94 points James Suckling: "Aromatic nose of dried strawberries and flowers follows through to a full body, soft and velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Opulent and delicious yet refined. Drink now. (12/2/16)"
93 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2008 vintage of Viña Ardanza is the seventy-fifth anniversary for this iconic Rioja Reserva bottling from La Rioja Alta. The wine is its traditional blend of eighty percent tempranillo and twenty percent garnacha, but with this vintage, the garnacha is being sourced from a high altitude, stony vineyard in the Rioja Baja region, that the bodegas feels produces exemplary garnacha. The bouquet of the ’08 is outstanding, wafting from the glass in a complex blend of red plums, raspberries, a touch of meatiness, lovely spice tones redolent of cloves and cinnamon stick, a lovely base of almost salty soil and a nice touch of toasted coconut, old American oak. On the palate the wine is pure, deep, full-bodied and velvety on the attack, with an excellent core of fruit, impressive complexity and grip, moderate, well-integrated tannins and fine length and grip on the perfectly balanced finish. This is a beautiful vintage of Viña Ardanza and very much worthy of a seventh-fifth anniversary cuvée! 2018-2045+. (May/Jun 2018)"
93 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "Vintages for Viña Ardanza seem to be going fast. It seems like yesterday that the 2001 was released and now the 2008 Viña Ardanza is already here. This is the first vintage when they have been able to use the fruit from their new Garnacha vineyards in the village of Tudelilla (Rioja Baja), La Pedriza, which represents 20% of the blend complementing the majority of Tempranillo. The wine was put in barrel in March 2009, separately; the Tempranillo was in four-year-old barrels for 36 months with six rackings, and the Garnacha in second and third use barrels for 30 months with five rackings. Vintages might go fast, but the wine does not feel too young, which was my fear. There are notes of stewed meat, cured leather, cloves, other spices and an overall balsamic character. The palate feels solid, consistent, nicely built, with abundant tannins and good balancing acidity. This should stand up to food and be able to develop in bottle. Drink: 2017-2023."
93 points Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: "(tempranillo, garnacha). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: ripe fruit, wild herbs, earthy notes, spicy, balsamic herbs, wet leather. Palate: balanced, flavourful, long, balsamic. (2017)"
90 points Wine Spectator: "[$37 list] Cedar, tea and tobacco notes frame the dried cherry, vanilla and orange peel flavors in this traditional red. Offers good depth and lively acidity, with an alluring, spicy finish. An old-school style, compact and balanced. Drink now through 2023. (12/31/16)"
93 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2008 vintage of Viña Ardanza is the seventy-fifth anniversary for this iconic Rioja Reserva bottling from La Rioja Alta. The wine is its traditional blend of eighty percent tempranillo and twenty percent garnacha, but with this vintage, the garnacha is being sourced from a high altitude, stony vineyard in the Rioja Baja region, that the bodegas feels produces exemplary garnacha. The bouquet of the ’08 is outstanding, wafting from the glass in a complex blend of red plums, raspberries, a touch of meatiness, lovely spice tones redolent of cloves and cinnamon stick, a lovely base of almost salty soil and a nice touch of toasted coconut, old American oak. On the palate the wine is pure, deep, full-bodied and velvety on the attack, with an excellent core of fruit, impressive complexity and grip, moderate, well-integrated tannins and fine length and grip on the perfectly balanced finish. This is a beautiful vintage of Viña Ardanza and very much worthy of a seventh-fifth anniversary cuvée! 2018-2045+. (May/Jun 2018)"
93 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "Vintages for Viña Ardanza seem to be going fast. It seems like yesterday that the 2001 was released and now the 2008 Viña Ardanza is already here. This is the first vintage when they have been able to use the fruit from their new Garnacha vineyards in the village of Tudelilla (Rioja Baja), La Pedriza, which represents 20% of the blend complementing the majority of Tempranillo. The wine was put in barrel in March 2009, separately; the Tempranillo was in four-year-old barrels for 36 months with six rackings, and the Garnacha in second and third use barrels for 30 months with five rackings. Vintages might go fast, but the wine does not feel too young, which was my fear. There are notes of stewed meat, cured leather, cloves, other spices and an overall balsamic character. The palate feels solid, consistent, nicely built, with abundant tannins and good balancing acidity. This should stand up to food and be able to develop in bottle. Drink: 2017-2023."
93 points Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: "(tempranillo, garnacha). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: ripe fruit, wild herbs, earthy notes, spicy, balsamic herbs, wet leather. Palate: balanced, flavourful, long, balsamic. (2017)"
90 points Wine Spectator: "[$37 list] Cedar, tea and tobacco notes frame the dried cherry, vanilla and orange peel flavors in this traditional red. Offers good depth and lively acidity, with an alluring, spicy finish. An old-school style, compact and balanced. Drink now through 2023. (12/31/16)"
| Product SKU | 352707 |
| Producer | La Rioja Alta |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Varietal | Tempranillo/Tinto Fino |
| Designation | Reserva |
| Vintage | 2008 |
| Size | 1.5L |
| Color | Red |
| ABV | 13.5% |
| Ships To |
