Served from half. On pouring, a weird kind of volatility - almost floral / soapy? This blew off quite quickly and it got back to where it should be - thoroughly lovely, paired well with smoked beef and pork ribs and the 11:27 from Kings Cross to York.
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Drank from magnum. Beautiful bouquet with autumn forest impressions, coffee and mushrooms. Same on the palate. Some licorice, beautiful acidity. Still very much alive and was still a pleasure on day 2.
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From 75cl, defective cork crumbled into bottle on opening, filtered off into a decanter, wine seemed unaffected. I sometimes find the smell of American oak hard to take, but when the wine is this good, even the volatile/burning/dill gherkin notes seem to fit perfectly. Entry fatter and darker-fruited than I remember from previous bottles; bright mid-palate acidity. Alas my last bottle of this great vintage of Ardanza, but if you have stocks, they will surely hold for as long as you can keep your hands off them. 92P
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(La Rioja Alta Rioja Viņa Ardanza Reserva Especial) Mature, plum, dill, oak nose; mature, light-medium bodied, plum, black fruit palate; medium-plus finish
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3/17/2024 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Served from half. On pouring, a weird kind of volatility - almost floral / soapy? This blew off quite quickly and it got back to where it should be - thoroughly lovely, paired well with smoked beef and pork ribs and the 11:27 from Kings Cross to York.
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3/9/2024 - casjf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fabulous pairing with clay pot lamb shank with potatoes, rosemary, apricots, almonds and Ras al hanout spice
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3/3/2024 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
Great nose, very orange peel infused, with a bit of coffee and redcurrant. Nice mature flavours. Very good, complex and classic gravelly red fruit.
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2/28/2024 - Zweder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank from magnum. Beautiful bouquet with autumn forest impressions, coffee and mushrooms. Same on the palate. Some licorice, beautiful acidity. Still very much alive and was still a pleasure on day 2.
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2/13/2024 - honest bob wrote: 92 Points
From 75cl, defective cork crumbled into bottle on opening, filtered off into a decanter, wine seemed unaffected. I sometimes find the smell of American oak hard to take, but when the wine is this good, even the volatile/burning/dill gherkin notes seem to fit perfectly. Entry fatter and darker-fruited than I remember from previous bottles; bright mid-palate acidity. Alas my last bottle of this great vintage of Ardanza, but if you have stocks, they will surely hold for as long as you can keep your hands off them. 92P
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment