Conde Valdemar Crianza
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Conde Valdemar Crianza is a wine that embodies the essence of Rioja. It is made mainly from Tempranillo grapes, complemented with a small proportion of Mazuelo, Graciano and Maturana, which gives it a unique complexity and depth.
- It comes from vineyards spread across the three sub-zones of the Denominación de Origen Rioja. Specifically, from the vineyards planted in Oyón, Logroño and Ausejo.
- A very well-rounded wine blending its appealing color and fruity aromas with the elegance of its masterful aging.
Varietal: 82% Tempranillo, 11% Mazuelo, 4% Graciano, 3% Maturana
Elaboration: The the bunches ferment in stainless steel tanks, at a controlled temperature. It spends 6 months in American oak barrels prior to release.
Tasting Notes: This wine shows a red cherry color of medium-high intensity, clean and bright. On the nose, it displays an intense aroma of black fruits (plum and blackberry), well integrated with hints of oak and notes of sweet spices. Tasty on the palate, with a smooth, pleasant and fresh entry. It has a long and persistent finish with touches of black fruit, spices and licorice.
PRESS
2019 – 90 Wine Spectator | 90 James Suckling
2020 – 90 James Suckling
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
“Always pioneering” is Bodegas Valdemar’s motto. Five generations of the Valdemar family in Rioja, Spain, have remained committed to producing wines reflecting the diversity of their vineyards. For over 135 years, the family has incorporated innovative initiatives like creating the first barrel-fermented white wine and the first Tempranillo white. They have also been instrumental in recovering varietals presumed to be extinct, such as the Maturana grape and the Granciano variety.
In 2019, they established the first non-American winery in Washington State, led by siblings Jesús and Ana Martínez Bujanda, CEO and COO of Valdemar Estates. Under the “inherited know-how” they received from previous generations, the innovative winemakers have turned their land into sustainable wine agroecosystems, using organic matter to improve fertility, cover crops, pheromones to control pests, varietal diversity, biological corridors, and native forests, resulting in an the International “Wineries for Climate Protection” certification. This designation’s four pillars align with the Bodegas Valdemar commitment to reducing the carbon footprint, using renewable energies, and managing water while reducing waste.