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
- 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
Scores
- Tim Atkin 93 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2022)
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.