooth. This big boy needs a long decant or several more years of cellaring. Excellent QPR
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Its funny - with some wines you get a lot of bottle variation, but with this wine you get a lot of label variation! Do they offer a different label for each different market they sell into? Maybe behind the scenes lives a frustrated graphic designer? Just scroll through all the label pictures people have uploaded to get an idea of what I am talking about, lol.
Wonderful nose that yells at you, daring you to take a sip. Notes of cedar, tobacco, leather, spice, earth all saying we are Rioja. On the palate its dark, medium tannic, rich but the core of dark fruit is starting evolve away into something new. Balanced with enough acids to still give it heft and focus. Very nice and even better with food.
Impressive. Has full on aromas of raspberries, plums, flowers, vanilla hints, strawberries, licorice and spice. Its medium bodied spherical, stylish red and blue fruits and cloves palate has a plush and opulent delineated freshly fruited silky middle. Ends longish, aromatic and zingy. 13.5%. The best Vina Ardanza I have ever tasted. Drink in the next 5/10 years. Needs 4-5 hrs aeration. Excellent QPR at around 20 pounds a bottle.
A little to much wood for me at this point but that seemed to be much better integrated by the 3 hour mark. I will let my remaining bottles rest for a few years
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This was delicious. There was flavor of cherry, oak and leather. There’s lots of oak but not overly oaky. The oak is integrated so well with the fruit. There’s also some nice acidity. This is a good one.
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Medium ruby red with a garnet hue. Layered nose that definitely shows of the American oak. Notes of coconut, dill, dark bitter cocoa, a little earthiness, and red cherries. Medium tannins (6/10), balanced acidity and a medium to medium plus body. A bit fruiter than the palate than the nose. Dark berries and earthiness throughout with some dark spices. Long finish. Drink till 2030.
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Short note. Red berries, dill and a hint of earthiness, good acidity, medium bodied, medium+ length. Elegant and classical, drink now or during the next 10 years.
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Didn't note color. On nose (very tight initially) - red currants, cranberry, tobacco, dill. On palate, medium body, medium+acidity, medium tannins and medium+ finish. Cranberry, crunchy cherry, tart cherry - great balance. 91+/-
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After recent positive notes just had to sample this earlier than planned, lived up to the test in all respects and worth a repurchase. Delicious bright red fruits (cran-raspberry) and well integrated oak for sweet nutty toast, medit. herbs and mild floral aromas, plus a downright tasty long finish on its own or with food, dark chocolate. Yummy, might reach 94-95 on day 2 or next bottle. Will compare to 2015 Palacios Remondo La Montesa (heavier garnacha) for QPR given 2X price.
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Single blind tasting Dark purple color with bricking on rim Medium + aromatics with red ripe fruits. Smooth and everlasting oak Medium acidity, medium tannins Palate again of ripe red fruit Round, very long mouth feel. Well balanced. The nose created the higher score. Bought 4 more after this tasting.
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80/20 Tempranillo and Garnacha blend, aged in old American oak for 3 years. This is a beautifully balanced blend of deep concentrated fruit - raspberries, black cherries, plums - with spices, liquorice, tobacco leaf and a wonderful smoky oak finish. Smooth tannins and a long finish.
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Medium ruby with extensive bricking Mediu(+) aromas of high pitched red cherry and strong but well integrated American oak aromas - gorgeous Medium palate of red fruit and spice Medium(+) acidity with long length and medium(+) tannins This wine is the epitome of balance Great wine anyway but for $30 it is simply amazing!!
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Tasted at Skurnik Grand Portfolio Tasting in NYC. 80% Temoranillo and 20% Garanacha. Bright and crisp with medium+ acidity and soft tannin. Full flavored with mostly cherry and some leather. Quite long with good depth. This may be better with more time in a decanter?? Quite nice 92-93?
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La Rioja Alta (La Rioja Alta, Haro, Rioja): 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. Dark red fruit. Loganberries. A touch more spice too. A lovely balance between richness and acidity. Delighted to have some of this in the cellar. ****
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Medium garnet. Cigarette smoke, a little mildew, and some sort of aged red fruit on the nose. Sharp red fruits on an acidic, somewhat thin body. There is a delicious raspberry sourness that dominates from the mid-palate through the finish with a hint of tobacco.
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Not where I hoped it'd be. A year ago the 2007 was really singing with lovely aromas. This vintage, with a 4 hour decant, is good, just not great; Nose has oak, tootsie roll, leather, wet dank leaves, cedar, slight burnt matchstick.
Big, concentrated palate with more oak, brown sugar, and acidity. Bodes well for aging but this is many years away from being integrated and its full potential.
Only fruit at this point is rather muted cherry notes, and cranberry on finish. Rustic but showing potential. Nothing off-putting, just not showing like its older siblings.
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N: ™Coconut with saddle leather, hints of earth, with cherries underneath [TY, budosyu]
P: LM, poss Med, body; Rndish entry with nice frt braced by an acidity which deftly evolves into a LONG, balanced, TANGY/swt (60:40) finish for drinking now & POSS through its 15th? 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, but probably best for those who enjoy high acidity. [This vendor's $29.95 now puts it in the top 15% of wine-searcher's current offerings.]
™My ability to smell being impinged by sinus surgery
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2009 LRA Viña Ardanza. Kanel, vanilje, kirsebær, lakris, plomme og rødbær. Mye av alt. Saftig frukt i munn og mye vanilje og fatkrydderier. Bra syre, intens og utrolig bra lengde, men fatpreget henger over denne vinen og gjemmer all moroa bakenfor 89.
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A great glass of wine. Full of character and deep black fruit. Sour blackberries. Whole berries. Velvet wineskin on the nose. Tastes young and lively in 2019.
Decanted for one hour, served from decanter over two hours.
Medium garnet. Elevated dark cherry and plum, cooling and earthy menthol and coffee bean and raisin elements in ripe prune and a faint sun-dried tomato aroma. Palate is punchy and vibrant of dark berries and fruits in plum, blackberry, cassis, glacé cherry and finishing with black forest chocolate and Christmas cake. Incredible depth, with full mouth feel and texture. While deep and dark, this wine still has a brightness to its fruit. Smooth tannins. The bouquet is slightly muted when comparing to the powerhouse of the palate which adds to the experience of each sip being so damn good. There's still a bunch of structure to this and I'm sure can be enjoyed for years to come.
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A private dinner at Hever Castle (Hever Castle, Kent): Sweet(ish) and enticing nose, rich in red and black fruits, vanilla. Palate follows through. Enjoyed but found it a touch heavy. Served with fillet of Scottish beef with watercress brioche crust.
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N: Vanilla, POSS coconut? (budosyu felt more meaty/savory than previous bottles)
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which loses most of its punch by the LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish with a bitter/swtness to the dusty tannins. DESERVES through '20, then making its 15th. 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. This vendor's $29.95 puts it @ the TOP of the 2nd quartile of wine-searcher's current offerings.]
Note: As when I tasted this on 11/17/2018, this had had several hrs in a small tasting glass before I was able to get to it.
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Nose: Blackberry and vanilla, olives/slightly sour. Pretty deep scent.
Palate: Backs up what it smells like. Sweet fruit, smooth body. Medium tannin, medium acidity. Didn't wow me with complexity, but certainly balanced and delicious.
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Classic Rioja nose with red fruits and hints of vanilla. On the palate, medium bodied. Good finish with high acidity. Decanted for 2 hours to soften the tannins.
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Fairly dark red. Intense nose, all the Rioja Alta notes are here, dill, caramel, berry fruit, smoke and thyme. There is a fair bit of richness, which is probably expected with the vintage. Ripe smoky berry and herb flavours and a balanced rich dry finish.
A great Ardanza on the slightly ripe end of the scale.
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Generous fruit, vanilla, tobacco, spices on the nose. On the palate smooth, spicy, dusty tannins, sweet fruit. Very well balanced with very good length. 91-93
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P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by som astringent pucker which loses its bite by the LONG, ult pleasant, finish with a bitter/swtness to the very, VERY fine, fairly inoffensive tannins with an OCCASIONAL *glimpse* of bitterness. For now & making its 15th without problem. 13.5% ABV; My EXC-. [This vendor's $29.95 puts it @ the TOP of the 2nd quartile of wine-searcher's current offerings.]
Note: I found this MORE approachable than I had on 9/1/2018, possibly because it was setting in a small tasting glass for perhaps 2 hrs before I got to it.
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Red fruits, cherry, fig, pepper, baking spice, oaky / smoky finish where you can taste the time in the barrel. A little leather and tobacco as well. Interesting wine. Could use more complexity early but we like it!
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90m air for this 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha blend. Medium garnet color. Intense aromas of oak, sour cherry, blackcurrant, leather, vanilla and a hint of cinnamon. Full bodied, thick and creamy, dark berries, vanilla and oak. Tannins remain a bit coarse, which will hopefully resolve with more time in cellar. Earthy and balanced, worth more cellar time and drinking next decade.
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Very nice classical Rioja with strawberries, blackberries, vanilla and solid tannins and acidity. Very balanced, good now, even better in a few years, and very good QPR.
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N: Lovely vanilla, poss choc, atop berries with notes of earth
P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE "frt" met by some puckerish astringency which slowly transitions into a LONG, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a swtness to those very, VERY fine tannins. Deserves/NEEDS another 2 yrs then making at least its 15th? 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, which is very likely underrated as folks earlier in this strand were saying it NEEDED decanting & subsequent air, something that is not feasible with this vendor's tastings. [This vendor's $28.99 puts it @ the top of wine-searcher's current offerings!]
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Decanted 1 hour. Blackberries and cassis with vanilla, oak and violet notes. Good acidity and balance. Medium to full bodied. Fine tannins and good length. Drinks well now but will keep (and improve) for many years.
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Very traditional Rioja here. Decanted for 2 hours, sampling all the time. Reticent nose; doesn't yet have the gorgeous florals some of my favorite Riojas have. The palate offers your standard Riojan red fruits and saddle leather, but with a very strong black olive component, particularly in the beginning. While that olive component did fade with time in the decanter, and will fade with time in the cellar, I must say it would keep me from opening another bottle for a few years at least.
