Valenciso
Rioja Blanco Barrel Fermented – 2024
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
From old vineyards in Ollauri, Haro and Villalba estate vineyards in the north of Rioja Alta.
- Altitude: 1663-2000 feet/507–610 meters
- Soil: Clay-calcareous, chalky white
- Vineyards benefit from cooling Altantic ocean influence
- Farmed using organic practices
Harvest Notes
- 2024 August and September quite rainy, led to earlier harvest, September 26 – October 1
- Each variety fermented separately in light toast oak barrels using only indigenous yeasts
- Aged in barrels 8 months
Winemaker's Notes
A very flavourful wine, with a round and fresh palate. Subtle notes of bread crust, white stone fruit and spices. With a beautiful balance between fruit and oak, very refined, allowing for perfect evolution in the bottle, culminating in creaminess and aromatic richness.
Wine Summary
70% Viura, 30% White Grenache, alcohol: 13.5%; very old estate vineyards in Ollauri, Haro Villalba in the north of Rioja Alta between 1663-2000 feet; clay-limestone soils; farmed using organic practices; hand harvested from August 31 – September 26; each variety fermented separately in oak barrels; blended and aged 8 months in barrel.
Technical Information
- 70% Viura, 30% Grenache Blanc
- Alcohol: 13.5%
Reviews
93+ Points
The white 2024 Fermentado en Barrica, a wine of great regularity, shows, serious, clean and harmonious. It was produced with a blend of 70% Viura and 30% Garnacha Blanca from a year of low yields and a quick harvest of the white grapes at the end of September. They fermented it with selected yeasts and matured it in Caucasian oak barrels, for which they had the initial help from Denis Dubourdieu, to avoid creaminess and maderization in the wine, which keeps a young and fresh profile, with aromas of white flowers, white fruit, pollen and just a smoky and spicy twist. It has a medium-bodied palate with very good balance, 13.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.46 and 5.3 grams of acidity. 2026 – 2031
© Wine Advocate, March, 2026
95 Points
Fermented and aged in a highly unusual combination of Caucasian and 10% Georgian oak in 2024, this is a polished, finely judged partnership of Viura and 30% Garnacha Blanca from old vines in Haro, Ollauri, Tirgo and Villalba. Flavours of pear, orange zest and lemongrass are framed by subtle wood spices and plenty of racy acidity. 2026 – 2032
Tim Atkin MW-timatkin.com, February, 2026
91 Points
Inviting blend of Viura and Garnacha Blanca, the latter’s rich pear, yellow and quince fruit – very juicy at the core – cloaked in classical Viura ripe citrus and flaked almonds. An inviting, classical wine, approachable without being simple. 2026 -2028
Decanter, April, 2026
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 |