Valenciso Rioja Blanco 2022

Details

If you’ve clicked on this wine expecting a bottle of anemic grape juice swamped in oak, apologies–you’ve come to the wrong place. Valenciso’s Blanco is earth-to-glass white Rioja and a seriously gorgeous white Rioja to boot. It’s crafted from 80 to 100 year old vines of Viura (70%) and Garnacha Blanca (30%), sourced from four highland vineyards around Haro and Villalba. After a wild ferment, the wine is aged on lees in Russian, steam bent, untoasted oak barrels for nine months. The result is a super pretty, aromatic wine with racy, crushed citrus and savoury notes and a juicy, crunchy, tangy vibrant palate (yet with good texture thanks to the low yields from the ancient vines). The finish is salty, savoury and refreshing. Imagine a good white Burgundy with a glowing sun tan, seriously, and nothing like what you would expect this wine style.