Valenciso Rioja Blanco 1.5L MAGNUM 2022

Valenciso Rioja Blanco is a barrel-aged white Rioja from century-old Viura and Garnacha Blanca, offered here in 1.5-litre magnum.

White Rioja was long an afterthought, and the modern versions that matter come from old Viura on clay and limestone in the highlands around Haro. Valenciso, based at Ollauri, keeps to a deliberately small range made in a restrained, classically proportioned style. This white is drawn from four ancient, low-yielding highland vineyards around Rodezno, Haro and Villalba, planted to vines more than a hundred years old, and runs roughly 70% Viura to 30% Garnacha Blanca. After a wild ferment the wine is aged on lees for nine months in steam-bent, untoasted Russian oak barrels, a fine-grained Caucasian wood chosen because it gives structure and balance without pushing oak flavour forward. Since 2017 it has been presented in a Burgundy-shaped bottle, a fair indication of where the inspiration lies. Magnums age more slowly than standard bottles.

Good on release and better for three to five years in bottle, particularly in this format. Serve at 10-12°C with roast chicken, grilled turbot or a mushroom tart.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.