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OVERVIEW
Founded for the 1998 vintage by Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso, (Val-Enciso), Rioja natives with extensive careers in the making and commercialization of fine Rioja wines. Valenciso's objective is to produce a flagship wine combining the best characteristics of both traditional and modern Rioja, released exclusively as Reserva. Aromatic volume and fruit integrity is the Valenciso ideal. Vineyards established in chalky-clay soils at Rioja Alta’s northwestern extreme are organically farmed. Fermentation, malolactic and clarification are accomplished naturally in modern-construction cement vats.
Exciting new release for 2018: Valenciso “10 Años Después” 2007: http://classicalwines.com/Wineries/winery_32/Valenciso.pdf
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HISTORY
Founded for the 1998 vintage by Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso, (Valen-Ciso, Val-en-THEECE-oh), Rioja natives with extensive experience in the making, tasting and commercialization of Rioja wines. Minority partners include former managers of Radoux, makers of the finest French oak barriques, and growers in the best areas of the Rioja Alta.
Valenciso's objective is to produce a single wine of the highest quality and authenticity, released as Reserva. Only the best Tempranillo grapes are used, from mature, low-yielding vineyards. Of the available fruit from the grower-partners, only a small percentage is selected. Careful harvesting is timed to capture the intensity of the fruit, while avoiding overripeness or excessive alcohol levels. Aromatic volume rather than physical weight - in the manner of French Burgundy and the greatest Riojas of the past - is the Valenciso ideal.
Aging takes place in the finest cork-grade (flor) French oak barriques, one-third replaced each year. Time in oak is dependent upon vintage characteristics, and is determined upon exhaustive tasting.
Valenciso's impeccable sense of proportion demonstrates rare winemaking maturity. Perfect balance offers early accessibility, while the evident structure, fresh acidity and fruit intensity promise many years of positive bottle evolution.
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PRESS
Valenciso Reserva (2012) - "2012 was a warm and dry year, when some vines were blocked and stopped ripening the grapes. Surprisingly enough, many wines have retained more freshness than what the natural conditions of the year anticipated. Valenciso's 2012 Reserva has more stuffing and power than the 2011 and comes from a year that was saved by some rains in September and big temperature contrasts between day and night. It's very tasty, almost salty (the words of Jean Gonon from St Joseph saying "our wines are salty, to be enjoyed with food. There is no room for sweetness in our wines," comes to my mind). It's a modern classical Rioja in the making, still young but showing some development and incipient complexity. These wines develop slowly and nicely in bottle and seem to hit the spot after some eight years after the harvest."
93+ Points
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, Jun 30, 2019
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Valenciso Blanco (2017) - "Despite the difficulties of the 2017 growing season, with frosts that decimated the crop and a warm and dry spring and summer, the 2017 Valenciso Blanco shows extremely well and stands up to the 2016 that I tasted next to it. It's young and undeveloped, still very primary. The oak seems better integrated, and the wine doesn't show any signs of excess. The alcohol and acidity are similar to the 2016, and so is the varietal breakdown—Viura with 30% Garnacha Blanca. It's clean and elegant, in the house profile, not showy, a little shy but with more complexity and clout than might seem at first sight. This is a very pleasant surprise."
93+ Points
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, Jun 30, 2019
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Valenciso Reserva (2011) - "I was quite pleasantly surprised by the 2011 Reserva, a wine from an extremely warm year when ripe and excessively developed wines abound. This 2011 seems to have improved with bottle age, and its elegant and balanced side definitely wins over the ripeness of the year. The oak feels very integrated and the palate terribly balanced. A great 2011."
93 Points
Luis Gutiérrez , Wine Advocate, Jun 30, 2019
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Valenciso 10 Años Después (2008) - "The purity of the 2008 10 Años Después transports me to the Rioja wines from yesteryear, even if the élevage was quite different from those wines. This matured in concrete for four and a half years and the spend five and a half years in oak barrels from the Caucasus. It seems to have more stuffing than the 2007, and the oak is also better integrated. It feels young—you wouldn't guess it's already ten years old—and it has the textbook aromas from Rioja. This should have a long and positive development in bottle."
