Rioja: Bodegas Altanza
Visit a unique Rioja winery and discover Altanza, a place where wine tourism goes far beyond a tour with tastings.
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2018: best 2024 to 2038.
vintage6 yrs20 yrs22 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2021 | 2018 | 94/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: black cherry, blackberry, violet, cedar, mineral
Palate: dark fruit, fine tannin, graphite, fresh
A single-vineyard old-vine Tempranillo with the house's signature floral lift and minerality, more accessible than El Pison but built on the same site-driven philosophy.
What it pairs with
-
Chuleton de buey
Find chuleton de buey on TableJourney →
Aged-beef chop frames the wine's fine tannin and dark fruit. -
Roast lamb shoulder
Slow-roast lamb meets the silky black fruit. -
Aged Idiazabal
Smoked sheep cheese sharpens the mineral finish.
How to serve Valdegines
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Chuleton de buey, Roast lamb shoulder, Aged Idiazabal. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Valdegines is one of Artadi's named single-vineyard Tempranillos, sitting below El Pison in the range.
- 2002: Valdegines established as a named single-vineyard bottling
Facts
- Producer
- Artadi · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (100%)
- Classification
- Vino de Espana (formerly DOCa Rioja, left 2015)
- Oak
- Around 14 to 16 months in French oak
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 45 to 75 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6 to 20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2002
Frequently asked about Valdegines
What does Valdegines taste like?
On the nose, black cherry, blackberry, violet, cedar, mineral. On the palate, dark fruit, fine tannin, graphite, fresh. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. A single-vineyard old-vine Tempranillo with the house's signature floral lift and minerality, more accessible than El Pison but built on the same site-driven philosophy.
When should I drink Valdegines?
Drink 6 to 20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Valdegines?
Chuleton de buey is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Roast lamb shoulder and Aged Idiazabal. Aged-beef chop frames the wine's fine tannin and dark fruit.
Is Valdegines vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Valdegines?
The blend is Tempranillo (100%). The wine is classified as Vino de Espana (formerly DOCa Rioja, left 2015).
Tags
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