La Rioja Alta, Vina Arana Gran Reserva, Rioja

Super now and I doubt will get better

2008 vintage

I know this is 17 years old but professional reviews have indicated it should be well within its drinking window. However - i am finding significant variation in recent bottles with one of last three being superb whilst the other two - incl this one - were decidedly thin and 'gone over.' So my advice - to myself as well - is drink up! Be interested if any similar views around?

2008 vintage

My least favourite vintage of Ardanza. Consistently less expressive, more extracted than usual. I suspect added acidity too. Solid not fine. 13.5%, cork.

2008 vintage

V nice. Still decant though and leave an hour. Also drink before end 27.

2008 vintage

Took this camping, so not ideal tasting conditions. Still, this seems special where a wonderful mix of wood spice, fruit, age, and acidity meld together into something special. Very enjoyable and drinking excellently now. The parts are familiar, but a bit of a magic potion in how it all comes together in the glass.

2008 vintage

Darkest red on the table. It's owner spoke of it showing a lot of dill when he decanted it but by the time we drank it, it was all about mint. It certainly didn't scream 'American Oak'. Very very good, and a nice future ahead.

2008 vintage

Dark red. When opened and decanter the dill was very intense. When we finally drank it hours later the dark fruit caught up. Big.

2008 vintage

Excellent overall, in a good drinking window now. Elegant perfumed nose, nice balance of fruit, acidity and many enjoyable secondary elements. Oak is will managed.

2008 vintage

2/4, vg cork. Not decanted. Deep ruby core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows blackcurrant, coconut, vanilla. Lots of coconut. Medium bodied, blackcurrant, vanilla, just a hint of leather - soft, resolved, decent weight and depth, fresh/vibrant acids, very good length finish. Decent, accomplished if not particularly exciting. Drinking now and probably good for another 5-7 years.

2008 vintage

I had this wine in October 2018 and it's amazing that I can simply C&P my old notes. Here we go: "a lot of tabbaco and leather, black tea and dry herbs. Taste is full of red fruits. You name it: dry red cherry, red currant, cranberry, strawberry. Also a strong black currant, orange peel" What else I can add now? Lovely aromas of blueberries. Silky texture, almost PN-like one. Spice all over. I complained about bitter flavor in finish …

2008 vintage

Day 1: Well, skip the 3/25 review. This is off the charts. Mild dill, dried cherries, dust, cedar, floral, minerals, cigar, earth and leather. For sure top ten of the year candidate based on the price. Drink now to 2034. 95 points Day 2: Well, this is an amazing wine on day 2 as well. Made in the classic style and features, mild dill, wood, leather, raspberries, dried cherries, bitter chocolate, cigar and earth. A masterpiece for only $30.00 with …

2008 vintage

Delicious drinking now. Will amend 'drink by' to 2028 but no reason to hold back as difficult to imagine it getting better than now.

2008 vintage

Opened only half hour before. Nose with still red fruit. On the palate perfect balance between fruit and body. Very nice integrated tannins supported by the acid, present but not overwhelming. Can last a couple of years for sure but ideal moment is now.

2008 vintage

Lovely nose developing with time. Showing oak, some vanilla, clove, cinnamon, some stewed plum, red fruits. Wonderful complexity and depth to the palate, this shows off many layers of fruit and oaky complexity. In its youthful peak, just beginning to show a tertiary stewed fruits and earthiness. Yet again the perfect wine to bring to share with friends who are curious to experience a fine wine! Always a winner. Toying between 94 and 95.

2008 vintage

Decanted for 1/2 hour or so. Really nice drinking now, unfortunately its my last one. Writing this the following day, so not so clear on the details, but it was smoth, not too dry, medium bodied, nice balance of fruit and tartiness.

2008 vintage

Showed beautifully again, aging very well. Turned into a real charmer with fine tannins, balanced acidity and integrated, fresh fruit. Still some oak to absord but after some time in the decanter just a delicious bottle of wine. Oitstanding QPR. 17.5/20

2008 vintage

Yet again showing just how good aged Ardanza can be. Lovely fragrant nose of oak, plum, some ripe blackberry and dried strawberry. On the palate dried strawberry, some dark cherry, and blackberry. Nice acidity and good balance/structure. Complex oak and some "sweet" leather on the long finish. Always a pleasure.

2008 vintage

Medium garnet color. Aromas of plum, cherry, chokeberries, vanilla, tobacco, leather, glue, earth. Medium+ acidity, medium+ body. Moderate alcohol. Enough of silky tannins. Taste of dark cherry, plum, dark chocolate, spices.

2008 vintage

Spoiled

2008 vintage

Brown edges, Spicy bouquet and taste, delicious rioja

2008 vintage

Tasted acidic - not well balanced

2008 vintage

Ultimately a bit disappointing compared to 2007, say, lacking some depth and complexity. In addition to all the various wine-ranking systems out there, I can humbly offer my own very simple ranking system: Is a particular wine a STW (a Saturday Night Wine)? In this case the answer is no; I drank it on a Saturday night and wished I had opened a better bottle instead.

2008 vintage

A softer more straightforward Ardanza? Lacks the vibrancy of 2007 even if it is considered a better year.

2008 vintage

Same as previous except the flavours showed a bit more energy/tanginess/fruit.

2008 vintage

One of my favorites from the La Rioja Alta, this bottling follows more of a rustic old world style with plenty of Bayleaf, balsamic, Worcestershire, but still balanced and delicious. For the quality of the wine, it’s a real value!

2008 vintage

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La Rioja Alta, Vina Arana Gran Reserva, Rioja

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