But make no mistake about it: this wine has the goods to go long. Way long. And it will be gorgeous.
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Blackberries and sour cherries with hint of violets and wood shavings. Smooth, medium bodied with plenty of acidity and fine tannins. Good now and will benefit from more aging.
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4/13/2024 - grappagunnar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 1,5 hours but could maybe have needed more time.
In my opinion and based on this bottle this is starting to get into my preferred drinking window.
Really nice traditional feel and taste, really happy to have several more.
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4/1/2024 - DevenStephens Likes this wine: 94 Points
Story time: This wine has a big sentimental value to me. Drank this for the first time with my wife when we married 4 years ago and it was our "splurge" wine back then. I've had all vintages since then and explored a lot more Rioja. I was so happy when I found 2 of these at auction, the same vintage me and my wife drank on our covid lockdown honeymoon. Brought the bottle as a surprise for my wife at a BYOB restaurant we love and drank it there for our 4yr anniversary.
Now for notes! Dark ruby color with some minor bricking. The cork was in perfect condition. The newer vintages are a bit more dark fruit forward but the 2009 has started getting less fruit and more tertiary notes. Even so, you still get red cherry, strawberry and raspberry on the nose as well as the palate. Vanilla and coffee on the nose. Leather, tobacco, dill and cedar on the palate. This one was in a high acidity phase so I think it'll be better in more time. Tight tannins and a medium finish. I'll probably open my other bottle in 2029 as it's showing no sign of being over the hill. Love LRA and their entire line-up.
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2/25/2024 - JuliannaDHS Likes this wine: 91 Points
As before, a bit modern in style but very good. Plenty of oak but it balances with all the ripe red fruit.
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2/20/2024 - jonboy74 Likes this wine: 92 Points
still fantastic. primary lovely high acidity soft tannins gobs of fruit. phenomenal qpr at original purchase price. ardanza delivers the goods time and again
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1/11/2024 - Callum's Corkers Likes this wine: 94 Points
The cork crumbled a bit on the corkscrew, but was no ullage to worry me.
Wide-bottom decant for 2 hrs, tasted at room temperature in my kitchen.
N....dusty wood (cedar), ground coffee, some cigar, medium intensity only. Interesting. I liked it.
C.... Light to Medium body; red with a hint of fade on edge.
T....Did I say "Dry"? Sure did, it's dry. Beyond that it's a classy glass of wine with lovely concentrated fruit, intense flavours. Coffee, wood, molasses, liqorice, ripe fruit - there's shedloads going on, if you worked in Advertising in the 80s you'd maybe say. "it's busy". Gentle tannins, seductive mouthfeel.
Drinking very well at 14 yrs but not actually mature. Feels like it'll be a 95+ wine when mature. At 18-20 yrs?
VFM/QPR?.....I've forgotten what I paid for this yrs ago but today it feels like it's worth at least £50.00
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12/10/2023 - ploher wrote:
Hm, still so big on the oak. Don't know if I'm getting just more sensitive to it or if Rioja Alta is really increasing its use of new wood, anyway this is still difficult to fully enjoy cause of the oak subduing the fruit. The quality is obvious, but the oak is very distracting. Couldn't really get over it at least today... 16.5/20
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11/17/2023 - Yagil wrote: 92 Points
Mature Tempranillo tasting (Rioja, Ribera-del-Duero, Toro); 11/16/2023-11/17/2023: 24 hours after
Beautiful old school rioja, Ardanza seem to produce some of the best wines in the world at this price point. Lots of vanilla oak and sweet fruit balanced with fresh acidity and savoury tobacco complexity. A very well balanced package drinking well already and a good few years ahead.
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9/5/2023 - CondorKhan wrote: 93 Points
Pretty close to the last one a couple of years ago, but I do think it's gotten better.
The initial sheen of resiny oak blows away with air to deliver juicy cherry, tobacco and earth. Tannins and acidity very well balanced. As you'd expect, fabulous with food. Even a bucatini Amatriciana was a great match. Drinking beautifully right now, although it could go on for years and years and develop more tertiary notes.
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8/27/2023 - mimik Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely beautiful. This is ready to drink, tannins fruit and acid in perfect harmony. Notes of cedar and cherries abound in a medium long succulent finish. 94 points
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6/14/2023 - JuliannaDHS Likes this wine: 91 Points
Perhaps less flashy/modern than last bottle but no less tasty.
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6/9/2023 - guy12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still excellent with no sign of tiring
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4/22/2023 - JuiceFan02460 wrote:
Fantastic! Bright berries, medium body, smooth, great legs, got better after 1 he decanting. Has plenty more to offer over time, but this drinks great now. Went perfectly with an assortment of empanadas.
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4/18/2023 - JuliannaDHS Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very modern and flashy. Lots of ripe red fruit and oak but good balance as well.
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4/2/2023 - Ravi Deshpande Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sweet soft and silky - vanilla and oak - balanced on a pin with nice acidity. Always delivers.
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3/28/2023 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 91 Points
Recently received 3 bottles. All the flavors I love in a Rioja; oak, well worn leather, dried cherry, tobacco, and yummy dill.
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3/21/2023 - CheviotCellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfectly in its drinking window now, no decanting needed. Lovely nose with oxidative sherry aromas and hints of malactic. Nose has forest floor, red berries, and other complex flavors. These bottles have cone around nicely.
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2/26/2023 - Kirko80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic Ardanza, drank alongside the 2010 and this outperformed.
No sign of being close to end of life.
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1/19/2023 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last bottle and just heaven - fragrant, but not shy; smooth, but not soft; complex, but well knit. Everything comes together - the beautiful, layered red fruits, the fine tannins, subtle herbaceous oak. Delicious and probably several years left.
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12/9/2022 - WilD wrote: 92 Points
Very nice condition.
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11/27/2022 - empire80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful old school rioja, Ardanza seem to produce some of the best wines in the world at this price point. Lots of vanilla oak and sweet fruit balanced with fresh acidity and savoury tobacco complexity. A very well balanced package drinking well already and a good few years ahead.
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11/3/2022 - mdt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark fruits, herbs, and mint. Nicely balanced. Opened and let breathe for an hour before drinking.
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10/28/2022 - Marius Cavasdan Likes this wine: 93 Points
excellent Rioja at 14 years of age.
nose is a bit restrained. savoury, some tabacco. it opens with some sweet spices and red fruits. Palate is warm but elegant, with a minty/coconut freshness from the american oak? ellegant and long.
drinks perfectly but can be cellared a few more years with no problem
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10/9/2022 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 94 Points
Many colourful words could depict this classical Reserva, but why bother, its just an outstanding Reserva, period. Every time I come back to it, no matter the vintage, I am blown away by its quality. Medium garnet red colour, ruby hue. Perfumed aroma of coconuts, vanilla, spices, dried plums, hints of dried lavender, tobacco. Medium body, explosion of fragrant flavours, pronounced coconut and vanilla notes with every other promise from aroma. Stunning acidity integration together with fine tannic structure.
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9/17/2022 - Jzizzle Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well; considerable oak spice and vanillia that is nicely pressed together with red fruit and substantial acidity. Still lively and also with some mushroom and umami age. Nice intensity too.
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8/12/2022 - benjaminpaul wrote: 92 Points
An exceptional wine - beautiful, rich, lush, dark and heady. Stunning.
Plenty of time left in this, may not develop further though.
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8/3/2022 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 93 Points
My comfort wine, very consistent across bottles and vintages and one I never get tired of and available at very affordable prices. All my previous tasting notes apply!
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7/25/2022 - David J Cooper wrote: 90 Points
Clear medium red. Black cherry, plum, antique shop and dill. Dry earthy black cherry flavours. The finish is quite tannic. If you like this style this is a nice wine showing lots of secondary development.
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6/23/2022 - 2caveman Likes this wine:
Consistent notes. Delicious
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5/23/2022 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rioja, and especially this one, is my comfort wine. Always reliable and enjoyable. Red and dark fruits, dill, smoke, leather, earthy notes.
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5/14/2022 - Martin_G wrote: 89 Points
Fruit dried out on this one. Better luck nxt time.
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4/14/2022 - Get Real wrote: flawed
Nose of mildew
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3/27/2022 - Jpaar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium ruby with garnet rim. Very attractive nose. Cherry, vanilla, cedar, saline, flowers, a bit of dill. Nice complexity. Palate is developed, very dry, focused, tannic, oaky and demanding. Great acidity.
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3/15/2022 - WilD wrote: 93 Points
Great Rioja, Llicorella notes, blueberries. Some leather. Good acidity. Great performance
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3/13/2022 - cjsadler Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow. Don't know if it's time or bottle variation or what, but this is so good-- much better than earlier bottles. Elegant cherry fruit, roses, and leather, with a lengthy, complex finish.
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3/8/2022 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 92 Points
At $33 a bottle I think this is the best QPR offering from La Rioja Alta. Love the well integrated sweet oak and dill. Great balance and length of finish. Dark and red fruits, leather, smoke.
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2/28/2022 - awever Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ganz stark , klassischer Rioja-Stil
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2/7/2022 - margaux321 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Clear copperish red color; 1st nose, eucalyptus and red fruits; 2nd nose, spices and roasted oak; on the palate, medium to full body with good balance of fruits and acidity. Medium to long finish. Great pairing with seared duck breast.
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12/30/2021 - Chateau-de-Plonk Likes this wine: 91 Points
In a nice place. All of the hallmarks of good LRA wines. Well integrated oak at this stage.
Drink now or keep for a long while if you want full development.
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12/26/2021 - DravlaH Likes this wine: 90 Points
A bit disappointing. Medium body. Notes of citrus and barnyard. Raspberry flavors. Not very complex.
Maybe it needs more time?
