2008 Viña Ardanza: go gaga for this Rioja
A perfectly-aged wine with a stupendous flavour
The year 2008 will go down in the history books as a great vintage for Ardanza thanks to exceptional weather throughout the year and perfect conditions at harvest time. The garnacha grapes come from the La Pedriza estate in Tudelilla (Rioja Baja) at an altitude of 550m above sea level. They play a crucial part in this wine because the flavour is so good on account of a particularly long hang time on the vines.
As you would expect, the lion’s share of the blend is tempranillo (80%) and these grapes come from the 30-year-old La Cuesta and Montecillo vineyards, located in Fuenmayor y Cenicero. The tempranillo saw 36 months in American oak (averaging four years old) and the garnacha spent 30 months in two- to three-year-old barrels.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bottled in 2013 and benefiting from a full decade of maturity today, this is a stupendous Rioja and one that perfectly sums up why we all, every so often, go gaga for this style of wine.
Add to this the small fact that this wine comes in big bottles and you are set for a very exciting time when you uncork one of these mags. If you are looking for early Christmas pressies for impossible-to-buy-for individuals, then this is a small price to pay for an incredibly impressive gift.
2008 Viña Ardanza, Rioja Reserva, La Rioja Alta, Spain – £49.99, magnums, reduced to £44.99 each if you buy six, Majestic Wine
This article was originally published in MoneyWeek
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
American Airlines pilots are warning of a 'significant spike' in safety issues
In the Spotlight The pilot's union listed 'problematic trends' they say are affecting the airline's fleet
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
6 star-spangled presidential libraries to visit
The Week Recommends These institutions provide insight into American leaders
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Best English wines
The Week Recommends Celebrate a homegrown success story with our pick of the best still and sparkling wines
By Adrienne Wyper Published
-
The Westbury Hotel review: stunning suites in charming Dublin
The Week Recommends This hotel is the perfect spot to while away a weekend in Ireland's capital
By Kaye O'Doherty Published
-
Drama movies 2024: new films out this year
In Depth Latest reviews include The Boys in the Boat, One Life and Tchaikovsky's Wife
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Best new hotels and places to stay in 2024
The Week Recommends Featuring stylish island resorts, historical properties and wilderness retreats
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Albums of the year: best music of 2023
The Week Recommends A look back at the best pop, rap, jazz, dance, classical and rock releases
By The Week UK Published
-
Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay review: an institution reinvented
The Week Recommends Traditions are maintained and the tweaks are clever and modern
By Neil Davey Published
-
Tulum: a Mexican beach town of 'two halves'
The Week Recommends With the 'pueblo' and 'Zona Hotelera', Tulum is home to great hotels, restaurants and beach clubs
By William Leigh Published
-
La Zebra review: beach chic, perfect tacos and secret cenotes
The Week Recommends Enjoy a stylish stay in Mexico at this family-friendly beach hotel and restaurant
By William Leigh Published