1998 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva

Community Tasting Notes (14) Avg Score: 90.9 points

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  4/8/2024 - geraldsng Likes this wine:

  Second bottle of 1998 Ardanza was way better than the first just by virtue of not being corked. That said, it was excellent. Arguably it was more advanced than one might expect for its age as this looked quite orange and was fully tertiary. Knew this was going to be good though because of the high volatility - in the sense that it filled the cellar with smell on opening, not in the VA sense. Although there was a bit of concern initially with stewed cherry, trusted the process and slow oxed for another 5h by which time that mostly disappeared. Very much potpourri subsequently, but without the unnecessary distraction of fruits and oak true strength of the wine could shine. Really lithe, elegant and lifted on the palate. Tannins fully resolved. Felt like the finish was forever. Now that it has reached this stage it could probably live forever. Old Rioja is great and this wasn’t even that old.

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  1/17/2024 - geraldsng Likes this wine:

  The Ardanza had a bit of TCA which marked the nose too much to comment on fruit. Putting that aside though, it was still fairly fresh and vibrant at 26 years and retained a certain pleasing juiciness. The high acidity has no doubt helped with longevity. Just on the first steps towards tertiary evolution with the slightest hint of hawthorn. Another confirmation that I much prefer Rioja after the veneer of oak has been subsumed. Will hope the other bottles from the case are less TCA-tainted as I’m quite optimistic they will be great if so.

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  11/10/2017 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:

  Brick orange colour
  Smells rich - cloves, cinnamon, tobacco and some balsamic meaty notes
  Still plenty of fruit here, strawberries, some tannin left still, this is impressive, still plenty of power, rich with layers of tobacco, very long
  Heady stuff, showing fantastically well, probably at its peak but no hurry to drink.

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  6/5/2017 - Rich S Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Popped and poured. Light to medium ruby color with hints of garnet. Pretty nose of red and black cherry, some balsamic notes, plum and just a faint hint of sweet pipe tobacco. Similar flavors on the palate with spicy red fruit and sweet oak in the background. Medium to medium+ acidity, tannins fully resolved. Drinks lightly on the palate but in a good way. I would drink up if holding any as this is in a really good spot right now and I am not sure about its long term ability to hold up.

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  6/16/2016 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Medium to dark garnet color. Nose of red currant, dill, coconut and black cherry. Definite american oak coming through on the nose and palate but in balance with the fruit. Medium acid, fully integrated tannins, medium body. Slightly sweet and tart on the finish at the same time. I enjoyed this quite a bit and think it is probably close or at peak right now.

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