La Rioja Alta, S.A. Viña Ardanza "Selección Especial" Rioja Reserva, 2010
La Rioja Alta, S.A. Viña Ardanza "Selección Especial" Rioja Reserva, 2010
This historic cuvée first saw the light in 1942, and while it has evolved over its 75-plus-year history, one of its distinguishing features has long been a healthy dollop (nowadays around 20%) of Garnacha from the Rioja Baja. This warm, low-lying satellite district of Rioja has historically been viewed as a poor relation to the Alta and Alavesa areas, but it is often propitious for top-quality Garnacha, which La Rioja Alta has in abundant supply thanks to their acquisition of the Finca La Pedriza in Tudelilla. The 2010 release is the third vintage since all the Garnacha in Ardanza has come from this spectacular alluvial-stone site situated at the cool altitude of 550m above sea level. This Garnacha and the 80% of Alta-district Tempranillo representing the remainder of the blend ferment separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel. After malo, the juice descends for its three-year passage in all-American white oak barrels (second- to fourth-use on average). Manual rackings are frequent, though slightly less so with the more oxidative Garnacha. After the final blending is made and the wine goes into bottle, the market is still far away—typically four years or so. Thus is a classic born.
The Tempranillo grapes (80%) come from our 30-year-old La Cuesta and Montecillo vineyards, located in Fuenmayor y Cenicero. The Garnacha (20%) comes from La Pedriza vineyard in Tudelilla (Rioja Baja). This 70 hectare property offers unbeatable conditions for growing this variety. Its nutrient-poor soil, covered with boulders, results in low grape yields and significant varietal typicity, rich in aromas, with a pleasant, elegant structure. We started picking in mid-October, manually and transported in refrigerated trucks to the winery. Alcoholic fermentation took place naturally. Malolactic concluded at the end of the year. In March 2011, the selected wines were put in barrels to start ageing separately: the Tempranillo for 36 months with six manual rackings in American oak barrels averaging 4 years in age and the Garnacha for 30 months with five manual rackings in American oak barrels with two and three wines. The final blend took place after barrel ageing was completed. The wine was bottled in May 2015.
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