94+ Points
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, Jun 30, 2019
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Valenciso Reserva (2011) - "This dark red colored Tempranillo from Rioja opens with a new leather and black cherry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and juicy. The flavor profile is an oak influenced raspberry with nicely integrated gentle minerality with a hint of sloe plum. The finish is dry and its mild flinty tannins and flavors linger nicely. The Panel suggested pairing this Tempranillo with duck confit. Enjoy."
90 Points
Ken Hoggins, Ken's Wine Guide, Mar 14, 2019
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Valenciso 10 Años Después (2007) - "This generous red offers cassis, dried cherry, cocoa and licorice flavors, focused and still fresh, supported by firm, well-integrated tannins and balsamic acidity. Shows power and balance, in the modern style. Drink now through 2031."
93 Points
Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator, Feb 28, 2019
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Valenciso Blanco (2015) - "Limpid yellow-gold. Powerful aromas of candied citrus and orchard fruits, vanilla, iodine and fennel carry a sexy floral overtone. Fleshy and concentrated but lively as well, offering intense tangerine, poached pear, buttered toast and smoky mineral flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Finishes smooth, spicy and very long, displaying lingering smokiness and a touch of poached pear."
92 Points
Josh Raynolds, Vinous, Feb 1, 2019
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Valenciso 10 Años Después (2007) - "Deep, bright-rimmed ruby. Powerful, oak-spiced red/blue fruit aromas pick up mocha, cola and vanilla accents with air. Lush and seamless on the palate, showing strong spicy thrust to its cherry-vanilla, boysenberry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors. Stains the palate and shows impressive depth of flavors, with no excess weight. Finishes sweet, supple and very long, with discreet tannins and a repeating blue fruit note. "
93 Points
Josh Raynolds, Vinous, Feb 1, 2019
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Valenciso Reserva (2010) - "Vivid red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-laced red and blue fruits, incense, oak spices and cola. Sappy, palate-staining boysenberry, cherry-vanilla and spicecake flavors show excellent depth, while a spine of juicy acidity adds lift and back-end cut. Rich yet poised; an impressively long, smooth, gently tannic finish leaves a sexy floral pastille note behind."
93 Points
Josh Raynolds, Vinous, Feb 1, 2019
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Valenciso Reserva (2009) - "Bright ruby-red. Aromas of ripe red berries and cherry on the pungent nose, along with suggestions of musky earth, tobacco and mocha. Sweet and broad on the palate, showing the richness of the year in its lush, broad raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors. Finishes on a sappy note, with building spiciness, lingering cherry character and sneaky tannins that add gentle final grip."
93 Points
Josh Raynolds, Vinous, Feb 1, 2019
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Valenciso Blanco (2017) - "Yields were down 40% because of the frost and smaller bunch sizes in 2017, so there will be less of this enjoyable blend of Viura and 30% Garnacha Blanca to go round, alas. Toasty, complex and refreshing with some leesy weight and notes of green apple, aniseed, and beeswax."
93 Points
Tim Atkin MW, Special Rioja Report, Feb 1, 2019
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Valenciso Reserva (2011) - "Limpid ruby-red. Smoke-tinged aromas of candied cherry and singed plum, along with building vanilla and espresso accents. Juicy and supple on the palate, offering concentrated and appealingly sweet red and blue fruit and spicecake flavors that deepen slowly on the back half. Harmonious tannins add shape and gentle grip to the finish, which hangs on with strong, floral- and spice-tinged persistence."
92 Points
Josh Raynolds, Vinous, Feb 1, 2019
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Valenciso 10 Años Después (2007) - "This opaque and midnight purple colored Tempranillo from Valenciso is impressive and showing very nicely. It opens with a ripe plum and gentle black raspberry bouquet with a hint of soy. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, nicely balanced and smooth. The flavor profile is a flinty mineral infused blackberry with nicely integrated cedar with hints of plum, date and fig in the background. The finish is dry and its tannins are managed, but are very sticky. This Tempranillo is very steak friendly and would pair well with chuck-eye steak. Enjoy."
