{"product_id":"valenciso-rioja-reserva-2019","title":"Valenciso Rioja Reserva 2019","description":"\u003ch4\u003eThe Wine\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product__details\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product__details--inner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product__description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"expandable-desktop show-class\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis estate's flagship perfectly encapsulates Luis Gutiérrez’s assertion that Valenciso is one of the most traditional of Rioja’s modern producers. From a selection of handpicked Tempranillo from the clay\/limestone soils around Ollauri, the grapes are drawn from 17 organically managed plots spread across the villages of Villalba, Gimileo, Rodezno, Briones and Haro, all within a five-kilometre radius of the winery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart of what has been proposed as the Western Sonsierra zone (by Alberto Gil and Antonio Remesal Villar in Rioja: Vinos Silenciosos), these venerable sites lie at the heart of Rioja’s grower-producer genesis in the late 19th century.  Key to the quality includes the patrimony of old-vine Tempranillo (no less than 60 years old in this cuvée) and excellent limestone calcário soils at altitudes up to 600 metres. In the right hands, these historic terroirs imbue their wines with aromatic intensity and great structure for longevity. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wine ferments naturally in concrete vats before aging for 18 months in (mostly) low-toast Radoux French oak barriques. In recent vintages, 10% of the wine has also been raised in low-toast Caucasus oak, further lessening the wine’s already minimal wood influence. Following aging in barrel, the wine is transferred back to cool concrete vats to settle for a further 24 months before release. Luis and Carmen find the wine clarifies so well in concrete that there is no need to fine or filter it before bottling. “We seek wines with aromatic volume, wines that shine not out of weight but of perfume,” explains Luis Valentín. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Pts, Tim Atkin MW, 2024 Rioja Special Repor\u003c\/strong\u003et \u003cem\u003e'The latest in a fine run of Reservas from Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso, this well-priced Tempranillo combines components from Briones, Gimileo, Haro, Ollauri, Rodezno and Villalba. Youthful, structured and vigorous, it's a compact, serious, age-worthy red that manages to sidestep the heat of the vintage. Inky and profound with dark plum and blackberry fruit and a balsamic undertone.'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThe Details\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVariety\u003c\/strong\u003e - Tempranillo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCountry\u003c\/strong\u003e - Spain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c\/strong\u003e - Rioja\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExtra\u003c\/strong\u003e - Cork\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYear\u003c\/strong\u003e - 2019\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVolume\u003c\/strong\u003e - \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e750ml\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003ca href=\"#pro_more_desc\" id=\"more_desc_btn\"\u003eAbout the Wine Maker \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0616\/4211\/3208\/files\/right-arrow_480x480.jpg?v=1647847041\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"pro_more_desc\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom humble beginnings, Valenciso has risen to become a leading light among Rioja’s small yet growing band of terroir-focused producers. The story began in the late 1990s when wine industry veterans Luis Valentín (Valen…) and Carmen Enciso (…ciso) left behind outstanding careers at Bodegas Palacio and rented a small warehouse with barely enough space to produce their first vintage of 2,000 cases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday, the vineyards and cellar are in the far north of Rioja Alta, in Ollauri, a small village four kilometres from Haro. Believing most of the region’s most outstanding wines derive from commune-specific precincts, Valentin and Enciso chose to focus on Ollauri and its immediate environs. Part of what has been proposed as the Western Sonsierra zone (by Alberto Gil and Antonio Remesal Villar in their compelling book, “Rioja: Vinos Silenciosos”), Ollauri’s vineyards are noted for their excellent calcário soils, altitudes of up to 600 meters and Atlantic-influenced climate. These factors are responsible for imparting depth and finesse into the Rioja Alta’s northern Tempranillo wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the manner of French Burgundy and the greatest Riojas of the past, Valenciso is all about aromatic volume rather than physical weight. To pinch a sentiment from Tim Atkin MW—“each wine commemorates its rocky, mature-vine origins rather than how long it has spent in barrel”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlong with their 30 plots, the Domaine also farms vines in nearby villages of Briones, Rodezno, Gimileo, Zarratón and Villalba, all of which lie within five kilometres of Ollauri. Vine age plays a key role—the average age sits around 30 years, rising to 60 years for the Reserva and up to 100 years for the Rioja Blanco. While Valenciso has been working with organics since its inception—a significant challenge considering less than 3% of the vineyards of Rioja are organically managed—certification is currently in process. Several biodynamic practices are also subscribed to, including preparations of chamomile and horsetail to help invigorate the soils.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs Valenciso continues to etch out its own distinctive space in the Rioja story, year in, year out, every wine from this producer points to constant progression. A distinctive feature of Luis and Carmen’s approach is the use of concrete tanks for fermentation, which allows for a gentler extraction of fruit and colour. Aging for the Reserva takes place in French oak barriques (only one-third replaced each year), and the white wine is raised in low-toast Caucasian oak to prevent undue influence on the wine. All the Valenciso wines ferment naturally and are bottled unfiltered. In sum, these are complex, savoury, terroir-driven Rioja wines, revealing Luis and Carmen’s preference for subtlety, elegance and refinement. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Valenciso","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52991886491832,"sku":"SKU-120326013631","price":85.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0616\/4211\/3208\/files\/FEA160CB-D28C-4D26-9F2A-1C86AE882811.jpg?v=1773378161","url":"https:\/\/www.vauclusecellars.com.au\/products\/valenciso-rioja-reserva-2019","provider":"Vaucluse Cellars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}