La Rioja Alta - Ardanza Reserva Especial - Magnum 2001
La Rioja Alta, S.A. is located in the region of La Rioja, Spain. The estate was created in 1890 by five Riojanes and Basques families. The original La Rioja Alta winery is based in Haro, but there is a second site in Labastida in the Rioja Alavesawhich was built in 1996. In 1904, the Ardanza winery, owned by Don Alfredo Ardanza, joined La Rioja Alta. To commemorate the event, the Gran Reserva 904 is produced for the first time. Grupo La Rioja Alta also owns the Torre de Oña estate in the Alavesa de la Rioja sub-region, Áster in Ribera del Duero and Lagar de Cervera in the Rias Baixas region in Galicia. The estate consists of around 660 hectares of vineyards around La Rioja. The winery located in Haro includes a cooperage, where the barrels are made from American oak. The racking of each barrel is carried out by candlelight, to remove sediment in a natural way and also to allow the team to monitor each barrel individually.
La Rioja Alta, S.A. is committed to the environment: limited treatments in the vineyards, investment in clean energy, reuse of water, solar farm, and the corks and boxes are also managed in a sustainable manner. Today, 16 hectares are certified in organic viticulture and the aim is to increase the proportion. In addition, the board of directors has launch the Viña Ardanza Solidario programme; 1% of the annuel net profit (and with a minimum of €100.000 per year) is allocated to humanitarian and philanthropic causes.
The 2001 Viña Ardanza Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo (80%) from the 30-year-old vineyard located in Fuenmayor and Garnacha (20%) from Rioja Baja. Alcoholic fermentation took place naturally for 14 days in stainless steel tanks. The malolactic fermentation process was over in 21 days. After being transferred, the wine went into casks in March 2002. It spent 36 months in American oak and was racked by hand 6 times. Bottling took place in September 2005. It was classified as “Reserva Especial”, only the 1964 and 1973 had previously received this classification. The 2001 harvest was low in quantity but exceptional in quality. The good temperatures favoured the fruit’s development in excellent health.
Grape varieties: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha
