La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Rioja Reserva 2021 750ml

Kevin - Wine Specialist, Pasadena

Some wines are Mission favorites year after year, no matter the vintage - and the 2021 La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Rioja Reserva is a great example!

Whenever a perennial staff and customer go-to wine releases a new vintage, we grab a bottle and take it to the lab (my kitchen) for a detailed examination.

This wine is crafted from 100% Tempranillo sourced exclusively from high-altitude estate vineyards that the same family has cared for across six generations dating back to the late 19th century.

We opened the bottle and let it breathe for about 20 minutes while plating some cheeses and charcuterie - no cooking in this weather!

Nosing revealed intense aromas of red currant, raspberry, and balsamic, with subtle notes of cedar and cinnamon. The palate began with dark fruit and herbs, followed by leathery, toasted wood and vanilla flavors folded into a lengthy finish of perfectly balanced tannins.

The wine paired beautifully with our cold cuts, but it would really sing along with a grilled steak- if you can survive firing up the grill in this heat!