Sunfish Cellars La Rioja Zoom Tasting Results

You don’t just pop and pour a La Rioja Alta wine. The current vintages need 3 or more days to show their stuff so already opened the wines for the tasting this Thursday. Here is where the wines are on Wednesday.

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/94559598896?pwd=OHRIT2M4OXFFVVQ4Z3lxQ2ZVbVJJUT09

Wine 1:

• 2015 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Alberdi Reserva – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (1/19/2021)
  Day 1: Preparing for the Sunfish Cellars La Rioja Alta tasting this Thursday on Zoom. Will be drinking this wine at its peak on Thursday. Today it offers dill, dried herbs, raspberries, oak, cherry and dust. Very complex wine and certainly should blossom over the next few days. This is not a day 1 wine and needs time. 90 poiints
  Day 2: Very nice and opening up. Cherry, raspberries, spice, oak, mild dill, dried herbs and dark chocolate. Very complex and medium plus finish. Should be singing for the tasting Thursday night. 92 points
  Day 3: Really flavorful. Cherry, sour raspberries, mild dill, spices, dark chocolate, underbrush and oak/vanilla. Medium plus and complex finish. This is a really well made $20.00 wine. 92 points
  Recommendation: This is a wine that could use some aging. I could see a 94 point potential. Heavy decant if you are drinking on day 1. (92 points)

Wine 2

• 2012 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (1/20/2021)
  Day 1: Preparing for the La Rioja Alta tasting with Sunfish Cellars Thursday night. These are not pop and pour wines and need some cellaring. Very nice complexity with Christmas spice, raspberries, Bing Cherries, wood, minerals and dark chocolate. A hint of dill on the finish but adds not detracts. Medium to long finish. This might be my favorite Spanish wine for the money year in and year out. 92 plus.
  Day 2: More fragrant and complex on day 2. Opening up featuring mild oak, cherry, rose petals, raspberries, spices, minerals and bitter chocolate. Medium plus finish. Very well made wine and Ardanza is always a favorite. 92 plus. (92 points)

Wine 3

• 2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (1/20/2021)
  Day 1: Opening early for the Sunfish Cellars La Rioja Alta Zoom on Thursday. This is right there with the Ardanza but I can tell this needs some cellaring time. Tobacco, bay leaves, raspberries, subtle dill, wood, stone and earth. Good acidity and medium to long finish. This should age nicely for 20 years. Love the 904. 92 to 94 points.
  Day 2: This has improved and no surprise cellar this wine for five plus years. I always like to try one of these young to ensure I will buy more. Raspberries, saddlewood, bay leaves, earth, tobacco and mild dill. Very dry but love this style. Medium to long finish. 93 points (93 points)