Fincas Valdemar Gran Reserva 2015
93
Tim Atkin
A widely distributed Rioja with a long history
Médaille d'Argent
Decanter World Wine Awards
Valdemar is led by Ana and Jesús Martínez Bujanda, the fifth generation, who continue to enhance the range of this renowned Rioja winery with new ventures. On this occasion, we have the privilege of exclusively launching Fincas Valdemar Gran Reserva 2015. This is a special selection of their Gran Reserva, combining parcels of old vines located in Rioja Alavesa. It is elegant and rounded, with a sweet touch and a very broad and silky aftertaste.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
3% Graciano, 8% Garnacha tinta, 3% Maturana Tinta, 86% Tempranillo
Type of barrel
French (35%) and American (65%) oak barrels.
Type of bottle
Burgundy
Barrel aging time
34 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14
General Information
Fincas Valdemar Gran Reserva 2015 is made from Tempranillo (86%) with contributions from other local varieties: 8% Garnacha, 3% Graciano, and 3% Maturana. The grapes come from a selection of old parcels located in Rioja Alavesa, and the wine has been aged for 34 months in French oak barrels (70%) and American oak barrels (30%).
This is a special edition of the winery's Gran Reserva, which has received a good array of international awards such as the Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge 2023 and the Silver Medal at the Decanter Awards 2022; and high scores in the most influential guides: 95 points from Wine Enthusiast 2023, 93 points in the Guía Peñín 2023 and Tim Atkin 2023, and 92 points from Wine Spectator 2023.
Located in Oyón (Rioja Alavesa), Valdemar is a firm with a century-old trajectory since the first member of the family began viticulture in 1889. Its recent history started in 1985 when Jesús Martínez Bujanda launched the Conde Valdemar brand, betting on a wine style with more intensity and color than classic Riojas, fully entering modernity. Today, the firm is run by his children, Ana and Jesús Martínez Bujanda. They have inherited the pioneering and nonconformist character of the previous generation and continue to enrich the range of wines with new initiatives.
Innovation and a commitment to cutting-edge technology are fundamental premises of this winery. For example, Valdemar was a pioneer in Europe in adopting temperature control in fermentation tanks, as well as advancing systems for micro-oxygenating the tanks and having a specific facility for performing the malolactic fermentation of wines equipped with radial heating to allow it to start naturally. Moreover, the wines from this firm are made from an extensive own vineyard and enjoy great diffusion. Conde Valdemar is their flagship range.
Fincas Valdemar Gran Reserva 2015 (D.O.Ca. Rioja) pairs perfectly with grilled red meats, stews, and roasts. It is also an excellent choice to accompany Iberian cold cuts and cured and semi-cured cheeses.
Creators' opinion
The wine presents an attractive deep ruby red color, clean and bright. Its aroma is intense and complex, highlighting the presence of ripe black fruit such as black plum, accompanied by notes of coffee, cocoa, black licorice, and truffle. On the palate, it is elegant and rounded, with a sweet touch. It shows liveliness and offers a very broad and silky aftertaste.
The winery
Founded in 1889, Valdemar is one of the oldest and most important wineries in Spain, a driving force behind the Rioja Alavesa we know today and revolutionary in its concepts. A house currently led by the fifth generation of the Martínez Bujanda family, whose success lies in the perfect combination of historical expertise blended with constant research to achieve the highest quality.
In 1985, Jesús Martínez Bujanda began a new chapter that transformed Valdemar into one of the most innovative wineries of the time: he launched wines onto the market with more intensity and color than the classic Riojas, fully embracing modernity. Additionally, this winery has been a pioneer in the use of temperature control during production and in the fermentation of Viura whites in wood.
Valdemar has developed a wide range of high-quality wines, known for their consistency and great distribution. These wines originate from an extensive estate-owned vineyard: 275 hectares; and are characterized by their long and magnificent aging processes.