Only 12 barrels produced of this exceptionally fine white Rioja.
Pale golden yellow in colour with notes of delicate woodsmoke, roast chestnuts and preserved lemon peel on the nose. The palate is broad, well integrated and complete, with nuts, stone fruit, minerality and a dry savoury finish and persistent lemon freshness.
Valenciso, created in 1998, is a collaboration between ex Bodegas Palacios' Luis Valentin and Carmen Enciso. Guided by quality and integrity and a crystal clear vision, they seek to make classically structured, subtle and elegantly fine wines, 100% Tempranillo from low yielding old vines in the Rioja Alta. Winemaker Alicia Eyaralar uses exclusively French barriques, a third being new each year, to produce around 100,000 bottles each vintage. A new bodega in Ollauri was completed just in time for the 2006 vintage.
Grapes are sourced from 80 year old vines on clay, stone soil in the North of the Rioja Alta area - these vineyards are of outstanding quality. Sustainable viticultural practices are followed. The grapes were harvested at the beginning of October 2010.
Fermented in 225 litre Caucasian oak barrels, where it aged until early July the following year and then bottled. The white Grenache gives a more textural mouthfeel, and the Caucasian oak is more subtle so doesn't dominate the fruit. Only 12 barrels produced (3,447 bottles).
A white wine that will benefit from decanting. Serve with roast chicken or pork, or fish in a delicately-flavoured sauce.
2012 Vintage: "The 2012 Valenciso Blanco is a blend of 70% Viura and 30% Garnacha Blanca from old head-pruned vineyards in Haro and Villalba that, after a cold-soak in cement vats, is fermented in Russian oak barrels with native yeasts where the wine ages for nine months with weekly battonage. It is extremely young and must have been very recently bottled. It displays a pale bright yellow color and a clean, subtle nose of flowers and white fruits, with the right amount of spice from the wood, which is very well-integrated into the wine. The perfectly balanced palate is intense, showing tension and precision, with perfumed flavors of ripe white fruit, spice and great acidity. It will get better with a bit of time in bottle. Only 5,400 bottles were produced. Drink 2014-2018. 92 Points" Luis Gutierrez, the Wine Advocate, Issue 210
2011 Vintage: "Classy oak accompanies expressive, fine, floral scents and yellow-fleshed fruit aromas, while the multi-layered palate has a nutty, savoury component. 'Pleasant and full-bodied, this has a remarkable finish. Pure and lovely with monkfish,' said Marco Adreani of The Pass at South Lodge." Sommelier Wine Awards 2013, Judges Comments
2016 Vintage: The Wine Merchant Top 100 2018
