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 2019: best 2022 to 2031.
vintage3 yrs12 yrs14 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2019 | 91/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: lemon, white peach, almond, fennel, mineral
Palate: citrus, stone fruit, creamy texture, saline
A barrel-fermented Viura in a fresh, mineral style: citrus and almond over a saline frame, a refined modern white Rioja.
What it pairs with
-
Bacalao al pil pil
Find bacalao al pil pil on TableJourney →
Salt cod meets the white's saline, mineral citrus. -
Roast hake
Oven hake handles the barrel-fermented depth. -
Txangurro al horno
Find txangurro al horno on TableJourney →
Baked spider crab lifts the wine's citrus savour.
How to serve Valenciso Blanco
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a smaller all-purpose white glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Bacalao al pil pil, Roast hake, Txangurro al horno. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Valenciso Blanco is the boutique's barrel-fermented Viura, a later addition to the single-Reserva house.
- 2012: Valenciso Blanco introduced
Facts
- Producer
- Valenciso · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Viura (100%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Fermented and aged in French oak with lees work
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 20 to 35 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3 to 12 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2012
Frequently asked about Valenciso Blanco
What does Valenciso Blanco taste like?
On the nose, lemon, white peach, almond, fennel, mineral. On the palate, citrus, stone fruit, creamy texture, saline. Structurally medium-bodied, high acidity with a long finish. A barrel-fermented Viura in a fresh, mineral style: citrus and almond over a saline frame, a refined modern white Rioja.
When should I drink Valenciso Blanco?
Drink 3 to 12 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Valenciso Blanco?
Bacalao al pil pil is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Roast hake and Txangurro al horno. Salt cod meets the white's saline, mineral citrus.
Is Valenciso Blanco 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 Valenciso Blanco?
The blend is Viura (100%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tours and tastings in Rioja
Rioja Wine Tour: 3 Wineries & Pintxos Lunch
Discover Rioja on a full-day wine tour visiting 3 wineries in Rioja Alta and Alavesa. Taste local wines, explore wine country and enjoy a traditional pintxos lunch.
RIOJA: WINE TOUR WITH THE OWNER OF A WINERY
Taste selected wines at 3 different wineries in Rioja. Visit our own 1881 winery, La Bodega del Tesoro. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a wooden wine press.