Winery Profile:
Valenciso is a remarkable birth in 1998 from its two founders, husband and wife, Luis Valentin and Carmen Enciso (thereby aka Val+Enciso = Valenciso). The couple has tremendous experience and previously worked with Bodegas Palacios during its modernization with consultant Michel Rolland. Experienced in both old and new world style Rioja, they have quickly positioned Valenciso as one of Spain’s top wineries, which is the most modern of the traditional producers, or the most traditional of the modern producers.
Valensico has 28 years of wine background in La Rioja. VALENCISO distinguishes by following the Sustainable Viticulture practices, for using exclusively concrete vats, to facilitate the longevity of the wine, and for aging the wine in French Oak only.
Valenciso's cellar & vineyards are located on the small town of Ollauri, on the north-west limit of Rioja ALta, where the cooling Atlantic influence gives a long slow ripening season. This exceptional Reserva is from selected bunches of Tempranillo grown at over 500 masl, vinified in concrete for 5 years then 54 months in Russian oak, resulting in intense black fruit with complex balsamic notes & polished tannins.Robert Parker 95 Pts – A wine that is released 10 years after the harvest, the 2010 10 Anos Despues (10 years after!) was kept in concrete and barrel for a long time, 4.5 and 5.5 years, respectively. It combines the texture and mouthfeel from traditional Rioja with the cleanliness and precision of the more modern examples. Furthermore, in a vintage like 2010, it combines power and elegance, while still quite young and lively. It has notes of fine woods and smoke with dry flowers, berries and aromatic herbsm quite complex and elegant, insinuating more than in your face. It’s medium to full-bodied with great harmony and elegant tannins. It finishes long and dry. It’s approachable now but should continue developing nicely in bottle. 4,500 bottles were filled in January 2020.