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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. From the much-acclaimed 2021 vintage, the resulting wine is vividly dark-fruited and tickled with 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 various meat dishes.