Valenciso Rioja Reserva 2015
94 POINTS: Tim Atkin MW
100% Tempranillo
Ollauri, Briones, Rodezno, Haro and Villalba estate vineyards in the north of Rioja Alta between 507 – 610 meters; clay-calcareous soils
Aged 19 months in 95% French, 5% Caucasian oak; wine transferred to concrete for 12 months to naturally settle before bottling.
"From an Atlantic styled vintage, the 2015 brims with elegance and finesse. The result is a beautifully cool, spicy and elegant Rioja with plenty of red fruited strawberry sweetness spiked with more-ish meaty characters, brown spices and aniseed notes. It has a supple texture and a fresh, racy finish. Super classy is this fine vino."
- Tim Atkin MW
“If you asked me to name just one producer from Rioja that you should buy, it would be Valenciso … A small treasure in the great sea of Rioja.” Jesús Barquin one of the most influential wine critics in Spain who co authored the Spanish wine bible The Finest Wines of Rioja and Northwest Spain.
From humble beginnings, Valenciso has become one of the leading lights of Rioja’s small, yet growing band of terroir-focused producers. The operation began in 1998 when Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso rented a small warehouse with barely enough space to produce their first vintage of 2000 cases. Things have steadily progressed from there and no one who follows the area well would dispute the benchmark status that is now regularly afforded this producer.
ABV: 14.5%