Valenciso Cement - Rioja

93 Points - Robert Parker
93 Points - Tim Atkin
92 Points - Decanter

Valenciso Cemento is a juicy, fruity red wine with a deep red color and intense nuance. The nose is very inviting with fruity aromas (blueberries, red berries, blackberries) and an undertone of mocha. The taste is subdued and elegant, with ripe, polished, well-integrated tannins. Clear and silky. Very tasty finish.

If the Valenciso winery in La Rioja Alta is known for anything, it's their expertise in using cement to age wine. In fact, Valenciso, founded by Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso, were the first to use this material in their winemaking back in 1998, in an area where wood aging was dominant. And today, they still impress with their wines, of which Valenciso Cemento is a good example.

In general, the most common material for aging in Rioja is wood. The regulations dictate what material the barrels must be made of, but they say nothing about tanks. And this is where some producers have discovered a wonderful alternative in concrete. But although it may seem like a novelty, this material was traditionally used up until the 1970s, when stainless steel tanks made their way into winemaking. Now this noble material, which preserves the youth and juiciness of the wines, is becoming popular again.

The raw material, that is, the grapes used for this process, must be of the highest quality (if this is not the case, Valenciso prefers not to make wine that year). In this regard, the vineyards are cultivated organically from the beginning, without fertilizers and chemicals at all times. All work is done manually, without machines, from the harvest to the selection of the grapes. Later, in the winery, the character given by the different types of soil (clay-lime, clay-iron and alluvial) and the Atlantic climate of the area (with cold winters, mild summers and an average annual rainfall of 650 mm) is always sought.

Contents: 75 cl

Alcohol: 14%
Grape composition: 100% Tempranillo