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12/11/2021 - JoeMe Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a great bottle! Bouquet of dark fruit, mainly blackberries, vanilla and forest floor. The palate reveals more dark fruit, sour cherry, oak, leather, and a touch of spice. A great rioja has this perfect balance of acidity and oak treatment and I am finding it in this bottle tonight. Dry tannins and medium to long finish. Almost as good as a 2010 I had earlier this year.
The caveat here is that this is my 4th bottle over the last 2-3 years and none of my earlier experiences have been this good. One bottle I would have scored a 91, the others were below 90. I sourced my bottles from a couple of different vendors. But really I think this large scale producer seems to have problems ensuring consistent bottle quality.
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12/10/2021 - kristamck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich and delicious.
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12/6/2021 - La Fosca Likes this wine: 94 Points
It is currently (2021) at its best. Every bottle is a sheer pleasure to taste and drink.
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11/23/2021 - CWilliam wrote: 93 Points
Continues to improve. PNP -drank over 2 nights and great on night 2 as well.
Brick red color. On nose, great mix of savory and sweet notes. Sweet cherry, leather, strawberry, mineral, and touch of dill. On palate, medium+ body, medium+ acidity, low tannins and very long finish. Flavor profile of red fruit (cranberry, cherry & strawberry - fresher than nose suggested) with some savory notes as well (mushrooms, soy, leather). Really enjoyable. 93+
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11/19/2021 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nicely evolving 2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva ($28 in 2019). Mid-garnet, brick edges, some viscosity (13.5 alc.); red fruit, strawberry, sweet wood (American oak) nose; mid-body; softening tannins; long semi-chewy red fruit finish. w/beef stew. 16-16.5 UC Davis scale, 90-91 other scales.
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11/17/2021 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 91 Points
My most primary bottle in a while despite the 4 hr decant. The fruit and herbs were all dialled up with an intensity that was just a bit unforgiving. Beautifully fragrant and all the pieces were there, but this bottle was just a bit further behind the others I have had recently. The joy of seeing what a case does!
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11/14/2021 - guy12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Too young, wait
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11/9/2021 - jmart2018 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cherry, vanilla, dill, oakiness and a hint of licorice on the nose. On the palate, medium+ acid, sour cherry, a bit of gaminess early on, nice floral/lavender notes. Excellent wine for the money. Wish I'd bought a case of this 😁
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11/8/2021 - dariuskoenig Likes this wine: 91 Points
Classic Rioja, in its prime drinking window. Dark fruit with good spicy intensity.
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10/22/2021 - 2caveman Likes this wine: 91 Points
ME spices and dark fruits on the nose with a classic, mature rioja palate. Drinking very well now and expect this is not a wine that will improve with further aging
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9/24/2021 - S.Wayne Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium ruby with bricking
Aromatics medium +. Prominent oak of coconut, vanilla and some dill. Sweet plums in the background
Palate has medium body. Acid medium +. Tannins medium +, fine on the teeth and gums. Alcohol medium. Sweet cherry
Finish ahs medium + length. Balanced
Dry glass notes of oak
The American oak aromatics still find me wanting this wine again and again, but they do seem to dominate.
While it still has the structure to further age, I feel it is drinking well now.
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9/24/2021 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pretty much on point to my last note. If anything the fruit feels more profound, though not necessarily more powerful. I promised myself I'd pace myself with these, but it has been very difficult to follow through on that. Clearly these are improving and gaining a wholeness in character, but they are so bloody good now that you're faced with quite the dilemma. The value here is just stunning.
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9/16/2021 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Tasted after 2001 and 2005 Ardanza. Concentrated, ripe, quite pure and lifted on the nose. On the palate bright acidity, lots of fruit, tannic grip, good depth and length. Drink or (better) keep. 91-93
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9/3/2021 - SixHedgehogs Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark red. Fine aroma of leather and herbs. Chewy, but delicious tannins. Great fading fruit flavour, with spice coming through. Mellow.
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9/2/2021 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Double blind tasting
Light ruby color with mild bricking and moderate rim clearing - just a beauty to look at!
Medium plus aromas of cherry/ rose but really dominated by vanilla/ coconut American oak influence
Medium bodied wine with palate of cherry and leather
Medium plus acidity and medium alcohol with medium plus well integrated tannins and a great length
Consistent with my previous experiences with this wine, my dominant impression was balance - acid, tannin, fruit, oak - just amazing!
American oak notes really left me nowhere else to go than classic Rioja
The fruit here was a little less dominant and possibly not quite the cellar life I had thought previously - now or 3-5 yrs
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9/1/2021 - nschmidt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Enjoyed by all on the night of Ida in NJ. The BBQ was delicious but a few of the guests had an adventure on the way home or once they got home. Luckily everyone was unharmed if a bit waterlogged.
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8/20/2021 - nschmidt wrote: 92 Points
Drank at father in law's 90th birthday. Enjoyed by all. Consistently a winner vintage after vintage.
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8/14/2021 - WilD wrote: 91 Points
Nice performance. Classic Rioja, great acidity, nice vanilla flavours.
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8/11/2021 - GeorgeOfTheWine wrote: 92 Points
This is a wonderfully crafted wine that is aging very gracefully. Glad I have a few left. Ate with ribeye last night.
Fully consistent with previous tasting notes, that old furniture aroma that makes you almost think you have port wine in the glass is something I can't get enough of.
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8/10/2021 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not entirely dissimilar to my last note, but it feels even more integrated and open now. Two hour decant reveals beautiful perfumed nose of dark and red fruits, tobacco and incense. Silky on the palate, there is so much expansion that happens with each sip. Manages to finely balance depth and intensity with a very light touch. Plenty of life in these, but as such a superb value it's hard to resist drinking now.
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8/9/2021 - Thek wrote: 91 Points
Great bottle and amazing QPR as always. This was in a good place after about 60 min slow ox
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7/29/2021 - up4wine wrote: 89 Points
This bottle shows the bottle to bottle variability that can occur from this winery.
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7/24/2021 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
This was lovely with a ribeye steak (with the Cheongs) tonight. The nose was really attractive, with classic Rioja notes of red cherries and dried cranberries, with the fragrant Tempranillo notes of cigarette smoke alongside the sweeter hints of garnacha, and then lifted aromas dried spice and twists of thyme and oregano. Lovely stuff. The palate was completely on point tonight, with soft velvety tannins and fresh acidity wrapped around a lovely limpid mouthful of red cherries and berries, just gently infused with notes of earthy spice and a fragrant smokiness, these trailing away into a lightly perfumed finish. Delicious right now, with a nicely juicy sweetness wed to a burgeoning complexity lent to it by a decade in the bottle. Good enough depth too - certainly more than enough to make this a lovely pairing with the beef. Yummy, and crazy QPR at its sticker price.
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7/22/2021 - GAET Likes this wine: 92 Points
80% Tempranillo et 20% Garnacha Tinta
Notes de dégustation similaires à celles de début d'année.
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7/17/2021 - advinm41 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good Rioja for the price. Drank without decant. Nose of cherries, figs, tobacco, leather and tomatoes. Medium bodied, lovely supple mouth feel, good acidity and plenty of fruit, tannins are rounded and integrated with medium finish. Paired with fried liver and onions. 90 pts.
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7/12/2021 - fozzibaer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Always a joy.
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7/4/2021 - J'agnes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice clean closure. Colour a definite brick colour for this bottle which seems a little more developed than previous bottles. Nose is very expressive on opening with a real coconut hit from the American oak. Initially a real blue cheese note although happily this seemed to blow off with oxygenation. Once the wine settled it was a very correct expression of old school Rioja Reserva - nice peppery stewed strawberry with a taut acidity and savoury umami. Nice long finish with well integrated seamless tannins giving structure but quite unobtrusive. Great expression.
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6/11/2021 - Martin_G wrote: 89 Points
As previous... Feel there should be improvement in a few yrs time. Hold remaining 2.
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6/2/2021 - Ravi Deshpande Likes this wine: 91 Points
Leather, spice, clove. Moderate to high acidity. Very reliable.
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5/25/2021 - danielsjones01 wrote:
Eileen’s HS graduation. Medium ruby in the glass. Leather, dusty, cassis nose. Light/smooth tannins, tart, tart raspberries, vanilla, port, syrup. It will be the tartness and syrup that I remember, both positive. Lingers and coats in the mid- to rear-tongue. After one glass I immediate searched online to buy more bottles.
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5/19/2021 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Love the taste of dill in this wine from the American oak used. Dried red cherries, leather, tobacco, and dusty, earthy notes. At a great spot with many more years to go.
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5/9/2021 - ManhattanBeach Likes this wine:
A post-lockdown springtime bbq (The garden): Short decant. Possibly a little past its peak, with all the classic characteristics there but the balance shifting, something slightly faded. The sweet red and black fruit has receded, and the body has lightened a bit.
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5/8/2021 - guy12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Seems more integrated than last time, Slight bricking at the rim, rich with ripe black fruits, med tannins, long finish & no sediment.
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5/8/2021 - David J Cooper wrote: 91 Points
Clear medium light red. Aged nose, dill, smoky oak and black cherry and plum fruit. Dry earthy herbal cherry flavours and a dry light finish.
I love these once and a while. A style unique to North Western Spain.
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4/24/2021 - JCGuthrie wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for about two hours. This showed really nicely. Rich, leathery red fruit. Pretty heavy on the oak, but I didn't get any dill pickle notes. Perfect wine to accompany a tapas dinner.
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3/28/2021 - rwpalmer wrote: 85 Points
Enjoyed more than last time and I'm sure there is structure there to go another 20 years, but for rioja it is a bit too brutish for my palate.
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3/27/2021 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nose of dark fruits and spices, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied red blend, with black cherry, tar, vanilla and spice on long finish.
www.winelx.com
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3/26/2021 - J'agnes Likes this wine: 90 Points
Magnum with a very clean seal on the cork. Garnet colour with a clear rim. Nose is coconut ice with wild berry fruit. Palate is a nice stewed plum, strawberry even rhubarb fruit with lovely mellow acidity and saline undertow. Fine taffeta tannin on the finish which is long, salty and super clean.
