2019 Valenciso Rioja Reserva

About The Wine

This flagship wine captures why Valenciso is often described as one of Rioja’s most traditional modern producers. It is made from handpicked Tempranillo grown on clay and limestone soils, sourced from 17 organically farmed plots around Ollauri and neighbouring villages within five kilometres of the winery. These historic sites sit at the heart of Rioja’s original grower-producer landscape, first established in the late 19th century.

Key to the quality includes the patrimony of old-vine Tempranillo (no less than 60 years old in this cuvée) and excellent limestone calcário soils at altitudes up to 600 metres. In the right hands, these historic terroirs imbue their wines with aromatic intensity and great structure for longevity.

The wine ferments naturally in concrete vats before aging for 18 months in (mostly) low-toast Radoux French oak barriques. In recent vintages, 10% of the wine has also been raised in low-toast Caucasus oak, further lessening the wine’s already minimal wood influence. Following aging in barrel, the wine is transferred back to cool concrete vats to settle for a further 24 months before release.

Luis and Carmen find the wine clarifies so well in concrete that there is no need to fine or filter it before bottling. “We seek wines with aromatic volume, wines that shine not out of weight but of perfume,” explains Luis Valentín.

Review

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Alcohol: 14.5%

Vintage: 2019

Size: 750ml

Closure: Cork under seal

Varietal: Tempranillo