Description

Van Ardi’s vineyards and winery are in Aragatsotn Province, about 40 minutes north of Yerevan. The vineyards have the most successful plantings of Areni outside of its traditional Vayots Dzor home. Van Ardi’s Areni tends to have lower acid levels, giving it a plush mid-palate feel that emphasizes the ripe red berry flavors. The Reserve is Van Ardi’s flagship wine. It is made with 100% Estate grown Areni fruit, fermented in steel tanks and aged in a blend of French oak and Artsakh oak barrels.

The 2016 Reserve Areni is a light purple/violet color. The nose opens with tart perfumed cherry fruit. The red fruits on the palate are framed by a noticeable levels of tannin. The choice of French oak really helps carry and frame the wine without overwhelming the bright fruit. This is young wine, perfectly balanced between fruit, oak and acid. It should shed tannins and develop additional nuance with another 3-5 years of bottle age. Awarded a Silver Medal at the 2019 Decanter magazine World Wine Awards.

Try with creamy pastas and meat dishes.