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3/21/2021 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nicely evolving 2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva ($28 in 2019). Mid-garnet, amber edges, viscous; bright red fruit nose; spice, pepper, American oak, cigar box nuances; some depth; long semi-tight fruity finish. w/flank steak. 16-16.5 UC Davis scale, 90-91 other scales.
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3/9/2021 - Alykhan V Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was superb
Opened up nicely after a decant
Cigar box, black fruits, quite savoury
Outstanding length
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1/24/2021 - GAET Likes this wine: 92 Points
80%Tempranillo et 20%Garnacha Tinta
Robe : rouge pas très foncé, avec des reflets orangés assez prononcés. De belles jambes se font jour à l'agitation du verre
Nez : sur le caramel; la vanille, les fruits rouge avec une prédominance sur la fraise écrasée.Puis on revient sur la vanille.
En bouche : C'est vraiment très très agréable. les tanins sont fondus, mais soutenus par une belle acidité.
Il n'y a pas à dire, c'est une valeur sure ! Tout le monde est conquis.
Excellent
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1/17/2021 - swyang wrote:
Our last bottle and yet again the best... This was beautiful amber colored, and transparent yet with light red, dark orange hue, which was pleasure to just look at and appreciate in the glass. On the nose it had the magical tertiary elements, yet with deep fruits, which was so poetic, and bringing back memories of our evening walks in the provence. On the palate the beautiful and inner expressive fruits, just beginning to fade away gave flavors of leather, autumn forest, slightly smokey, and with a tinge of tannin in the back bone with a slight echoing of vanilla(just the right amount) to give each sip a true pleasure. Not a blockbuster, thank goodness, but rather a gentle lad and giving us à dreamy moment of appreciation and be grateful to know these moments exist in life, even with Covid and all. Quite uplifting indeed, and shared with my wife and children at home(rather than at school) due to pandemic. Cheers,
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1/14/2021 - CondorKhan wrote: 92 Points
Drank over 4 days.
Pours dark garnet. Looks like black cherry cola.
Aroma is typical, with dark cherry fruit, tobacco, cigar smoke soaked oak paneled basement filled with leather bound volumes.
The palate was initially overwhelmed by the resiny, sappy, woody oak, but it fell into balance on day two, revealing delicious ripe black cherry over a background of herby tobacco and dill and woody oak.
Finish is long with soft, resolved tannins.
Will revisit in a couple more years when the oak is more integrated.
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1/2/2021 - guy12 wrote: 90 Points
Over 2 days, for me somewhat disjointed initially, sweet, tart,oak with the acidity high & too prominent. Day 2 everything comes together in balance, decant atm to get the best, great future ahead
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1/2/2021 - DBR1009 Likes this wine: 85 Points
Well rounded, depth, good rioja flavor.
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12/11/2020 - Alvarovazquez Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is ready to enjoy now. Opened three hours before consumption and poured into wide Cabernet glasses. Notes of berries and caramel with a floral touch. Great QPR. Enjoy!
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12/6/2020 - WilD wrote: 93 Points
Great Rioja, Llicorella notes, blueberries. Some leather. Good acidity. Great performance.
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11/21/2020 - Vinomazing Likes this wine: 91 Points
That is really nice, pretty and serene. Served PnP (2) 375ml, little air helped over the hour open. All liked very well. Served w/out food. Good fruit and age is showing well, medium finish, and just beautiful for the price. No rush on these, next bottle years out to try. A calm and pleasing rioja...91+
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11/18/2020 - rjpbath Likes this wine: 91 Points
No need to decant: PNP and let it breathe in the (wide) glass. So don't be frightened by it! Sumptuous and long. This is in the good tradition of this wine, and it is very satisfying indeed. It will of course last for quite a while yet.
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11/13/2020 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:
Decanted two hours. Nice aromatics, matching the palate. Sweet and tart cherry, bramble. American oak, strong dill that was more integrated day two. Leather and cigar box. Nicely balanced structure, acidity, both medium plus. Early window, this will continue to improve.
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11/11/2020 - rwpalmer wrote: 80 Points
Rather weedy fruit, yet somehow contriving to be quite a forceful wine. Dominated by vegetal oak/barrel-aged character. My palate thinks this is uncomfortably close to being faulty, whereas others might see it as being complex or "traditional". Two bottles consistent.
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10/26/2020 - GEMon wrote: 95 Points
Scents of berries, walnuts, and hints of earth. One of us said this tasted of black cherries and the other said bing cherries. Tasty, either way. There's a hint of something cool, like mint, on the finish.
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10/17/2020 - redhead6971 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Anton’s Wine Tasting Notes Viña Ardanza
Winery: La Rioja Alta Ltd.
Varietal: Tempranillo Area/Appellation: Spain, Rioja, Rioja Alta
Vintage: 2009. Price: $39
Color: Dark Ruby, very slight browning, Legs: slow
Nose: Dark Cherry, Leather, Balsamic,
Palate: Dark Cherry, Blueberries, Oak, Balsamic, Leather, Creamy
Finish: cigar box, oak, black cherry, hint of vanilla, some sweet cherry and blue berry, leather and oak
Comments: in prime drinking window great QPR.
Looking to try the 2010 Selección Especial and the 2012.
Pairing Suggestions: Lamb (Any), Pork dishes, Tex Mex, Paella,
Manchego, Hard Sharp cheeses.
Score in terms of Vintage: 92
Score for the Wine: 92
Value for the Money: excellent
Date Tasted: 10/10/2020
Tasted by: ACK
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10/10/2020 - Martin_G wrote: 89 Points
Getting there.... Quite buttery, still some integration left. Start your drinking, peak within 5 yrs i think
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10/4/2020 - WilD wrote: 93 Points
Fruit burst out off the bottle at opening. The pallate shows some lactic hints. Myabe too young at the moment . Regarding the 2005 and 2007 this wine differs in acidity backbone. I understand they use some other plots since 2008. Maybe that makes the difference.
Nevertheless a great Rioja for me.
Update day 2. The lactic is gone and the bright acidity appears. Like it as useall
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9/30/2020 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium ruby with mild clearing at rim
Aromas exploding from the glass - cherry/ blueberry/ plum and leather all wrapped up in this intense dill/ coconut American oak package
Just beautifully integrated
Palate is equally complex - ripe sweet and sour red cherry with balsamic/ hoisin notes almost verging into soy sauce
Medium tannins and medium plus acidity and medium plus alcohol which is all well balanced
Long luscious finish
Delicious and well balanced - very nice now but can only improve
Not sure if a $30 bottle of wine gets any better than this
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9/29/2020 - S.Wayne Likes this wine: 92 Points
Single blind tasting
Light garnet
Aromatics medium +. Oak, coconut, vanilla and blue plums
Palate medium +. Acid medium +. Tannins medium, fine on teeth/gums. Alcohol medium +. Black sour cherry and umami.
Finish has medium + length. Balanced wine with perfectly integrated oak. The higher alcohol is matched by the fruit, acid and tannin.
This seems to be a great, consistent wine. I could smell the aromatics all day, but the palate adds to the experience through contrast
OK to drink now, but waiting may create something more unique.
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9/13/2020 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 90 Points
2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva $28. Retasting. Similar result. Mid-garnet, light amber/brick edges; old world, red fruit nose, wood, brambles; mid-body, balanced; softening acids, tannins; berry and wood finish. 16-16.5 UC Davis scale, 90-91 other scales.
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9/12/2020 - soon.wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cigar box, plums, vanilla, berries, mild tannins. Fantastic wine, so well balanced. In drinking window now but got a lot of life yet.
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9/9/2020 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep ruby color. Nose of aromatic cedar, sweet red berries, pencil lead, and a touch of yogurt. Medium bodied and juicy on the palate with a long finish. Great Rioja.
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9/7/2020 - David J Cooper wrote: 92 Points
Clear bright medium red. Medium intense, blackberry, forest floor and some mild funk. Pure berry and spice flavours and a dry tannic finish.
Really nice balanced not over oaked Rioja.
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9/6/2020 - SammyD1974 Likes this wine: 91 Points
I decanted for ~90 minutes and had it with a T-Bone. Crimson in color, with just a hint of bricking. Not much sentiment in the bottle. Aroma of plum with hints of leather. The palate was plum, cherry, oak with slight tannins. Finish was a moderate length.
This is a wonderful QPR and a nice break from cabernet / zinfandel rut that I have been in the last few months :)
This is drinking great right now and I imagine would have abit of upside left!
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8/30/2020 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 92 Points
This 2009 drinking wonderfully. How do I love thee?, let me count the flavors on the palate; plum, dusty dried cherry, dried tobacco, American oak dill goodness, well worn leather. This wine always puts me in my Happy Place.
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8/29/2020 - CHINACAT wrote: 92 Points
Ripe and elegant, with good length and unobtrusive structure. Showing well now, but will be even better in a few years.
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8/28/2020 - progenitive Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still liking it. 2008 is better but this is classic Rioja and beautiful wine. Fruit and tannins in balance. Probably can age a long time.
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8/16/2020 - guy12 Likes this wine: 91 Points
still better on day 2, loads of life ahead
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7/31/2020 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Longer decant this time, this bottle was especially fragrant and enticing. Gorgeous berry and plum nose with soft whiffs of tobacco, smoke, dill, and leather. There is a lithe feel to this wine while also showing a silkier, smoother side. Long, satisfying finish, this was lovely with lamb. Excellent QPR.
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7/30/2020 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 92 Points
A Rioja I love to drink and have rated on many occasions. Had it last night with lentil soup with ham and bacon bits added. A wonderful pairing and a huge comfort food and comfort wine experience.
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7/25/2020 - ChateauDutremble Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nez : cèdre, bois de santal, épices...steak spice, petites baies rouges...très beau nez intense.
En bouche : rond et souple avec des saveurs de fruits rouges mûrs et de poivre. Milieu de bouche présente un soupçon salé. Longue finale sur des notes de griottes. Harmonieux et délicieux maintenant ! Boire d'ici 2-3 ans.
