Winery: Vega-Sicilia
Country / Region: Spain / Ribera del Duero
Date Winery was established: 1864
Grape Variety: Tempranillo, Merlot
First Vintage Released: 1917
Alcohol Level / Volume: 14.5% / 750ml
Ratings: 97 pts Guia Penin
Good To Know: Globally renowned for being one of the best wine producers in Spain, Vega Sicilia's wines are one of the most expensive and highly sought after Spanish wines in the world. The famed winery produces 3 highly collectable wines: Unico, the winery's premier and flagship wine, the Reserva Especial, a blend of the top tier vintages based on the current release which is aged up to 10 years and upwards prior to sale. Lastly, the Valbuena which is made from younger vines and aged up to 5 years before its release.
Vega Sicilia has been in operation since 1864. This was long before Ribera del Duero was developed into the premier appelation that it is today. The oldest vintages stored in their cellars go as far back to the 1st quarter of the 20th century, making Vega Sicilia one of the oldest wineries in the region. Both the winery's prestige and quality consistency vastly improved in the 1980's when the current owners, the Alvarez family, acquired the property in 1982. Apart from the flagship company, Vega Sicilia, the family also owns Bodegas Alion, famed for high quality Tempranillo based wines, Bodegas Pintia in Toro, and the Tokaji producer, Oremus, in Hungary. In addition to all these, Macan, a Rioja based wine producer, was founded in 2009 as a joint venture between Vega Sicilia and Baron Edmond de Rothschild.
The 2021 Valbuena 5° Año holds exceptional distinction as one of the finest releases of Vega Sicilia’s signature five-year aged wine in recent memory, drawing comparisons to landmark vintages like 2010. Crafted from 96% Tempranillo and 4% Merlot grown between 720 and 930 meters on limestone-marl soils, the 2021 growing season in Ribera del Duero was legendary.
On the nose, the 2021 Valbuena 5° opens with an enticing bouquet of fresh black cherry, wild blueberry, and dark plum, accented by delicate violets, graphite ink, cocoa powder, sandalwood, and cedar wood.
