April 14, 2024 - First bottle of my 2012 case. Really good, stood firmly for 4 days. Elegant nose with fire stone, black cherry, licorice. Medium+ acidic, medium sandy integrated tannins, medium+ finish
April 7, 2024 - On day one this was a little hollow and out of kilter, but was absolutely super on days two and three - so decant if drinking now or leave another few years.
Intense, rich, and complex nose which really draws you in - an absolute joy to keep coming back to and one where you keep finding yourself discovering new aromas. Ripe red and black berries, woody spicy and perfume, musk, slightly animal notes, some engine oil - the whole menagerie. Quite a dense palate, still with a lot of tannin and acidity which perhaps outstrips the flavour intensity a little and makes it one which shines more with some food presently. Nonetheless a very well made wine which offers a lot of pleasure, great value too as is always the case for Ardanza.
March 17, 2024 - Women Who Wine & Their Arm Candy (Estelle, St. Paul, MN): Corked, though somewhat less overt.
March 16, 2024 - Has continued to mellow out and evolve a bit since my last note. Had this at a dinner party with corned beef (St Patrick’s) so not as much of a contemplative tasting as it deserved. That probably cost it a point or two. No issues with alcohol, or oak. Good comments from the hostess too.
March 13, 2024 - You know how you taste a bottle out of a case & it is just “off” relative to the others & you chalk it up to being a bit corked or such… is there an opposite to that?!! Just opened one expecting to really like it, like Leya but only because I have hots for the cuter sister Rachel (the 904)… but this blows the doors off. Not watery, smooth and super balanced, funk and tobacco and acid. Makes me swoon….
March 9, 2024 - Savoury tertiary aromas: mushroom, cigar box, also figs, dark fruits, hints of rose water, cinnamon, spice on the nose; Smooth, elegant peppery palate; tannins are well-integrated; slightly chalky. The acidity comes quite powerfully on the finish. Wears it’s hefty 14.5% alcohol very well. I can drink this quite happily without food. As ever Ardanza delivers.
February 25, 2024 - 3rd (or fourth?) time having this wine and it continues to become more enjoyable. There is still notable oak that has morphed from woody vanilla to an interesting coconut character that imparts and interesting complexity on the nose and palate. What I really love is the fruit beneath the oak here is quite red fruited and elegant, with a light lifted body and a great balance of acid and tannin on the finish. I can see how some people could still be put off by the oak but I don't mind it and think it does contribute something here (ideally it could be lessened here as I do believe it is taking away from otherwise elegant fruit). Glad I have one more and have been buying more recent vintages, still one of the best red values in this price point. 91-92 points and drink now-2032.
February 16, 2024 - One of the best riojas we have had. We haven’t had that many. This one has a wonderful, rich rose, and struck us as left bank Bordeaux, although it has perhaps a bit more vibrancy and fruit. Very enjoyable!
February 11, 2024 - Ripe strawberries, sappy and leathery, with a silky texture, good length and plenty of remaining structure. Early in a long maturity window. Excellent wine for the price.
February 9, 2024 - 0.375 L bottle early Feb 2024: not decanted; deep crimson color; aromas of red fruits and vanilla in the nose; fruity and smooth on the palate; slightly tannic.