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7/20/2020 - Loathesome Likes this wine: 90 Points
I uesd to love Riojas in the 1970s and 80s until they became too global in style and too clean and very un Rioja like. Ardanza was always a favourite with great ability to age through an excellent balancing acidity. After a few disppointments I have to say I really liked this one. Thankfully you could see through the wine which was a start. A lovely currently fruit, soft tannins if tannins at all. Good weight and length and that all important balancing acidity that keeps it fresh and aging well. Could have done with a little more of that tell tale Rioja oak but otherwise very good.
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7/19/2020 - Danneskjöld wrote: 91 Points
Intens duft av røde bær. Treverk. Frisk frukt på smak. Godt modningnivå. Tørr avslutning med veldig god lengde.
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7/1/2020 - Old Joe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Full bodied, great color, a terrific value. Most of previous Notes sum up his wine
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6/28/2020 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth, rounded flavours. Slight tannic nip to the wine. Good cherry and dark berry fruit, vanilla, coconut, tobacco.
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6/27/2020 - D_RICH Likes this wine: 91 Points
One hour decant. Black/ruby. Deep earth and dark fruit aromas. In the mouth, complex red fruits, nice length. This is ready to enjoy now, but will probably last a bit. The 2008 and the 2010 vintages of this bottling are superior.
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6/13/2020 - df1962 wrote: 92 Points
PnD let air for 2hrs.
Wow. Delicious and fresh. Lots of fruit with secondary notes and a hint of tertiary notes. Tons of complexity and in a real sweet spot. Paul S. nailed it. Love it. Drink up over the next three years.
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5/29/2020 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
From a half bottle paired perfectly with some Spanish food, this was young, but delectable. It had a lovely Rioja nose, with some of the fragrant ashy smoke that is so typical of traditional Tempranillo, this wreathed around a lovely sweet glow of red cherries, sour plums and some savoury earth and fig peel bites, all just sprinkled with a little sweet spicy twist of American oak. Lovely stuff. The palate was still very youthfully structure, with a chew of nicely round tannins and bright, juicy acidity shaping a succulent mouthful of dark cherries and red berries, these again seasoned with a nice little bit of savoury earth and smoky spice, and then some typical dill and menthol notes, especially as the wine unfolded into a surprisingly long and wide finish. Such a yummy drop - clearly with its best years 5-10 years ahead of it, but it was so delicious even now. Great with food too.
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5/25/2020 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 94 Points
Masterclass - MW Tasting Exam Techniques with Tan Ying Hsien MW (Zoom): Medium ruby, slight browning and fading edges, An immediate hit of coconut on the nose, as well as some redcurrants, paprika, and mint. Still a bit of tannic bite though rounded, full bodied, and intense with lots of coffee, coconut, as well as some red cherry, and then quite meaty. A very good spicy persistence. Really good wine!
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5/22/2020 - fc1910 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Followed the recommendation of Los 12 Glotones to try this one as well,
this is a complete different showing,
very much fruit driven on the nose, ripe, delicate pruns and other dark fruit, balsamic as well, herbal,
on the palate quiet more singing rigth after pnp, well , honestly needs an hour to start singing, then there is ripe fruit, cuban tobaco, dried herbs, the tannin ripe and delicious, the acid pronounced but not demanding as in the 2010 bottling,
more attractive at the moment, if this will turn out the best Vina Ardanza of the three vintages from 2009 to 2011, honestly I really do not know, again a fine, complex LRA showing, no fruit bomb either, the lively acid adds the freshness, around 20(+)€ in the old world, a bargain again, recommended too! **(**-?), 92- 94(+) potential
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5/15/2020 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Tasted blind. First impression is a warm and dense wine with vanilla from oak treatment, there is also lots of freshness and aromas of red cherry making the mix very interesting. Clearly too young. I would keep this for another 5 years before opening.
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5/14/2020 - Martin_G wrote: 85 Points
Acid not in balance with fruit and tannin. Where will this go? I hope the fruit will keep and acid mellow out, but who knows? hold a few years, judging by this bottle.
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5/13/2020 - Jeremy Lichstrahl Likes this wine:
Good not great but it needed a bigger meal
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5/9/2020 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
Russk. LRA nose of lanolin. Light to medium bodied. Enjoyable, but liked the 2017 Bourguiel more.
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5/8/2020 - ploher wrote:
Medium ruby in the glass. A lot of coconut, vanilla and dill on the nose immediately after opening, which made me worry about oak integration, but fortunately these strong oak notes evaporate very quickly with just some swirls of the glass, leaving behind beautiful, spicy cherry fruit. On the palate this vintage of Ardanza is exceptionally smooth and elegant, with very gentle tannins, some warm, spicy, candied red fruits and a heavy kick of blood orange on the medium length finish. I miss the acidic and tannic bite of the top vintages and do not think this Ardanza is one for the long haul, but it is beautiful to drink now and for the next couple of years. 17/20
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4/24/2020 - reality-tester wrote:
JS 96
jamessuckling.com, August 2018
Very fresh and vivid 2009 with berries, dark spice and hints of walnuts. Full-bodied, reserved and so held back and muscular, but you don’t feel the tannins and the strength. A great wine. Give it two or three years. Try in 2020-2023
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4/23/2020 - Goodjob! Likes this wine: 92 Points
Je ne suis pas un grand fan de vin espagnol, mais je dois dire que celui-ci m'a charmé. Il démontre une certaine maturité ainsi qu'une belle complexité autant au nez qu'en bouche. Tout est bien intégré et je doute qu'il s'améliore avec le temps. Enjoy!
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4/23/2020 - MatLot Likes this wine: 91 Points
Belle experience, vin mature, complexe beau produit a boire.
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4/13/2020 - millerarner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great for the price
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4/12/2020 - Sebastian80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A little rusty at the rim. No sediment.
Elegant, complex and clean aromas that just makes you happy. Everything is integrated so not easy to differentiate. Both red fruit (cherry) and dark fruit (plum), vanilla (subtle), cedar and pepper. Very balanced. Integrated tannins and nice acidity that keeps it fresh. Long and pleasant finish. Didn’t improve from decanting but brought out some barnyard and mint aromas.
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4/11/2020 - LotusD wrote: 93 Points
Excellent! Lots of vanilla and very smooth
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4/8/2020 - Derrik wrote: 92 Points
An all time great rioja with fantastic balance and excellent p/q ratio.
I had few bottles of 2001/2004/2005.
Now 2009 is in best tradition and style.
My favoirite was the 2004 with great elegance and complexity and little more expressive fruit.
As always a hallmark of the long vinification process with american oak touch and good harmony. Nose, palate, length, salivation and power in fine balance. Malt candies with vanilla and very dark cherries and a little plum delight the nose.
Fine acidity with medium fine body and good length. Ends up with liquorice and a little balsamico touched cherries.
Great(best)producer for affordable sophisticated harmonious classical elegant balanced Rioja.
Already bought 2010.
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4/6/2020 - JCGuthrie wrote: 91 Points
Didn't do much for me initially, but after a couple days under vacuum seal in the fridge it came alive. Red fruit, earthiness, and pickle. Normally I don't care for that pickle note, but here it worked. 91 on the last day.
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4/6/2020 - Nahebub wrote: 90 Points
Klassiker. Viel Wein fürs Geld. Braucht noch viel Luft und hat noch Jahre vor sich.
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3/30/2020 - La Fosca Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just excellent and ready to drink
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3/28/2020 - progenitive Likes this wine: 91 Points
Like the 2008 a bit better, but this is a beautiful wine. Will try to get more!
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3/25/2020 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Served with grilled flat iron steak. Have enjoyed several bottles of this vintage of LRA Ardanza and I think it is one of the better Riojas in the market place and a great value. Look forward to drinking this vintage over the next 10 years or so.
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3/18/2020 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 93 Points
Day 1: Pop and pour and excellent! Perfumed wine featuring wood, mild dill, raspberries, strawberries, minerals and dried herbs. Medium to long finish and nice acidity. This is a winner! 93 points
Day 2: Good but not quite the intensity of day 1. Dill, wood, dried herbs, earth and minerals. Medium plus finish. 91 points
Day 3: For sure this is a pop and pour wine. I like it but compared to day 1 not nearly as good. Lacks the fruit from day 1. 90 points
Recommendation: Normally I find the Ardanza gets even better on day 2 and 3 but not this vintage. I would drink these on the younger side through 2024.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REJa2hUndtQ
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3/8/2020 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pleasantly youthful with emerging complexity. Fragrant red berries and plums with whispers of pipe tobacco and spice. There is some density here, but also restraint. Rather fine tannin and good acid backbone. Definitely will enjoy watching these emerge over the next 10 years, but they are delicious now with a few hours in the decanter.
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3/5/2020 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 91 Points
much better than the bottle i had a few months ago.
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2/27/2020 - Callum's Corkers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bought Majestic UK retail 2019 £23.99 6-mix price
92 today, 93 on potential
Room temp, decanted 1 hr previously
Classy red, not mature but drinking really well; complex and interesting, a lovely glass. Worth every penny, in fact an 11 year old Reserva from the quality outfit that is La Rioja Alta for this price is a bit of a bargain.
C.....fading red, beginning of brick red/brown. Medium+ body. Lots of legs on glass , 13.5% alc
T.....lovely heavenly coffee, mocha, sweet toasted and dusty oak, liqourice, burnt sugar, bitter choc, medium+ intensity, nice length, full of charm; leathery; long warm flavours; not especially dry, gentle tannins; cellar another 5 yrs at least.
VFM?.....worth every penny - and more, esp' as it is 11 yrs old available off the shelf. Feels like £35 wine.
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2/9/2020 - Philckw wrote: 89 Points
Fresh fruity nose. Palate - bubble gummy, slightly dry, liquorice. Finish - medium, lingering.
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2/1/2020 - DanielOsman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Forgot to write a note at the time, however this was a very pleasurable wine. I have 07s and 08s too but the 09s are the best of the three vintages from my perspective. Very easy to drink, balanced, good fruit flavours from memory.
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1/26/2020 - Ravi Deshpande Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a perennial favourite of mine. It’s light and ethereal on the tongue and is so fabulously integrated that it challenges you not to descend into descriptions of roses, leather, cedar, raspberries or what have you, even though those are all present. It’s seamless. The alcohol is light. While not a deep or particularly complex wine it gives great pleasure to drink.
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1/19/2020 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Served at large dinner at a friend's house. Did not decant. No extensive notes.
This is continues to be an outstanding Rioja for the price. I think it is one of the best buys in the marketplace.
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1/14/2020 - Joealex Likes this wine: 91 Points
Attractive and complex nose of currants and sweet oak.
Mild and fully mature, very nice concentration and balance, hidden alcohol and acidity. Drinking alone gives pleasure but will work with food. Excellent.
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1/8/2020 - barrkel wrote: 88 Points
A lot of limestone cellar flavour from this, overpowering even the vanilla oak notes, which are still there but muted.
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1/5/2020 - KBCE Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great value, drinks like a wine twice the cost.
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12/25/2019 - NickM Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lovely drinking at the moment - somehow more integrated than earlier vintages. Drank at Christmas lunch, so somewhat overwhelmed by the food and family chatter.
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12/15/2019 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 91 Points
My third bottle of this wine which I did not decant this time. As noted previously, cassis, wood and spice in the initial flavors with good acidity, balance and finish. While an excellent Rioja Reserva, I currently prefer the 2007 Ardanza, but I am very glad I purchased a case of this wine along with a case of the 2010.
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11/29/2019 - macaujames Likes this wine: 92 Points
92/93. Has intense aromas of cherries, cloves, flowers, strawberries + leather. Its medium bodied classy, vibrant multi-dimensional, spherical, yet elegant, silky nicely oaked red fruits palate has superb depth + freshness. Ends very long, supple + stylish with lip smacking acidity. 13.5%. Can be laid down 5-10 years +. Needs 3-4 hrs+ aeration. Drinking well now!
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11/28/2019 - NickM Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully now. As good as any recent vintage. Lovely balance and complexity. No idea how long they will last, bit lovely now.
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11/27/2019 - Hana Likes this wine: 93 Points
정말 좋음. 향, 맛, 탄닌감 모두 좋았음.
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11/23/2019 - philmtl Likes this wine:
Peu de notes mais bon. Bonne présence de fruits, tanins fins, un peu de bois mais pas excessif. Bien intégré, prêt à boire mais continuera d'évoluer correctement pour plusieurs années.
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11/17/2019 - Laz4wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Similar notes to previous bottle, but not quite as memorable. Still a great drink, might have been stirred up in the wine suitcase and needed more time to settle down (?).
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11/14/2019 - sjw_11 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blood red. Classic rioja nose. Red cherries, a touch of varnish, some leathery complexity. Round and a little bit developed for the age. Bright red fruit in the mouth. Spiky acid line. Nice balance and depth.
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11/10/2019 - Bottle Dog wrote: 92 Points
this one needs at least one hour of opening. loads of tannins
The wine has high acidity.
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11/9/2019 - ChristiD Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really enjoyed this!
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11/3/2019 - MRichman wrote:
Dry, leather, mature, a little tired. Good but not great. Well mature, drink now or soonish.
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10/30/2019 - Double-A Likes this wine: 93 Points
Leathery, dried berry, toasted pumpernickel, smoky wood, and grilled beef on the nose. Flavourful, elegant, and integrated palate; multi-faceted complexity with clear minerality.
4.5/5
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10/26/2019 - K&J Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great compromise between traditional and modern Rioja without compromising on palate, nose, and complexity.
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10/23/2019 - beatles wrote: 91 Points
Both smoky, fruity, easy going, yet serious with some depth, no age showing, really, very well balanced wine, ending with some dark spices.
#Mielcke&Hurtigkarl
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10/20/2019 - ProperClaret Likes this wine:
I made the mistake of slow-oxxing this one for too long... almost 12 hours. And while the wine was still good, it had lost its edge I’m afraid. The black olive flavors I mentioned in my review a year ago were gone, however. Not much else to say, as the wine was damaged due to my own mistake.
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10/20/2019 - winebytoth wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful! Glad to have more
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10/19/2019 - Waldhornist1 wrote:
Wrong scan
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10/18/2019 - Ken332 wrote: 92 Points
Double decanted and served with an excellent, spicy meat loaf recipe from Alton Brown. Rasberries, cherries, and plums in the nose and mid-range. Balanced acidity, modest tannins, and excellent finish. This is an excellent Rioja, particularly for the price.
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10/16/2019 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
A small tasting pour revealed a typical and well-made Rioja. Interesting saddle leather, loam, tar, a touch of dill.
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10/12/2019 - apple1813 Likes this wine:
Tasted at Summerhill LCBO
2009 La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva was clear and medium garnet in colour. The aromatics were evolved and complex, with sour cherries, forest berries and licorice, followed by a touch of funk and Wolcesteshire sauce. On the palate, it was medium-bodied and medium acidic. Savoury characters and mature melting tannin in a long finish were the hallmark of this 10-year old wine. (91)
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10/10/2019 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 93 Points
2019 Hennepin Lake Charity Event (Minneapolis, MN): Top 3 wines of the night. This wine does have some dill but also features wood, raspberries, floral, minerals and leather. Complex and long finish. I love the concept La Rioja Alta lives by. Release the wines when they are entering the drinking window. This wine has another decade of enjoyment. 93 points now with 95 potential.
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10/9/2019 - jonboy74 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank over 2 days, left in wine fridge between day 1 and 2. Great wine, QPR is excellent. Loaded up on this one to enjoy over the next several years.
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10/5/2019 - rayq wrote: 87 Points
I love this wine and this winery but this bottle was disappointing.
Very sharp acidity with quite a bitter/sour mouthfeel.
09 was a ripe vintage and at this stage of its evolution I had expected a more rounded fruit forward profile. I know Ardanza is never a fruit bomb, obviously, but there was neither the orange peel quality of aged Ardanzas nor the vanilla oak and fruit of younger releases.
It's a large production wine so hopefully this is just a ringer.
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9/27/2019 - cono_sur Likes this wine: 93 Points
Highly aromatic with earthy, wood spice, and savoury aromas. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with mature, savoury characters along with leather, earthy and hints of dried berry and floral notes. It has very good acidity while tannins are a touch grippy and the finish length is excellent. Enjoy over the next 6-7 years. 80/20 Tempranillo and Garnacha.
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9/25/2019 - BB_RP wrote: 90 Points
Nice and rounded - not too heavy
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9/24/2019 - David J Cooper wrote: 91 Points
Medium red with pink edges. The nose is a bit tighter then previous bottles. Dark fruit, earth, light dill and a bit of roasted meat. Red cherry and berry flavours and a very dry tannic finish.
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9/22/2019 - cdp1276 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fruit forward and showing nicely. A bit more nuanced complexity showing a range of qualities from herbal notes like thyme and sage to rich plum and cassis.
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9/18/2019 - ex-sommelier Likes this wine:
Had this in half bottle at a restaurant in San Sebastian last week (Bodegon Alejandro), with jamon, lamb, and cheese (that's a balanced meal right?).
Beautifully fresh Rioja with quite a bit of american Oak spice prevailing over the plummy red fruit and balsamiche. Given the style the oak does not offend at all and goes quite well with the roast lamb. There is a saltiness to my favorite Riojas (call it minerality if you want), that makes it a surprise hit when paired with the Jamon Iberico.
Quite fresh, with fine tannin, this will keep developing for some time.
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9/14/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [2 Rosés, 2 Whts, & 8 Reds] from 09/13/19 + 8 Shared Bottles (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: Typical Rioja VANILLA atop ripe berries; Intensity lurking
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it seamlessly evolves into a LONG, BALANCED finish with a lovely tangy/swtness to the firming, FAIRLY innocuous, dusty tannins. DESERVES/needs through '20 (though may work now with food), then EASILY making its 15th. 13.5% ABV; My EXC, & could well improve over the next few yrs? [This vendor's $29.95 now puts it in the top 20% of wine-searcher's current offerings.]
Note: Also tasted on 9/1 & 11/17/18, + 1/12 & 2/16/19, this being the best showing of the lot.
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9/11/2019 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fine Wines SG - BYOB “Whose Wine is it anyway?” (Praelum Wine Bistro): Started with a fairly peppery and paprika sense, with bit of black cherry, and really big in the oaky caramel sense. Breathing gives a cooked raisinny and black tar character on the fruits. Enjoyable!
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9/11/2019 - ey1294 wrote: 92 Points
- Garnet color and aromas of cherry, tobacco, licorice anise and fig. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry and black pepper with a medium/full body. Round texture with a long finish - Long finish. Delicious rich fruit. Still a very young wine.
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9/9/2019 - Dandandaaan wrote: 94 Points
Tasted at Praelum, Singapore. Deep ruby with soft red/pink halo. Luscious plum skins, cherry drops, soft woodiness (almost cedar?) on the nose - jumps out of the glass. Medium to full body. Every so slightly restrained at first but fruit becomes more present as it opens up - blackberry, very subtly lifted cherry notes, creamy vanilla oak, cigar spice, nicely integrated black pepper and supple velvety tannins that never overwhelm. Superb balance, a real treat.
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9/5/2019 - OTTMJ Likes this wine: 91 Points
I like it but the tannins suggest could use a few more years of aging. Strong cherry notes with some wood and longer after bite with the tannins. Very tasty and medium finish.
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9/2/2019 - Andyofoto wrote:
A testament to the value of Spanish wine. A fraction of the price people pay for other categories for this quality. Amazing. Has a ton of legs left.
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8/28/2019 - stayhappy21 wrote: 88 Points
Drank this at Tonny's Restaurant with my wine mates. Theme of the evening: Spanish wines that are 10 years and older.
