2021 Valenciso Rioja Blanco, Rioja Alta

£23.50 inc. VAT

Texture, poise, minerality, elegance and structure – a beautifully crafted wine. Grapes are sourced from 80 year old vines on clay, stone soil in the North of the Rioja Alta area – these vineyards are of outstanding quality. Sustainable viticultural practices are followed. The grapes were harvested at the beginning of October 2020. Fermented in stainless steel for around 24 hours until fermentation begins (using indigenous yeasts) then transferred to 225 litre Caucasian oak barrels for 9 months.

“Following the established Valenciso assemblage of Viura and 30% Garnacha Blanca, fermented in oak with malolactic, this is the latest in a series of superb white wines from this family-owned bodega. Waxy, textured and leesy, with subtle aniseed and vanilla spices, zesty underlying acidity and a focused, tapering finish” 93 pts Tim Atkin MW 2022 Rioja Report

Complex aromas combining floral characters with preserved lemon and gently smoky notes. The palate is intense and broad with nuts, stone fruit, minerality and balancing citrus acidity on the finish. Will continue to develop in the bottle. A white wine that will benefit from decanting. Serve with roast chicken or pork, or fish in a delicately-flavoured sauce.