2019 Valenciso Rioja Reserva, Rioja

The latest in a fine run of Reservas from Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso, this well-priced Tempranillo combines components from Briones, Gimileo, Haro, Ollauri, Rodezno and Villalba. Youthful, structured and vigorous, it's a compact, serious, age-worthy red that manages to sidestep the heat of the vintage. Inky and profound with dark plum and blackberry fruit and a balsamic undertone.

94 points Tim Atkin MW 2024 Rioja Special Report

Valenciso is a boutique winery in Rioja Alta founded in 1998 by winemakers Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso, whose surnames combine to form the estate’s name. Their vision has always been to craft Rioja wines that balance the elegance and ageing potential of tradition with the purity and vibrancy of modern winemaking. The Rioja Reserva is made exclusively from Tempranillo, sourced from mature, low-yielding vines planted on clay-limestone soils at elevations that promote slow, even ripening. This high-altitude fruit, combined with hand harvesting and meticulous selection, ensures a wine of finesse and structure. Maturation in a mix of French and American oak barrels adds complexity while preserving varietal expression.

In the glass, Valenciso Rioja Reserva shows a deep garnet hue and releases lifted aromas of red cherry, blackberry, and plum, intertwined with rose petal, clove, cedar, and a subtle balsamic note. The palate is medium to full-bodied, offering layers of dark and red berry fruit supported by fine, chalky tannins and vibrant acidity. Hints of vanilla, tobacco, and savoury spice from the oak weave seamlessly into the fruit, leading to a long, harmonious finish. This is a wine that speaks clearly of Rioja Alta’s precision and depth.

It pairs beautifully with roast lamb and rosemary, Iberico pork, grilled tuna steaks, or a rich wild mushroom paella. Manchego cheese, aged for several months, also makes an excellent partner. While drinking wonderfully now, it has the structure to cellar gracefully for 10 to 15 years, developing greater savoury complexity and softness.