Bright purple in colour with vibrant blackcurrants, cherries, raspberries and freshly brewed coffee.
The energy and freshness of the wine is amazing and very much ready for drinking after an hour in the decanter.
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8/28/2019 - Siwink57 Likes this wine: 91 Points
I wanted to like this more but still think it is a well aged Rioja that may be peaking. Whether it has a lot more life or not I will judge in another year.
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8/25/2019 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 90 Points
2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva $28. Mid-garnet, brick edges; woody, brambles, old world fruit, raspberry nose; mid-body; still tight; good fruit and flavor; some style; hot finish. 16 UC Davis; 90 other scales.
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8/17/2019 - vlzat Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tempranillo 80% and Garnacha 20%
Medium body, mature ruby color. Impressive aroma of red fruits, wood, tobacco and spices. Fresh cherry and dewberry palate with lingering juicy finish. Saturated and complex but harmonious and well balanced, wild berries acidity and silky tannins. Food friendly, best match is meat dishes, tasted with stewed in vegetables poultry. Open about three hours ahead. Serve 17º - 22º. Ready, drink now and next six/eight years.
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8/11/2019 - ieatprawnsss Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great example of a quality Rioja, good QPR. Low tannins, good concentration and structure. Great acidity. Notes of red cherries, dust and a cellar (in a good way). Already approachable, but could benefit from 3-5 years in bottle.
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8/4/2019 - kitchen562 Likes this wine:
TJ - Re Order (simple easy)
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8/3/2019 - hoya_saxa Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely tempranillo/garnacha rioja. Almost a shame to drink this now, as it will only continue to improve, but still a treat.
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8/1/2019 - daveste Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium-full body, aromatic, wine for red meat. Needs air to show well, decant or drink over two days. Will keep several years.
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7/2/2019 - CheviotCellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had at the La Rioja Alta winery in Haro, Spain. Dark, cherry chocolate, raisin, brown sugar all on the nose. The palate has the same flavors, along with some nutty qualities and slight dill. Much better than my first rating from a few months back.
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6/28/2019 - AndreikL Likes this wine: 91 Points
Again a treat to drink. Showing character and balance at the same time.
Definitely one my favourite!
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6/25/2019 - poetwarrior1973 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Pleasant, easy to drink.
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6/21/2019 - Bellbx Likes this wine: 92 Points
For the price point this is a nice bottle of Rioja. Blackberry pie. Violets. Black pepper. Cream. New leather shoes. Velvet texture. Nice medium finish. Lots of fruit on the tongue without the sweet overkill.
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6/13/2019 - secureboot Likes this wine: 91 Points
Black fruit (plums?), violets on the end, leather in the middle. Definitely a bit medicinal, which I didn't love, but there's a lot going on. Can catch some of the oak in this one - this isn't super subtle. Little bit of spice in the beginning, but not much.
I suspect my notes will be different each time with this one - there's a lot going on, and I pick out different flavors each time.
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6/13/2019 - bobkl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ripe black fruits, cedar, cream. Not very powerful, but deep and elegant, enough so to be enjoyable without food.
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6/9/2019 - GAET wrote: 88 Points
Une déception par rapport au 2005. Je m'attendais à quelque chose de mieux au niveau aromatique et longueur en bouche.
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6/5/2019 - adamanko wrote: 88 Points
Drinking this against the slightly cheaper Vina Arana from the same producer.
Less oak and more fruit than the Arana otherwise rather similar in the nose. Plums, blackberries and maybe some olives.
Same in the mouth. Think this is clearly better but saving most til tomorrow. I'l be back.
Day 2 is more leather and overripe strawberries. This wins over Arana. 88.
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6/1/2019 - CHINACAT wrote: 91 Points
Attractive dark red color. Quiet nose. Ripe dark fruit, bright and elegant, subdued oak and tannins. Already showing some of its stuff, but has plenty of time ahead of it.
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5/27/2019 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened after finishing off a 2008 Batailley. Let it breathe about an hour, but did not decant. Cassis, wood and spice in the initial flavors with good acidity, balance and finish. Need to taste this with the 2007, but this is a very good Ardanza. Look forward to drinking the case over the next several years.
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5/27/2019 - RussK wrote: 92 Points
Russk. Wine Spectator grand tour. Ready. Earthy. The Spanish WOTN, along with the Riscal. I think I like it in this vintage more than recent priors. 92‐ pts. Get some.
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5/25/2019 - AndreikL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent, always deliver and never disappoint!!
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5/24/2019 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium purple. Ripe blackberry and white pepper; very nice nose and would come across as Northern Rhone to me if blind. With more air iseems more like fresh earth and old worn leather. Medium to full in body. Quite spicy on the palate. Red plum and red cherry. Wine is juicy and the tannins quite velvety on this. Very drinkable.
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5/9/2019 - ieatprawnsss Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP - drank over 3 hours. Medium ruby in the glass thinning to a clear rim. Classic Rioja notes of red cherries, leather, vanilla, wood, sweet tobacco and spices. Really nice acidity gives sour cherries on the palate, medium body but well structured. Low tannins and medium finish. Think this can easily sit for another 5 years, but already so delicious now, and great QPR.
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5/5/2019 - r4Cali Likes this wine: 91 Points
Varietally correct. The nose is leather, wood, and barnyard funk. On the palate pretty smooth. This big boy needs a long decant or several more years of cellaring. Excellent QPR
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5/4/2019 - Tauro Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not as good as last time...
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4/30/2019 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 89 Points
Its funny - with some wines you get a lot of bottle variation, but with this wine you get a lot of label variation! Do they offer a different label for each different market they sell into? Maybe behind the scenes lives a frustrated graphic designer? Just scroll through all the label pictures people have uploaded to get an idea of what I am talking about, lol.
Wonderful nose that yells at you, daring you to take a sip. Notes of cedar, tobacco, leather, spice, earth all saying we are Rioja. On the palate its dark, medium tannic, rich but the core of dark fruit is starting evolve away into something new. Balanced with enough acids to still give it heft and focus. Very nice and even better with food.
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4/28/2019 - macaujames Likes this wine: 93 Points
Impressive. Has full on aromas of raspberries, plums, flowers, vanilla hints, strawberries, licorice and spice. Its medium bodied spherical, stylish red and blue fruits and cloves palate has a plush and opulent delineated freshly fruited silky middle. Ends longish, aromatic and zingy. 13.5%. The best Vina Ardanza I have ever tasted. Drink in the next 5/10 years. Needs 4-5 hrs aeration. Excellent QPR at around 20 pounds a bottle.
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4/25/2019 - Lazerlar wrote:
A little to much wood for me at this point but that seemed to be much better integrated by the 3 hour mark. I will let my remaining bottles rest for a few years
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4/19/2019 - mpsocal Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was delicious. There was flavor of cherry, oak and leather. There’s lots of oak but not overly oaky. The oak is integrated so well with the fruit. There’s also some nice acidity. This is a good one.
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4/17/2019 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 92 Points
Medium ruby red with a garnet hue. Layered nose that definitely shows of the American oak. Notes of coconut, dill, dark bitter cocoa, a little earthiness, and red cherries. Medium tannins (6/10), balanced acidity and a medium to medium plus body. A bit fruiter than the palate than the nose. Dark berries and earthiness throughout with some dark spices. Long finish. Drink till 2030.
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4/8/2019 - pren wrote: 89 Points
尝,丰满的oaky风格。
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4/5/2019 - Hanibal wrote: 88 Points
not as good as the 2008
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4/5/2019 - amateur62 wrote: 91 Points
Short note. Red berries, dill and a hint of earthiness, good acidity, medium bodied, medium+ length. Elegant and classical, drink now or during the next 10 years.
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4/1/2019 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
Needs air or more cellar time.
Didn't note color. On nose (very tight initially) - red currants, cranberry, tobacco, dill. On palate, medium body, medium+acidity, medium tannins and medium+ finish. Cranberry, crunchy cherry, tart cherry - great balance. 91+/-
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3/28/2019 - daveste Likes this wine:
Decant 1hour before dinner, about right since it was aromatic and fine. Still good a day later. Drink or keep.
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3/20/2019 - Laz4wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
After recent positive notes just had to sample this earlier than planned, lived up to the test in all respects and worth a repurchase. Delicious bright red fruits (cran-raspberry) and well integrated oak for sweet nutty toast, medit. herbs and mild floral aromas, plus a downright tasty long finish on its own or with food, dark chocolate. Yummy, might reach 94-95 on day 2 or next bottle. Will compare to 2015 Palacios Remondo La Montesa (heavier garnacha) for QPR given 2X price.
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3/9/2019 - S.Wayne Likes this wine: 93 Points
Single blind tasting
Dark purple color with bricking on rim
Medium + aromatics with red ripe fruits. Smooth and everlasting oak
Medium acidity, medium tannins
Palate again of ripe red fruit
Round, very long mouth feel. Well balanced. The nose created the higher score.
Bought 4 more after this tasting.
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3/7/2019 - Gillmorphean Likes this wine:
80/20 Tempranillo and Garnacha blend, aged in old American oak for 3 years. This is a beautifully balanced blend of deep concentrated fruit - raspberries, black cherries, plums - with spices, liquorice, tobacco leaf and a wonderful smoky oak finish. Smooth tannins and a long finish.
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3/6/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
With an earthy savory nose to it. Rich and full on the palate but not over developed in any way. Long finish.
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3/6/2019 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium ruby with extensive bricking
Mediu(+) aromas of high pitched red cherry and strong but well integrated American oak aromas - gorgeous
Medium palate of red fruit and spice
Medium(+) acidity with long length and medium(+) tannins
This wine is the epitome of balance
Great wine anyway but for $30 it is simply amazing!!
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3/4/2019 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted at Skurnik Grand Portfolio Tasting in NYC. 80% Temoranillo and 20% Garanacha. Bright and crisp with medium+ acidity and soft tannin. Full flavored with mostly cherry and some leather. Quite long with good depth. This may be better with more time in a decanter?? Quite nice 92-93?
