La Rioja Alta, Rioja Reserva (Spain) “Viña Ardanza” 2008

($32): Where else but Spain, and specifically Rioja, do you find a nine year old wine as the current release?  And look at the price.  Not to mention that La Rioja Alta is one of the best producers in Rioja. Here’s a chance for consumers to taste the magical transformation of youthful fruitiness in a wine to intriguing and hard to define non-fruit flavors of leather and earth. Not overdone, successive waves of flavor crash over the palate. Brilliant juicy acidity and moderate power makes it a divine choice for grilled meat once the weather turns chilly in the evening.
93 Michael Apstein Aug 15, 2017