92 Points
Ken Hoggins, Ken's Wine Guide, Dec 17, 2018
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Valenciso Reserva (2011) - "This smells and tastes like the food you might encounter at dinner in Rioja, from spicy piquillo peppers to grilled lamb chops. Those animal and vegetal notes meet enough berry fruit to create a complex traditional style of Rioja with the tight, rosy scent of black tea. Best Riojas of 2018."
92 Points
Wine & Spirits Magazine, Dec 1, 2018
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Valenciso Reserva (2011) - "A powerful and rich, maturing Rioja with an elegant balance of polished tannins and lively blackberries and blueberries. If the fresh finish was a bit longer, this would rate even higher. Drink or hold."
92 Points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, Aug 2, 2018
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Valenciso 10 Años Después (2007) - "Showing some maturing, earthy aromas with grilled red-pepper and meaty notes, this is in savory mode. The palate has intensity and detail and attractive, juicy dark plums. Drink or hold."
93 Points
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, Aug 2, 2018
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Valenciso Reserva (2010) - "A hit with our judges, this Gold winner was praised…for its ‘lovely damson fruit, mouthwatering acidity, really long palate and fresh finish’, describing it as ‘a textbook Reserva’; ‘biscuit, toasted oak and black fruits’; ‘bright redcurrant, cedar and tobacco notes’; and ‘smooth tannins and great acidity leave you with red apples and blueberries on the finish.’
'Congratulations to Valenciso, by the way – amazing how, in an always-large number of entries, it rises to the top.’"
Gold Medal
Sommelier Wine Awards 2018, May 2, 2018
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Valenciso Reserva (2011) - "Richer and more concentrated than the superlative 2010, but with slightly less acidity, this pure Tempranillo is another triumph from Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso. Floral, spicy and focused, with a sturdy backbone of tannin and notes of black fruits and orange zest. Wines of the Year List Top 100."
95 Points
Tim Atkin, Special Rioja Report 2018, Feb 28, 2018
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Valenciso Reserva (2011) - "The elegant and balanced 2011 Reserva, cropped from a warm and dry year, was produced exclusively with Tempranillo grapes from the Haro region that were fermented uncrushed in concrete vats, including malolactic. The wine matured for 18 months in 90% French barriques and 10% oak barrels that, for the first time, were produced with oak from the Caucasus, which they like for its fine grain. There's black rather than red fruit here and some notes of licorice and ink with a touch of leather, a quite powerful and ripe vintage for this bottling. It has abundant, fine-grained tannins and a long, dry finish."
92 Points
Luis Gutiérrez , Wine Advocate, Feb 28, 2018
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Valenciso 10 Años Después (2007) - "This impressive Tempranillo, aged in the 100% Russian oak that's a feature of the Valenciso style, is serious, dense, and capable of ageing for more time in bottle. Perfumed, polished and beautifully judged."
95 Points
Tim Atkin, Special Rioja Report, Feb 28, 2018
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Valenciso Blanco (2016) - "They use only oak from the Caucasus for the barrel-fermented 2016 Valenciso Blanco, as they think the fine-grained wood allows for better balance between fruit and oak. It's a blend of Viura with 30% Garnacha Blanca from old vines in the villages of Villalba, Haro and Ollauri, fermented with indigenous yeasts and kept in 20% new barrels for six months. This is always elegant and balanced, true to the house style, a clean, classical, updated prole with character, freshness and very good balance. It's very tasty and long. "
92 Points
Luis Guitérrez, Wine Advocate, Feb 28, 2018
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Valenciso 10 Años Después (2007) - "A classical wine like the red from Valenciso is meant to age, so for a few years now, they have released small quantities of a red bottled ten years after its harvest. It's now the turn for the 2007 Reserva 10 An?os Despue?s, which follows the 2005. They selected a cuve?e from an exceptional 75-year-old vineyard in the north of Haro for long aging in concrete and Russian oak barrels, nine years in total. It's elegant, polished, subtle and developed, with perfectly integrated oak offering faint spices and smoke, with very nice fruit, clean and bright. The palate is super sleek with a polished texture and refined tannins. Silky and smooth, a pleasure to drink."