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3/1/2019 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
La Rioja Alta (La Rioja Alta, Haro, Rioja): 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. Dark red fruit. Loganberries. A touch more spice too. A lovely balance between richness and acidity. Delighted to have some of this in the cellar. ****
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2/27/2019 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium garnet. Cigarette smoke, a little mildew, and some sort of aged red fruit on the nose. Sharp red fruits on an acidic, somewhat thin body. There is a delicious raspberry sourness that dominates from the mid-palate through the finish with a hint of tobacco.
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2/19/2019 - CheviotCellar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Not where I hoped it'd be. A year ago the 2007 was really singing with lovely aromas. This vintage, with a 4 hour decant, is good, just not great; Nose has oak, tootsie roll, leather, wet dank leaves, cedar, slight burnt matchstick.
Big, concentrated palate with more oak, brown sugar, and acidity. Bodes well for aging but this is many years away from being integrated and its full potential.
Only fruit at this point is rather muted cherry notes, and cranberry on finish. Rustic but showing potential. Nothing off-putting, just not showing like its older siblings.
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2/17/2019 - rwpalmer wrote:
Not bad. Traditional with a lot of rather old oak. Ready now.
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2/16/2019 - srh wrote:
Spanish Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: ™Coconut with saddle leather, hints of earth, with cherries underneath [TY, budosyu]
P: LM, poss Med, body; Rndish entry with nice frt braced by an acidity which deftly evolves into a LONG, balanced, TANGY/swt (60:40) finish for drinking now & POSS through its 15th? 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, but probably best for those who enjoy high acidity. [This vendor's $29.95 now puts it in the top 15% of wine-searcher's current offerings.]
™My ability to smell being impinged by sinus surgery
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2/9/2019 - Tauro Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really positively surprised with the wine, excellent QPR.
Nice nose full of intensity straight after opening the bottle.
Loads of flavours, cherries, wood, tobacco, fennel, anise, black fruits, plums.
Powerful, complex and dynamic.
The finish is also impressive (+10) great depth.
Will pair nicely with lomo, chorizo and cheese.
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2/9/2019 - GEMon Likes this wine: 94 Points
Scents of cherries, a little cedar, some smoke, and hints of a bolognese sauce. Very smooth taste with berries and mocha.
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2/2/2019 - "Rhône Rider" Likes this wine: 89 Points
2009 LRA Viña Ardanza. Kanel, vanilje, kirsebær, lakris, plomme og rødbær. Mye av alt. Saftig frukt i munn og mye vanilje og fatkrydderier. Bra syre, intens og utrolig bra lengde, men fatpreget henger over denne vinen og gjemmer all moroa bakenfor 89.
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1/27/2019 - rysler Likes this wine: 96 Points
A great glass of wine. Full of character and deep black fruit. Sour blackberries. Whole berries. Velvet wineskin on the nose. Tastes young and lively in 2019.
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1/25/2019 - benjaminpaul wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for one hour, served from decanter over two hours.
Medium garnet. Elevated dark cherry and plum, cooling and earthy menthol and coffee bean and raisin elements in ripe prune and a faint sun-dried tomato aroma. Palate is punchy and vibrant of dark berries and fruits in plum, blackberry, cassis, glacé cherry and finishing with black forest chocolate and Christmas cake. Incredible depth, with full mouth feel and texture. While deep and dark, this wine still has a brightness to its fruit. Smooth tannins. The bouquet is slightly muted when comparing to the powerhouse of the palate which adds to the experience of each sip being so damn good. There's still a bunch of structure to this and I'm sure can be enjoyed for years to come.
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1/24/2019 - djchango77 Likes this wine: 92 Points
*After 12 hours.
Nose: Warm, ripe, red berries, vanilla and a little caramel (toffee) on the back. There is some wet, mud-caked, rock there as well.
Palate: Bursting ripe red berries, baking spice, earth, med + acid to a medium + body. Silken and sultry with a minute long finish.
This offers TERRIFIC quality for price.
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1/19/2019 - ManhattanBeach Likes this wine:
A private dinner at Hever Castle (Hever Castle, Kent): Sweet(ish) and enticing nose, rich in red and black fruits, vanilla. Palate follows through. Enjoyed but found it a touch heavy. Served with fillet of Scottish beef with watercress brioche crust.
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1/16/2019 - vancouvermatt wrote: 92 Points
Incredibly fragrant right off the bat, light to medium bodied, savoury with medium plus acidity. Elegant. Serve after 5-10 min in the fridge.
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1/12/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [1 Rosé, 3 Whts, & 8 Reds] from 1/11/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: Vanilla, POSS coconut? (budosyu felt more meaty/savory than previous bottles)
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which loses most of its punch by the LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish with a bitter/swtness to the dusty tannins. DESERVES through '20, then making its 15th. 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. This vendor's $29.95 puts it @ the TOP of the 2nd quartile of wine-searcher's current offerings.]
Note: As when I tasted this on 11/17/2018, this had had several hrs in a small tasting glass before I was able to get to it.
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1/4/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:
At the winery. Vibrant, very forward and on the richer side as befits the vintage.
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12/21/2018 - springdrive wrote: 90 Points
Nose: Blackberry and vanilla, olives/slightly sour. Pretty deep scent.
Palate: Backs up what it smells like. Sweet fruit, smooth body. Medium tannin, medium acidity. Didn't wow me with complexity, but certainly balanced and delicious.
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12/15/2018 - M.Y. Chong Likes this wine:
Classic Rioja nose with red fruits and hints of vanilla. On the palate, medium bodied. Good finish with high acidity. Decanted for 2 hours to soften the tannins.
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12/14/2018 - David J Cooper wrote: 92 Points
Fairly dark red. Intense nose, all the Rioja Alta notes are here, dill, caramel, berry fruit, smoke and thyme. There is a fair bit of richness, which is probably expected with the vintage. Ripe smoky berry and herb flavours and a balanced rich dry finish.
A great Ardanza on the slightly ripe end of the scale.
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12/8/2018 - Storms38 Does not like this wine: 78 Points
Not very good at all....
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11/23/2018 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Generous fruit, vanilla, tobacco, spices on the nose. On the palate smooth, spicy, dusty tannins, sweet fruit. Very well balanced with very good length. 91-93
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11/17/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Spanish Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: Vanilla atop berries with other unparsables
P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by som astringent pucker which loses its bite by the LONG, ult pleasant, finish with a bitter/swtness to the very, VERY fine, fairly inoffensive tannins with an OCCASIONAL *glimpse* of bitterness. For now & making its 15th without problem. 13.5% ABV; My EXC-. [This vendor's $29.95 puts it @ the TOP of the 2nd quartile of wine-searcher's current offerings.]
Note: I found this MORE approachable than I had on 9/1/2018, possibly because it was setting in a small tasting glass for perhaps 2 hrs before I got to it.
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11/15/2018 - maxwell18 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Red fruits, cherry, fig, pepper, baking spice, oaky / smoky finish where you can taste the time in the barrel. A little leather and tobacco as well. Interesting wine. Could use more complexity early but we like it!
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11/11/2018 - casoe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still good, but not nearly as impressed as last time. Simple, short, red berries, balanced and easy drinking, but nothing special.
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11/4/2018 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Tasted next to 2009 Viña Arana and 2009 Gran Reserva 904. Smoky nose, vanilla, spices, leather, red/dark fruit. Ripe, soft, fresh, generous, very long. Lovely. 91-93
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10/28/2018 - daveyk39 Likes this wine: 93 Points
90m air for this 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha blend. Medium garnet color. Intense aromas of oak, sour cherry, blackcurrant, leather, vanilla and a hint of cinnamon. Full bodied, thick and creamy, dark berries, vanilla and oak. Tannins remain a bit coarse, which will hopefully resolve with more time in cellar. Earthy and balanced, worth more cellar time and drinking next decade.
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9/17/2018 - casoe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice classical Rioja with strawberries, blackberries, vanilla and solid tannins and acidity. Very balanced, good now, even better in a few years, and very good QPR.
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9/1/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Taste New Wines for September (San Diego Wine Co.): Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: Lovely vanilla, poss choc, atop berries with notes of earth
P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE "frt" met by some puckerish astringency which slowly transitions into a LONG, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a swtness to those very, VERY fine tannins. Deserves/NEEDS another 2 yrs then making at least its 15th? 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, which is very likely underrated as folks earlier in this strand were saying it NEEDED decanting & subsequent air, something that is not feasible with this vendor's tastings. [This vendor's $28.99 puts it @ the top of wine-searcher's current offerings!]
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9/1/2018 - Wuhan Joe Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Blackberries and cassis with vanilla, oak and violet notes. Good acidity and balance. Medium to full bodied. Fine tannins and good length. Drinks well now but will keep (and improve) for many years.
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8/25/2018 - ProperClaret Likes this wine:
Very traditional Rioja here. Decanted for 2 hours, sampling all the time. Reticent nose; doesn't yet have the gorgeous florals some of my favorite Riojas have. The palate offers your standard Riojan red fruits and saddle leather, but with a very strong black olive component, particularly in the beginning. While that olive component did fade with time in the decanter, and will fade with time in the cellar, I must say it would keep me from opening another bottle for a few years at least.
But make no mistake about it: this wine has the goods to go long. Way long. And it will be gorgeous.
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8/18/2018 - Macki wrote:
Aromas of cherry and spice, some graphite and coconut also. Drinking very well - silky tannins - oak well integrated. Lots of coconut on finish.
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7/16/2018 - Wuhan Joe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blackberries and sour cherries with hint of violets and wood shavings. Smooth, medium bodied with plenty of acidity and fine tannins. Good now and will benefit from more aging.
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6/16/2018 - jdrach Likes this wine:
Nice complexity. Plum & cedar
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5/23/2018 - MissHighwater wrote: 91 Points
in its sweet spot just now. Lovely cherry sweet fruit with subtle oak in support. Drinking well now, but no hurry. A very good reserva level Rioja.
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