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 2016: best 2022 to 2036.
vintage6 yrs20 yrs22 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2016 | 93/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: red and black cherry, cedar, tobacco, dried herb, spice
Palate: red fruit, fine tannin, savoury, mineral
The boutique's single Reserva, a pure French-oak-aged Tempranillo bridging modern and classic: elegant, savoury and finely structured.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register. -
Roast partridge
Game and the wine's tobacco depth align.
How to serve Valenciso Reserva
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Valenciso essentially makes one wine, a classically styled Reserva from purchased old-vine fruit, aged in French oak.
- 1998: Valenciso founded, focused on a single Reserva
Facts
- Producer
- Valenciso · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (100%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 18 months in French oak, then long bottle ageing
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 25 to 40 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6 to 20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1998
Frequently asked about Valenciso Reserva
What does Valenciso Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red and black cherry, cedar, tobacco, dried herb, spice. On the palate, red fruit, fine tannin, savoury, mineral. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The boutique's single Reserva, a pure French-oak-aged Tempranillo bridging modern and classic: elegant, savoury and finely structured.
When should I drink Valenciso Reserva?
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 Valenciso Reserva?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Valenciso Reserva 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 Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (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.