• 80% Tempranillo from clay-limestone in the Rioja Alta district blended with 20% Garnacha form the prized, rocky Pedriza vineyard in Rioja Oriental 
• Harvested by hand at the end of September 
• Fermented in tank 
• Tempranillo aged in fourth-pass American oak for 36 months with six manual rackings 
• Garnacha aged in second/third-pass American oak for 30 months with five manual rackings

La Rioja Alta is best known for their flagship wine ‘Viña Ardanza’, which was created in 1940 (the winery itself has been in business since 1890.) One of the unique characteristics of ‘Viña Ardanza’ is the amount of Garnacha that goes into the wine, roughly 20% of the blend each year. The Garnacha comes from estate vineyards in Rioja Oriental, a subzone known for having the perfect conditions to grow this variety.

This unique blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha was able to really shine in 2106, with Tempranillo providing a firm backbone of silky tannins and refreshing acidity, and Garnacha adding intense aromatics and a ripe, fresh profile.