Sierra Cantabria Rioja Reserva 2016

You may remember this famous Rioja family from a couple offers we’ve had from them over the years. They’re easily some of my most memorable wines from Spain. Last January, we offered the Viñedos de Páganos El Puntido Gran Reserva 2007, the #1 ranked Gran Reserva of the vintage with 97 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. The few bottles we were able to procure were understandably gobbled up quickly.

And while Viñedos de Páganos is another one of Master of Wine Tim Atkin’s first growth Rioja wineries, it’s not even the family’s flagship winery. That distinction belongs to another first growth, Sierra Cantabria, whose entire fleet of wines is as formidable and imposing as the Spanish Armada. This past year, eight of their ten wines were given 94 points or more by Decanter. It’s a yearly affair atop the rankings. But in special years? Their wines are something else. 

Sierra Cantabria stands as a beacon of excellence in Rioja, embodying the perfect fusion of tradition and innovation that defines the region’s best producers. In vintages like 2016, the best thing you can do is scoop up every single bottle from the winery you can. They never miss.

The 2016 vintage in Rioja was the best vintage since 2010 and one of a handful of elite vintages in the last half century. As you could’ve guessed, their wines needed a Uhaul truck for all the awards they racked up. Their 2016 Rioja Reserva was a particular high that Parker’s Wine Advocate dubbed as “a textbook traditional Reserva from a very good year.” There aren’t many 2016 Riojas left on the market, but this is no doubt one of the very best.