94 pts Parker
Rarity From Iconic La Rioja Alta In Rioja's Top Vintage
94 Points Parker 2001 Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial
Historic, can get overused. But when iconic winemaker La Rioja Alta bottles a Reserva Especial it means business and incredible wine. Only three times in the last 120 years has there been a Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial for La Rioja Alta and we are offering one today. We are talking one of the seminal, founding bodegas of Rioja, dating back to 1891 when France's phylloxera devastation resulted in arrival Bordeaux winemaking talent in Rioja which lit the fuse on boom development of Spain's most celebrated wine region. 1964 and 1973 are the only other two years when this wine was made. Now comes 2001, Wine Spectator's highest rated Rioja vintage and we have secured 2001 La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial. Historic seems a pale description for this intense, complex, velvety beauty. 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, the Reserva Especial is sourced from La Rioja Alta's Temp vineyards in Rioja Alta, including famed Fuenmayor, and their Ausejo and Tudelilla vineyards in Rioja Baja for the Garnacha. A medium-high cherry robe with orange tint tones on the edge of the glass, clear and brilliant, introduces an intense and complex nose of wild berries in the majority with hints of coconut, cinnamon, tobacco and leather. Full-bodied and well-structured on palate, with silky and enveloping tannins. With ten years in bottle, the wine's elegance of bouquet has only gained in intensity and the journey will not begin to peak for another five years. 94 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate for this once in a blue moon delicious, alluring gem. Another jewel is that we have the wine in large format as well as 750ml bottles. Our price is $74.99 for a magnum and $34.99 for a bottle. Maybe history repeats itself but not very often. Do not miss this classic of wine history.

Tasting Notes: Alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks for 14 days at a maximum temperature of 28 ºC. The malolactic fermentation process was completed in 21 days and after racking the wine was transferred to casks in March, 2001. This Viña Ardanza remained in American oak casks, which were an average of 4 years old, for 36 months, being racked by hand 6 times. It was bottled in March, 2004. For the first time ever, it is also available in Magnum size. “The current release is the 2001 Reserva Especial, a deeply colored wine with a lovely perfume of cinnamon, lavender, incense, balsamic, and black cherry. Medium-bodied, velvety-textured, and already complex, it will continue to evolve for another 5-10 years and offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2036. For those seeking immediate gratification, it has the virtue of being approachable now.”