Wine
Name: Finca Valpiedra Reserva, DOCa Rioja
Winery: Finca Valpiedra – Familia Martínez Bujanda
Grapes: Tempranillo with Graciano and Maturana Tinta
Origin: Fuenmayor, La Rioja, Spain
Vintage: 2018
Ageing: 24 months in French oak
Appearance
Intensity: Medium (+)
Colour: Ruby with a garnet rim
Nose
Intensity: Medium (+)
Aroma Characteristics:
Primary: Black cherry, plum, blackberry, a touch of red cherry, dried Mediterranean herbs, a stony, graphite note
Secondary: Cedar, vanilla, clove, blond tobacco
Tertiary: Hints of leather and forest floor starting to emerge
Palate
Sweetness: Dry
Acidity: Medium (+)
Tannin: Medium (+), ripe and fine-grained
Alcohol: Medium (+)
Body: Medium (+)
Flavour Intensity: Medium (+)
Flavour Characteristics: The nose follows through – dark fruit, sweet spice, cedar and a mineral, savoury core, with the Graciano adding lift and freshness
Other Observations: Polished, fine-grained tannins and a stony freshness
Finish: Long, spicy and savoury
Conclusions
Quality Assessment: Very good to outstanding. Excellent balance between ripe fruit, fresh acidity and polished oak, with great intensity, length and complexity
Bottle Ageing: Drink now with decanting, or keep: it has the structure to develop further tertiary notes into the early 2030s
Final Remarks
A Rioja Reserva with a true sense of place: Finca Valpiedra is a single 80-hectare estate on a meander of the Ebro, with river stones (cantos rodados) over limestone, and you can taste that stony freshness in the glass. Rated 93 points by The Wine Advocate. Pair it with roast lamb, game or medium-cured cheeses.
