Bodegas Valdemar Conde Valdemar Rioja Crianza 2019
Complex aromas of ripe black berries balanced with warm vanilla notes and a touch of subtle spice. Excellent, rounded structure on the palate with aromatic complexity lasting through to the finish.
Unusually for Rioja, all the Valdemar grapes come from the family’s own vineyards (almost 300 hectares), giving unrivalled control over the quality of the fruit at every level. Grapes for the Crianza are grown on alluvial and chalky-clay soils in Oyón (Rioja Alavesa), Logroño (Rioja Alta) and Ausejo (Rioja Baja). Harvest took place during the first week of October.
Following a traditional fermentation, the wine was aged for twenty months in American oak barrels.
| RRP | £18.50 |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Alcoholic strength | 14% |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Grapes | Tempranillo 90%, Graciano 10% |
| Body | C/D |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
The roots of Bodegas Valdemar go back to 1889 and Joaquin Martínez Bujanda, and it remains an independent estate, specialising in Rioja. They are committed to using 100% estate-grown fruit, which has allowed Valdemar both to keep quality consistent and also to experiment with different sites and obscure grape varieties. Unusually for Rioja, all the grapes used by Bodegas Valdemar come from estate vineyards (290 hectares of them). The range of wines makes the most of this consistency and flexibility, from unoaked entry-level Riojas bursting with flavour, to dense and complex rarities.
