Valezar 2021 — Ribera del Duero
Valezar 2021 is a wine born from the soul of the land, from history and from winegrowing tradition. It comes from small, century-old plots of Tinto Fino in La Horra, in the heart of Ribera del Duero, where vine growing goes back centuries. On these gentle slopes and poor yet singular soils, the vine expresses itself with depth, complexity and an unmistakable personality.
The old plots are farmed using traditional methods, without chemicals, in artisanal work handed down from generation to generation. The extreme climate forces the vine into constant effort, rewarding us with grapes of exceptional quality.
The 2021 vintage: balance in a challenging cycle
The vintage began with a rainy October that helped water accumulate in the subsoil. In January, storm Filomena brought heavy snowfall and temperatures as low as -12 °C, acting as a natural disinfectant against pests. After a cold spring with occasional April frosts, the summer was dry, with an intense heatwave softened by occasional storms that provided just enough water for optimal ripening.
Traditional winemaking
The harvest took place in early October, in the first hours of the day so the grapes would arrive cool at the winery. Whole clusters were vatted and foot-trodden in the traditional way. Fermentation started spontaneously with native yeasts, without additives, with regular manual punch-downs. Malolactic fermentation, also spontaneous, took place in oak barrels, where the wine remained 18 months without racking, with weekly bâtonnage.
It was bottled in June 2023, without filtering or physical or chemical stabilisation: a limited production of 2,850 bottles of 0.75 l plus 5 bottles of 3 litres.
Tasting notes
An attractive garnet colour with violet glints. The nose is enveloping, with overflowing aromatic intensity: red and black fruits — strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries — floral notes of violet, spices of clove, cinnamon and vanilla, subtle scrubland aromas and a mineral background. Deep and complex, almost ethereal. On the palate it is structured and silky, with great richness of nuance and a long, persistent finish.
Food pairing and serving
Ideal with roast suckling lamb, chargrilled red meats, game stews and mature Castilian cheeses. We recommend serving it at 16–18 °C and, if possible, decanting it 30 minutes beforehand: as an unfiltered wine, it may show a natural sediment that speaks of its artisanal making.
At a glance
D.O.: Ribera del Duero · Variety: Tinto Fino from century-old plots · Ageing: 18 months in oak barrels · Bottled: June 2023, unfiltered · Production: 2,850 bottles