Valenciso Rosado 2015

Description

“If you asked me to name just one producer from Rioja that you should buy, it would be Valenciso … A small treasure in the great sea of Rioja.” Jesús Barquin one of the most influential wine critics in Spain who co authored the Spanish wine bible The Finest Wines of Rioja and Northwest Spain.

From humble beginnings, Valenciso have become a leading light amongst Rioja’s small, yet growing, band of micro, terroir-focused producers.  Leaving behind excellent careers at Bodegas Palacio, Luis Valentin (Valen) and Carmen Enciso (…ciso) started Compania Bodeguera de Valenciso in 1998. The vineyards and cellar are located in Rioja Alta in Ollauri, Spain, a small village 4-km away from Haro. Only the best Tempranillo grapes are used, from mature, low yielding vineyards in the Rioja Alta. Valenciso is all about aromatic volume rather than physical weight – in the manner of French Burgundy and the greatest Riojas of the past. Ageing for the reserve takes place in French oak barriques, one-third replaced each year, while the white wine is raised in low toast Caucasian oak so as not to mark the wine.
The pair’s wines are much sought after by the top restaurants in Spain – Valenciso count the likes of Arzak and Racó de Can Fabes as key clients. Today, the wines can be found on some of the best wine lists Australia has to offer. Valenciso’s wines are complex, savoury, terroir-driven (as opposed to brand driven) Rioja, revealing Luis and Carmen’s preference for subtle, elegant and super refined wines.

As with Valenciso’s white wine, the estate dry Rosado is made in tiny quantities. 100% saignée bled off the Tempranillo fruit from Valenciso’s Rioja Reserva (so, old-vine Tempranillo from La Rioja Alta). Fermented naturally and raised entirely in tank.

92 Points, Tim Atkin, Special Rioja Report 2017 “This is the third release of Luis Valentin and Carmen Enciso’s rosado, made entirely from Tempranillo as a saignee style. Floral, fresh and juicy, with pomegranate and redcurrant flavours and the balance and elegance that characterises the Valenciso style.”

RRP $45