93 Points
Luis Guitérrez, Wine Advocate, Feb 28, 2018
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Valenciso Blanco (2016) - "There are two unusual things about this wine: first it's a blend of Viura with 30% Garnacha Blanca; and second, it's fermented in Russian wood. Made with malolactic, the Valenciso Blanco is an old-vine cuvée of considerable intensity and finesse, with white flower aromas, notes of honeysuckle and aniseed and pithy, focused acidity."
94 Points
Tim Atkin MW, Special Rioja Report, Feb 8, 2018
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Valenciso Rosado (2016) - "One of the more serious Rioja rosés on the market, this is made as an unoaked saignée, like a scaled-down red wine. It's a crunchy, appealing pure Tempranillo with lots of sap, a hint of tannin and tangy raspberry and pomegranate fruit flavours. "
91 Points
Tim Atkin MW, Special Rioja Report, Feb 8, 2018
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Valenciso Reserva (2010) - "Notes of earthy, clove and all spice carry the nose. This is full, juicy and popping on the palate. Flavors of raspberry, mixed spices and exotic tea finish with red-berry leftovers and even more spice notes. Drink through 2028."
91 Points
Michael Schachner, Wine Enthusiast, Feb 1, 2018
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Valenciso Reserva (2010) - "Dried cherry, berry, tea, tobacco, vanilla and spice flavors mingle in this lean, gentle red. Modest tannins and light acidity keep this lively as the elements float across the palate and glide into a spicy finish. Graceful, in the traditional style. Drink now through 2022."
91 Points
Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator, Nov 1, 2017
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Valenciso Reserva (2010) - "A firm and silky wine with sweet berry and hints of cedar. Tight and focused with linear backbone and long finish. Very fine. Drink now."
92 Points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, Aug 1, 2017
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Valenciso Reserva (2009) - "Spicy earthy briary aromas include a note of cola along with requisite berry and cassis scents. A slightly choppy mouthfeel and flavors of blueberry, cardamom, herbs and oak define the palate, while this finishes fruity and open. "
92 Points
Wine Enthusiast, Jul 1, 2017
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Valenciso Reserva (2010) - "Even better than the two releases that preceded it, the 2010 is a brilliant Tempranillo that highlights the qualities of the remarkable 2010 vintage. Fresh, balanced and nuanced, it combines subtle oak with delicate tannins, supported by acidity and showing savoury, spicy fruit."
96 Points
Tim Atkin MW, Apr 1, 2017
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Valenciso Reserva (2009) - "The nose here shows discreet dark berries, walnuts and some dried bark in the background. Full-bodied with fine tannins and a long finish. Pretty polish and austerity. Drink or hold."
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com, Mar 1, 2017
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Valenciso Blanco (2015) - "A perfumed and floral wine focused on white flowers, lemons and wet stone in terms of aromas. Fresh and flavorful on the palate too with plenty of dried-fruit notes. Drink now."
90 Points
JamesSuckling.com, Mar 1, 2017
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Valenciso Reserva (2009) - "Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso founded this bodega in 1998, working with estate vineyards in La Rioja Alta to focus on one red wine. They age it in French oak barrels, one-third new, and yet the wine feels traditionally Riojana in the best sense: red fruited, rosy, tense and smoky, with the kind of lip-smacking complexity that brings you back for a second glass. It’s as if the French oak brings out the succulence in the fruit without overriding its brightness and savor."
91 Points
Wine & Spirits, Dec 1, 2016
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Valenciso Reserva (2009) - "This red is round yet firm, offering plum, tobacco and meaty flavors, with firm tannins and orange-peel acidity. Focused, with tar and mineral notes adding depth and interest."
