95pts James Suckling

This wine exhibits aromas of incense, spices and red cherries. It is medium- to full-bodied, elegant and polished, with clarity of fruit and underlying precise tannins. This will age forever. Drink or hold.

94pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The subtle, balsamic, structured and elegant 2020 Viña Ardanza Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo from Rioja Alta and around 20% Garnacha from Rioja Baja. It fermented destemmed in stainless steel and aged in American oak barrels, 20% of them new, for a period of 36 months in the case of the Tempranillo and 30 months for the Garnacha, then the two wines are blended before bottling. It's a textbook example of the label, with the perfume and elegance of the Garnacha and the clout from Tempranillo. It has clean aromas and is still quite fresh, only starting its tertiary phase. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol and keeps a pH of 3.57 and 5.7 grams of acidity. It's balanced, seamless and well-built, and its tannins are mostly resolved. It should live long in bottle. 500,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2024.

93pts Wine Spectator

A harmonious red, offering a lovely range of baked cherry and wild strawberry fruit, licorice root, tea rose and dried fig, all set on a plush texture as this unfolds, with refined, sculpted tannins. Savory mineral, herb, leather and spice notes linger on the finish. Tempranillo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2040. 55,500 cases made, 6,100 cases imported.

Winemaker Notes

Deep, clean and bright, with an intense cherry-red colour and garnet rim. The nose is complex and expressive, with spicy aromas of pepper, clove and nutmeg, together with notes of cedar, cocoa powder and toasted oak, enveloping delicate nuances of red and black fruit such as candied cherry, blueberry and redcurrant. On the palate it stands out for its initial freshness and balance, with firm yet sweet and elegant tannins that provide structure and breadth. Long, persistent and complex finish, with an aftertaste that confirms its character and depth.