Valenciso Rioja Laderas De Cabama 2021

Valenciso Rioja Laderas de Cabama is 100% Tempranillo, crafted from a single plot of 40-year-old vines in Ollauri. It grows on the classic clay/limestone soil of the Rioja Alta. This single-vineyard bottling used to be made in a similar style to Valenciso’s flagship Reserva, in that it was built to age in barrel and bottle before release. From the 2018 vintage, Valenciso has sought to craft Laderas de Cabama in a younger, more fruit-forward style. The fruit is picked a little earlier and the winemaking employs a portion of whole-berry, semi-carbonic fermentation, bringing a more primary, juicy profile.

No new oak is used. Instead, fermentation occurs in cool concrete, followed by 14 months in used French oak barrels. The resulting wine is spicy and rich, with blackberry and plummy fruit, some spice and tobacco leaf notes from the whole-bunch fermentation. It boasts good depth and a tea-scented, full-bodied finish. Great on its own, this will also suit a wide variety of meat dishes.

This is a fresh and vibrant red wine which is an excellent introduction to Rioja.

Powerful and concentrated, this has a great tannin structure that makes it seem rather young for its age. There's a very nice balance on the warm and generous finish that pulls you back for more. Drink or hold. - James Suckling

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Tempranillo
Country - Spain
Region - Rioja
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%