91 Points
Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator, Nov 15, 2016
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Valenciso Reserva (2009) - "The 2009 Reserva from Valenciso is a classic Rioja produced with grapes from Rioja Alta in search of the classical profile combining freshness, elegance and power. 2009 was a warm and healthy harvest when they picked earlier to keep the freshness. The destemmed but uncrushed grapes fermented in cement tanks where it underwent malolactic. It matured in one-third new French oak barrels for some 17 months. There are some notes of leather, licorice and fountain pen ink, over a core of ripe berry fruit, with some spicy notes from the oak and a faint animal character. The palate is medium-bodied with some dusty, slightly rustic tannins and a dry finish. 99,000 bottles produced."
91 Points
Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, Aug 1, 2016
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Valenciso Blanco (2014) - "The barrel-fermented white 2014 Valenciso Blanco is a blend of Viura with 30% Garnacha Blanca from old vines in the villages of Villalba, Haro and Ollauri; it fermented with indigenous yeasts and was kept in barrel until its bottling in June 2015. It felt very fresh, nuanced and elegant, with the oak in the background adding spiciness and complexity; the foreground is taken by very aromatic notes of flowers and a hint of pollen. The palate is fresh and balanced, nicely textured, very tasty with an almost salty finish. Delicious! 9,000 bottles produced."
92 Points
Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, Aug 1, 2016
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Valenciso Reserva (2008) - "This ruby colored Tempranillo from Rioja opens with a gentle black raspberry bouquet with a hint of strawberry rhubarb and oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, and smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty mild red raspberry and strawberry blend with nicely integrated gentle oak. The finish is rather dry and its flavors are nicely prolonged. The Panel suggested pairing this with veal medallions sautéed in a mushroom, shallot butter sauce. Enjoy - KWGTP"
91 Points
Ken Hoggins, Ken's Wine Guide, Mar 17, 2016
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Valenciso Reserva (2008) - "Second Growth. 2015 Rioja Classification."
Tim Atkin MW, , Feb 1, 2016
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Valenciso Blanco (2014) - "Second Growth. 2015 Rioja Classification."
Tim Atkin MW, , Feb 1, 2016
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Valenciso Reserva (2008) - "Brilliant ruby. Sexy, high-pitched red and dark berry scents are complemented by vanilla, cola and pipe tobacco. Sweet, palate-staining blackberry and cherry flavors are given definition and spine by juicy acidity. Supple tannins add shape to the wine's intense, sappy fruit on the long finish. Drink now - 2023."
91 Points
Josh Raynolds, Vinous, Nov 1, 2015
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Valenciso Reserva (2008) - "This wine is, year in, year out, among the best in its category. I'm talking about the red 2008 Valenciso Reserva, an explosive, aromatic, perfumed Tempranillo that mixes the more common strawberries, raspberries and cherries with more unusual violets and subtle spices with plenty of nuances and changing details, elegant and complex, starting to develop some tertiary characteristics. Perhaps some aromas are derived from the fact that the uncrushed grapes fermented in cement vats, a process that can sometimes can provoke intense aromatics. Also, the malolactic was very slow and did not finish until the spring/summer. The palate is lush, full and round, with sophisticated glossy tannins and good acidity. Add to this the effect of the 17 months in French oak that brought some spicy flavors, but that did not dry the wine at all. A beauty. At this price point, it is quite good value. 95,000 bottles. Valenciso produce balanced, elegant and reliable Riojas that show the perfect marriage of tradition and modernity. Anything with their name is worth trying."
93 Points
Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, Apr 1, 2015
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Valenciso Blanco (2013) - "This wine is, year in, year out, among the best in its category... The white 2013 Valenciso Blanco, a barrel-fermented blend of Viura with 30% Garnacha Blanca, has notes of white fruit and flowers intermixed with balsamic aromas and well-integrated spicy/smoky notes...The palate has sweet fruit and good acidity, with very good persistence and a chalky minerality... Anything with their name is worth trying."
90 Points
Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, Apr 1, 2015
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Valenciso Reserva (2007) - "Bright ruby. Vibrant redcurrant, cherry and floral aromas, along with hints of anise and tobacco. Silky and open-knit, offering tangy red fruit flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate. Becomes sweeter with air while maintaining very good energy and lift. Closes taut and spicy, with supple tannins coming in slowly and adding grip. In a nervy, racy style, but with plenty of appealingly sweet fruit that makes for immediate gratification."
90 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 1, 2014
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Valenciso Reserva (2007) - "Complexity meets authenticity in Valenciso's masterful reserva. With good balance, sweet tannins and a welcome freshness, charcoal and chocolate kick off proceedings, alongside earthy notes of mushroom. 'Mellow, silky and fresh, with balsamic and liquorice notes, this is deep with a lingering finish,' said a happy Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn. Food tips range from beetroot to chorizo or roast lamb with artichokes. #Mmm!"
2014 Gold List (Fine Wine of the Year)
Sommelier Wine Awards, Jul 1, 2014
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Valenciso Blanco (2012) - "The 2012 Valenciso Blanco is a blend of 70% Viura and 30% Garnacha Blanca from old head-pruned vineyards in Haro and Villalba that, after a cold-soak in cement vats, is fermented in Russian oak barrels with native yeasts where the wine ages for nine months with weekly battonage. It is extremely young and must have been very recently bottled. It displays a pale bright yellow color and a clean, subtle nose of flowers and white fruits, with the right amount of spice from the wood, which is very well-integrated into the wine. The perfectly balanced palate is intense, showing tension and precision, with perfumed flavors of ripe white fruit, spice and great acidity. It will get better with a bit of time in bottle. Only 5,400 bottles were produced. Drink 2014-2018."
92 Points
Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, Dec 1, 2013
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Valenciso Reserva (2007) - "The 2007 Valenciso Reserva is pure Tempranillo from argilo-calcareous soils around Haro cropped at 38 hectoliters per hectare, fermented in cement vats with native yeasts, and aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, one third of which are new. 2007 was a cold, wet, Atlantic and difficult vintage, where the date of the harvest made a big difference. At Valenciso they started on October 14 and the wine is quite tight at the moment, with subtle and elegant notes of red and black fruit, cedar wood, nutmeg and vanilla. The characteristic that strikes me as more important here is the balance, something that Valenciso seems to be quite good at, producing classically proportioned wines with the right amount of extraction, acidity and wood. It should age very well. This wine represents the bulk of the 100,000 bottles produced by the winery. Drink 2014-2022."
93 Points
Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, Dec 1, 2013
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Valenciso Reserva (2006) - "Classically styled. Very driven palate with sweet red fruits and prominent acidity. A lively wine with a very long finish."
96 Points
Ben Henshaw, Decanter, Sep 1, 2013
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Valenciso Reserva (2006) - "Traditional, classical style with fresh acidity and ripe but structured tannins. Black coffee and sweet spice. Precise and long finish. Delicious, complex and multi-layered."
96 Points
Annette Scarfe, Decanter, Sep 1, 2013
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Valenciso Reserva (2006) - "Excellent. A unique expression from Rioja with balanced tannins, minerality and a spicy finish."
96 Points
Pedro Ballesteros, Decanter, Sep 1, 2013
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Valenciso Reserva (2005) - "Smooth and aromatic, with rich black fruit and herbaceous spice aromas, over earthy minerals. Soft and round on the palate, offering mature blackberry, black cherry, and plum flavors, with vanilla oak and earthy notes. Smooth tannins on the long finish. Balanced and delicious. Rosemary roasted loin of lamb."
Santé, Sep 1, 2012
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Valenciso Reserva (2006) - "Ruby-red. Sexy, floral-accented aromas of redcurrant and cherry, with cola and cedary oak notes adding complexity. Supple and seamless on the palate, distinguished by sweet red fruit flavors and a deeper note of licorice. Finishes on a smoky note, with very good energy and lift."
90 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 1, 2012
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Valenciso Reserva (2005) - "The 2005 Valenciso Reserva has a perfumed, floral bouquet with wild strawberry, raspberry, Moroccan leather and crushed violets all with fine delineation and vivacity. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte, saturated tannins, crisp acidity and a lovely, pepper and cocoa-tinged finish that is very harmonious. This is a superb, feminine Reserva to enjoy over the next decade, possibly longer. Drink now-2025."
