Valenciso
Cemento Rioja – 2020
Region: Spain - La Rioja
Valenciso
VALENCISO was born in 1998 when Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso (Valen-Ciso, Val-en-THEECE-oh), Rioja natives with extensive experience in the region, joined their surnames to make a single wine in the winery of their dreams in La Rioja Alta.
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 limited number of wines of the highest quality and authenticity. The flagship wine is released as Reserva. The very best Tempranillo grapes come from mature, low-yielding vineyards. Careful harvesting is timed to capture the intensity of the fruit, while avoiding over ripeness or excessive alcohol levels. Aromatic lift 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 depends upon vintage characteristics and is determined after exhaustive tasting. The Valenciso wines are balanced offering early accessibility, structure, fresh acidity and fruit intensity promising many years of bottle evolution.
Cement tanks are used for winemaking because they respect the vividness and contribute to the wine’s longevity. Aging in French oak barrels gives elegance and richness.
The Wine
Vineyard Profile
Estate tempranillo vineyards in the the northernmost extreme of Rioja Alta, D.O.C. Rioja.
- Altitude: 1575-2000 feet/480-610 meters
- Soil: Clay-limestones
- Vine Age: eldest planted 1915
- Farmed sustainably and using organic principles since 2017
Harvest Notes
- Hand harvested in October
- Fermented in temperature controlled concrete tanks using only indigenous yeast
- Spontaneous malolactic fermentation
- Aged in concrete 2 years, ensuring freshness, temperature constancy and minimizing vibration
- Naturally settled; bottled unfined/unfiltered
- Vegan friendly
Winemaker's Notes
One hundred percent tempranillo from our organically farmed vineyards in Rioja Alta. Aromatic with a touch of minerality and fruit notes. Tasty, candied fruits balanced with liveliness on the palate. Textural and complex, the wine finishes long, round and elegant.
Wine Summary
100% Tempranillo; alcohol: 14%; estate vineyards between 1575-2000 feet in northernmost Rioja Alta, Rioja D.O.C.; vines farmed using organic an sustainable practices; hand harvested in October; fermented in concrete tanks using only indigenous yeast; spontaneous malolactic ferment; aged 2 years in concrete tanks to preserve freshness and add textural complexity; bottled unfined an dinfiltered; vegan friendly.
Technical Information
- 100% Tempranillo
- Alcohol: 14%
Reviews
92 Points
Pristine cherries, plums and a touch of grapefruit with grilled herbs and tile. Lovely texture and transparency here with a mineral twist. Tannins are fresh and vertical. Pure and lively. Drink now.
jamessuckling.com, December, 2023
92 Points
The 2020 Cemento (“concrete” in Spanish) is a Tempranillo matured exclusively in… concrete! it comes from a year that was challenging for organic farming (even if the wine does not carry the certification), and the wine shows purity, ripe, fruit-driven flavors, spices and nuts that are very attractive. It has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.7 and 5.5 grams of acidity. It was bottled after 26 months in concrete that polished the tannins. 10,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2023. 2024 – 2032
Valenciso is one of the most reliable medium-size producers (150,000 bottles) from Rioja, combining modernity and tradition. In 2023, they celebrated their 25th anniversary—congratulations! That year, they also finished a project to reduce sulfites in their wines. Since 2017, their vineyards (31 hectares all around Haro and their winery in Ollauri) are organic (but the wines don’t carry certifications for now).
© Wine Advocate, February, 2024
93 Points
Fermented and aged entirely in concrete, this Rioja carries enticing purity with a burst of plum and resinous herbs. It is a pleasure to taste the transparency, length, and brightness of the wine.
Wine Enthusiast, April, 2025
General Info
| COUNTRY | SPAIN |
| REGION | LA RIOJA |
| APPELLATION | D.O.C. RIOJA, SUB APPELLATION Rioja Alta |
| PROPRIETORS | Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso |
| FOUNDED | 1998 |
| WINEMAKER | Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso |
| ANNUAL PRODUCTION | 9,166 9L cases |
| FARMING (SUSTAINABLE, ORGANIC, BIODYNAMIC) | Organically farmed since 2006 – no herbicides, pesticides or insecticides |