Valenciso Rioja Blanco 2022

Valenciso Rioja Blanco is a barrel-aged white Rioja made from century-old Viura and Garnacha Blanca.

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 balance between fruit and oak without pushing wood flavour forward. The low yields of the old vines give the fleshy, slightly creamy mouthfeel, and the saline, mineral finish comes from the sites. Since 2017 it has been presented in a Burgundy-shaped bottle, a fair indication of the reference point.

Good on release and better for three to five years in bottle. 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.