92 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, Aug 1, 2012
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Valenciso Reserva (2006) - "The 2006 Reserva has a classic, very pure bouquet of warm leather, dried herbs and dark berry fruit, and it offers scents of melted tar with continued aeration. The palate is very harmonious with succulent red cherries, mulberry and dried fig, with subtle white pepper notes sprinkled over the finish. This constitutes a worthy follow-up to the superb 2005 and will have the same propensity to age. Drink now-2025."
93 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, Aug 1, 2012
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Valenciso Reserva (2005) - "Smooth and inviting from the start, with floral aromas, popping cherry and ripe plum on the bouquet. Feels fresh and forward, with black cherry, cola, baked plum and spice flavors. Gets it right all the way through, with smoothness and chocolaty oak on the finish. Drink now through 2015."
92 Points
Michael Schachner, Wine Enthusiast, Apr 1, 2012
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Valenciso Reserva (2005) - "Compañía Bodeguera Valenciso makes one wine, a Reserva. The 2005 Valenciso Reserva, from an outstanding Rioja vintage, displays lots of spice, cedar, leather, violets, and blackberry aromas in its already complex nose. Savory, ripe, and nicely proportioned, this impressive Reserva is beginning to be approachable and will be at its best from 2013 to 2025."
91 Points
Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, Jul 1, 2011
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Valenciso Reserva (2001) - "The 2001 Valenciso Reserva Library Release from a great Rioja vintage has a slightly aged appearance in its medium ruby color. It reveals an earthy minerality on the nose along with cedar, tobacco, black cherry, incense, and Asian spices. On the palate it has superb volume, layers of flavor, a suave personality, and exceptional length. It merits several more years of cellaring and will drink well through 2026, perhaps longer."
93 Points
Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, Apr 1, 2011
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Valenciso Reserva (2004) - "The 2004 Valenciso Reserva is 100% Tempranillo aged for 22 months in one-third new French oak. Deep crimson-colored, it offers up an alluring nose of mineral, cigar box, incense, violets, and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the wine is layered, rich, spicy, and structured. With 4-6 years of additional cellaring it will show greater complexity in both aromas and flavors. Drink it from 2014 to 2024."
91 Points
Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, Jun 30, 2010
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Valenciso Blanco (2008) - "The 2008 Valenciso Blanco is made up of 70% Viura and 30% Garnacha Blanca that was barrel-fermented and aged sur lie with 8 months of batonnage in new Caucasian oak. Medium straw in color, it receives a significant uplift from the Garnacha Blanca component while displaying notes of popcorn, melon, spring flowers, and honey. Spicy on the palate with an excellent acid structure and serious grip, this lengthy effort is likely to evolve for 1-2 years and should drink nicely for 6-8 years. "
90 Points
Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, Apr 30, 2010
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Valenciso Reserva "Library Release" (2001) - "The 2001 Valenciso Reserva Library Release from a great Rioja vintage has a slightly aged appearance in its medium ruby color. It reveals an earthy minerality on the nose along with cedar, tobacco, black cherry, incense, and Asian spices. On the palate it has superb volume, layers of flavor, a suave personality, and exceptional length. It merits several more years of cellaring and will drink well through 2026, perhaps longer."
93 Points
Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, Apr 30, 2010
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Valenciso Reserva (2004) - "The 2004 Valenciso Reserva from a great vintage spent 22 months in 33% new French oak. Purple in color with a splendid nose of mineral, cedar, spice box, incense, black cherry, and blackberry, on the palate it is rich and structured with 4-6 years of aging potential. Dense, layered, and incipiently complex with excellent integration of the oak, it will offer a drinking window extending from 2014 to 2029."
92 Points
Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, Apr 30, 2010
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Valenciso Reserva (2004) - "This bright ruby colored offering from Rioja has a lot of Zinfandel characteristics. It opens with a spicy red raspberry bouquet with a hint of ripe red cherry. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, well balanced, and smooth. The flavor profile is a juicy black raspberry with notes of black licorice and strawberry. There was also a hint of prune detected. The finish is dry and it’s rather big tannins stick around for quite sometime. This wine would pair well with spaghetti with spicy Italian sausage."
