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La Rioja Alta, S.A.La Rioja

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TECH SHEET

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Vintage
2020
Country
SpainSpain
Region
La Rioja
Type
Red
Producer
La Rioja Alta, S.A.
Winemaker
Julio Sáenz
Grapes
Tempranillo80%Garnacha20%
Alcohol
14.5% vol.
Bottle
750 ml

Wine profile

Red

Body
Tannin
Acidity
Alcohol14.5% vol
Intensity

Tap or hover a scale

Wine profile · Red

Body

Level 4 of 5 — Full and broad – like single cream

In line with typical (3.8) · Typical: average of 711 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Body is the weight and texture of the wine in your mouth. It comes mainly from alcohol, extract (everything dissolved apart from water), glycerol and, in sweet wines, sugar.

Where you feel it

Across the whole tongue: how much the wine fills your mouth. Think skimmed milk, whole milk and cream.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

There is no single number for body. Labs measure dry extract (many wines are between 18 and 30 g/L) and alcohol, which WSET says has the biggest effect on body. Our scale rates the weight in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Light: fluid and delicate
  2. 2Medium−: light-ish
  3. 3Medium: rounded
  4. 4Medium+: broad This wine
  5. 5Full: dense and rich

In practice, for this wine

Wants dishes with structure: red meat, roasts, mushrooms, aged cheese.

Wine profile · Red

Tannin

Level 3 of 5 — Present – a gentle grip on the gums

In line with typical (3.2) · Typical: average of 708 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Tannins come from grape skins, seeds and oak. They give red wines structure and ageing potential, and soften with time.

Where you feel it

On your gums, inside your cheeks and on your teeth: that rough, drying feel, like after strong black tea.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

Labs measure total polyphenols (the TPI index), but that figure is rarely published. Our scale rates the amount and texture of the tannins in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: silky
  2. 2Medium−: soft
  3. 3Medium: present This wine
  4. 4Medium+: firm
  5. 5High: robust

In practice, for this wine

At ease with grilled meat and hard cheese.

Wine profile · Red

Acidity

Level 5 of 5 — Crisp and racy – like freshly squeezed lemon

Above typical (3.6) · Typical: average of 702 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Acidity is the wine's freshness: it gives energy, makes your mouth water and helps the wine age. Too little and it tastes flat; too much and it feels sharp.

Where you feel it

On the sides of your tongue, and in how much your mouth waters after you swallow. The more you salivate, the higher the acidity.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

Labs measure total acidity (grams of tartaric acid per litre; most wines sit between 4.5 and 8 g/L) and pH (usually 3.0 to 3.8; the lower, the more acidic). Our scale turns that into how it feels in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: soft, little freshness
  2. 2Medium−: gentle
  3. 3Medium: fresh and balanced
  4. 4Medium+: lively, mouth-watering
  5. 5High: crisp, racy This wine

In practice, for this wine

Ideal with oysters, shellfish, sushi and fried food; it stands up to sharp, salty dishes. Serve cold, great as an aperitif.

Wine profile · Red

Alcohol 14.5% vol

Level 5 of 5 — Warm and intense – a lingering heat

Above typical (4.2) · Typical: average of 716 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Alcohol is made when yeast ferments the grape's sugar. It brings warmth, adds to the body and carries the aromas.

Where you feel it

As warmth in your throat and chest when you swallow, and a slight burn on the nose when it is high.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the alcohol stated on the label — On the label: 14.5% vol.

It is the one axis that is always measured: it comes from the % vol on the label. Still and sparkling wines: under 11% = 1, up to 12.4% = 2, up to 13.4% = 3, up to 14.4% = 4, 14.5% or more = 5. Fortified wines (Port, Madeira…) have their own scale: under 16.5% = 2, up to 18.4% = 3, up to 19.9% = 4, 20% or more = 5.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: under 11% vol
  2. 2Medium−: 11–12.4% vol
  3. 3Medium: 12.5–13.4% vol
  4. 4Medium+: 13.5–14.4% vol
  5. 5High: 14.5% vol or more This wine

In practice, for this wine

Wants rich dishes, served a little cooler to tame the heat. Small glasses, no rush.

Wine profile · Red

Intensity

Level 4 of 5 — Expressive – the aromas leap from the glass

In line with typical (3.9) · Typical: average of 84 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Aromatic intensity is how strongly the aromas come through: fruit, flowers, spice, oak, notes of age.

Where you feel it

On the nose, before you sip: how strongly the aromas rise from the glass. Swirling releases them.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

It is a sensory judgement, with no lab figure. We only show it when the wine's description or a review mentions it.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Subtle: you have to look for it
  2. 2Delicate
  3. 3Medium: clear aromas
  4. 4Expressive This wine
  5. 5Pronounced: fills the glass

In practice, for this wine

Holds up to aromatic cooking: herbs, gentle spice.

Critics & awards

  • Vivino: rated 4.3 stars by the global community

Serve & enjoy

Temperature 16–18 °CIf the room is above 20 °C, 15 min in the fridge
GlassBordeaux glass
Decanting Aerate 30 min

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Description

Viña Ardanza Reserva is not only one of the finest wines of Rioja and Spain, it is also an internationally iconic wine. Vintage after vintage it has won over critics and the public alike. Its now-classic blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha is pure balance and silkiness. In the words of its creator, winemaker Julio Sáenz: "An exceptional vintage, one of the best in our history, to close an extraordinary decade of Viña Ardanza".

The Wine AdvocateRP 94Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

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 matured in American oak barrels, 20% of them new, for 36 months in the case of the Tempranillo and 30 months for the Garnacha; the two wines were then blended before bottling. It is a classic example of the house style, with the perfume and elegance of Garnacha and the structure of Tempranillo. The aromas are clean and still quite fresh, just beginning their tertiary phase. It has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.57 and 5.7 grams of acidity. It is balanced, harmonious and well built, with mostly polished tannins. It should develop nicely in bottle for many years. 500,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2024.

This Haro winery owns 588 hectares of vineyards and makes wine only from its own grapes. It ages its wines in 35,000 barrels, all 225-litre American oak with an average age of four years. It produces an average of 1.5 million bottles a year, so it holds the equivalent of eight years of stock between wine in barrel and in bottle. This year sees the release of its second Viña Alberdi Selección Especial, the 2021 (the first was in 2001). The range I tasted was very impressive and clean, in a more traditional style.

Published: 12 March 2026

Tasting Note — La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva 2020 (James Suckling,95 points)

Overview
James Suckling's review of this vintage is notably enthusiastic, scoring the wine 95 points and highlighting its precision and energy.

Aromas
The wine shows an expressive mix of fresh red and black fruit, wrapped in sweet spice, cedar and a subtle minerality that adds complexity.

Structure and Palate
Medium- to full-bodied, with extremely fine, well-integrated tannins giving an elegant, silky texture.

Balance and Finish
Vibrant acidity brings freshness and balance to the richness of the fruit, culminating in a long, tense and clean finish.

Verdict
Suckling considers this vintage one of the most elegant of recent years. Though already very enjoyable now, it has the structure and potential to develop beautifully over the next decade.

What to serve with this wine

Dishes calculated from this wine’s profile, grapes and region.