In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

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.

History

Valenciso essentially makes one wine, a classically styled Reserva from purchased old-vine fruit, aged in French oak.

  1. 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)

Tags

cellar worthy dry high acid medium body medium tannin mood elegant mood savoury occasion dinner party occasion special old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price trade up still red tempranillo
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