91.3 Points
Ken Hoggins, Ken's Wine Guide, Sep 28, 2009
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Valenciso Reserva (2004) - "Powerful aromas of dried cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate, tobacco and sexy oak spices. Sweet, creamy red and dark berry and cherry compote flavors are framed by velvety tannins and become spicier with air. A zesty mineral note carries into the finish. Deeply flavored in the style of the vintage, but this wine possesses very good energy too. Finishes with alluring sweetness and excellent cling. This is built for the long haul."
91 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 17, 2009
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Valenciso Reserva (2002) - "Founded in 1998, a joint venture by Riojans Luis Valentin and Carmen Enciso with other minority partners. They produce one modern wine released as a Reserva, from low-yielding vineyards. The wine is fruit forward offering aromas of strawberry, plum, earth and cedar, followed by a soft attack of sour cherry and spice, good balance and a firm finish. Good aging potential."
89 Points
i-winereview.com, Aug 26, 2008
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Valenciso Reserva (2002) - "Founded in 1998, Valenciso makes one wine released as Reserva. The 2002 Valenciso Reserva is a particularly fine effort given the difficult vintage conditions. The nose is nicely perfumed with aromas of wood smoke, cedar, pencil lead, blackberry, and plum. This is followed by a firm wine with plenty of structure but good fruit behind it. It should all come together in 4-6 years and drink well through 2020. "
90 Points
Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, Feb 29, 2008
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Valenciso Reserva (2001) - "An outstanding, fairly priced effort representative of that great vintage in Rioja. Deeply colored, it offers a beautiful nose of scorched earth, tobacco, vanilla, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. It combines a velvety, almost Burgundian, palate feel with superb depth, ripe flavors, and enough structure to evolve for several more years. It should easily last for a decade."
90 Points
Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, Feb 1, 2007
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Valenciso Reserva (2001) - "Dark red. Deep, smoky and sweet on the nose, showing ripe strawberry, candied cherry and cured tobacco aromas, along with more subtle notes of roasted coffee, vanilla bean and musky underbrush. Lush, supple and round but firmed by gentle tannins. The ripe red fruit flavors are deep, concentrated and tinged by gentle oak spices. Sexy, sweet and impressively persistent on the finish. Serve this with a braised lamb or game dish."
90 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Oct 1, 2006
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Valenciso Reserva (2001) - "Lovely, silk, warm wine made with loving care by this tiny bodega"
*****
Dectanter Online, Jan 1, 2006
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Valenciso Reserva (2001) - "Deep ruby-red. Dark cherry, chocolate, mocha and smoky, cedary oak on the nose. Supple, lush and suave, with classic Rioja flavors of plum, cedar and chocolate, nicely shaped by ripe acidity. Shows the fat of the year, with darker fruits and burnished oak tones emerging with aeration. Finishes with broad, ripe tannins. "
89 Points
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, Oct 1, 2005
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Valenciso Reserva (2000) - "Pure, sweet cherry fruit notes are well integrated with fine-grained tannin."
Very Good
Michael Franz, The Washington Post, Oct 6, 2004
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Valenciso Reserva (2000) - "Clean and strong. There is everything here: fruit-tannins balance. Needs time. Good length. 5-10 years."
Silver Medal
Decanter Magazine, Oct 1, 2004
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Valenciso Reserva (1999) - "Some oak, cold tea nose, with a hint of figs and walnuts. Some good fine notes and style, pleasant gentle oak. 2 years. "
Silver Medal
Decanter Magazine, Oct 1, 2004
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Valenciso Reserva (2000) - "Black cherry, licorice and vanilla flavors float over firm tannisn in this modern red. It's straightforward, fresh and lively."
86 Points
Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator, Sep 1, 2004
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Valenciso Reserva (2000) - "Soft, smooth and cherry-scented. One of 'The 50 Greatest Red Riojas.'"
David Rosengarten, The Rosengarten Report, Aug 30, 2004
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