Valenciso Rioja Reserva 2012 10 Anos Despues
The 2012 is just the sixth release of this wonderful and unconventional Rioja. As before, the Tempranillo here is sourced from Valenciso’s highest parcel of vines, a 75-year-old vineyard in Villalba. This parcel produces exceptional, ripe fruit with high acidity that is judged perfect for its long aging ahead.
Fermented wild, the wine was initially aged in a single 50-hectolitre concrete tank for five years, then rested for 40 months in low-toast Caucasian oak (the same barrels Valenciso uses for the Rioja Blanco). It was bottled in 2017, 10 years after harvest, hence the name 10 Años Después or ‘10 Years After’.
“The subtle, elegant and complex 2012 10 Años Después (10 years after!) matured for four years in concrete followed by four more years in Caucasian oak barrels that polished it. It has an incredible 15% alcohol, which doesn’t show at all, and the wine comes through as balanced and elegant, powerful too but with no excess. It finished very tasty.” 94 points, Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate.