Valserrano - Finca El Ribazo 2017 (750ml)

 

Price: $34.99

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Producer	Valserrano
Country	Spain
Region	Rioja
Varietal	Tempranillo
Vintage	2017
Sku	210000002244
Size	750ml

Valserrano Finca El Ribazo 2017 

I have been selling wines from Valserrano for nearly two decades now and it amazes me how reasonably priced their wines remain for the quality in the bottle. Valserrano is in Villabuena de Álava – in Rioja Alavesa, where the best terroirs are found. Valserrano is still owned and operated by the founding family. Today Jaun Pablo De Simon runs the property the great grandson of the founder. Juan Pablo just left DB 15 minutes ago as he wanted to follow up to discuss the El Ribazo and gather our thoughts. We are all in agreement, while this is not “traditional” Rioja, its unbelievable quality that a myriad of palates will enjoy, old world and new world alike.

Robert Parker on Valserrano, “ Valserrano is one of those wineries that through the years has maintained very consistent quality in its wines. Honest and well-crafted wines that I highly recommend.”

What makes El Ribazo special is it is a Single-Vineyard wine, which is rare to find in Rioja. El Ribazo is an 11-hectare vineyard located to the west of Villabuena, very close to the center of the village. It consists of several neighboring parcels, planted with different varieties between 1985 and 1988, for this wine only a particular plot of 5.5 hectares of Tempranillo was used. Previously this tempranillo was used in Valserrano’s top bottlings, now it exclusively used for this wine.

Winery Tasting Notes: Medium intensity cherry red with little evolution. With the glass held still, reminders of liquorice, cassis and cherries appear, with underlying, persistent lactic nuances. When swirled, more intense hints of blueberries and redcurrants can be found with ginger nuances coming through and reminders of toasted notes of toffee and vanilla and faint spicy tones. A fresh, joyful attack. Juicy tannins appear as it passes through your mouth with reminders of toffee, cassis, and cherries. Lively, with hints of minerals and a long, flavorsome aftertaste. It will gain in complexity with time in the bottle.