Vega Sicilia : Valbuena 5 Ano 2021

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Valbuena 5° 2021 Vega Sicilia

Tasting notes

Colour
The colour reveals a medium-intensity purple hue, clear and bright.

Nose
The nose seduces with its floral and fruity complexity. It reveals aromas of blackberries and blueberries, accompanied by notes of cocoa powder, graphite and high-quality sandalwood. Touches of cedar, black cherry and pine complete the bouquet. With aeration, nuances of vanilla, spice and violet develop, while subtle earthy notes gradually emerge.

Palate
On the palate, the Valbuena 5° 2021 stands out for its harmonious, velvety character. The tannins, powerful and present, display remarkable refinement and polish, with a texture that is silky and almost haute couture. The wine offers a medium to full body, supported by lovely acidity and exemplary balance. The finish, exceptionally long and complex, lingers with persistence. Although approachable now, this wine will gain in expression with three to five more years of cellaring, allowing the tannins to fully integrate and the tertiary aromas to develop further.

Food and wine pairing
This Valbuena 5° 2021 pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats, particularly beef and game. It also pairs very well with savoury preparations featuring umami notes that complement its tannic structure.

Service and storage
The Valbuena 5° 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 18°C. It is recommended to open it about two hours before serving to allow its aromatic expression to fully develop. This wine can be kept until around 2039 under optimal storage conditions of 12 to 14°C with 60% relative humidity. Under excellent storage conditions, it may continue to evolve positively until around 2050.

The purest expression of tinto fino from Ribera del Duero

The estate
Founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda, Vega Sicilia stands as Spain's most prestigious estate. Located in Valbuena de Duero in the province of Valladolid in Castile and León, the estate spans nearly 1,000 hectares, including 210 hectares of vines. Since its acquisition by the Álvarez family in 1982, the year the Ribera del Duero appellation was created, the estate has continually strengthened its international reputation. Now led by Pablo Álvarez Mezquíriz as general manager and Gonzalo Iturriaga de Juan as technical director, Vega Sicilia stands out for its pioneering commitment to organic farming since 1985, its biodynamic practices, and its philosophy of exceptionally long ageing. The estate has its own cooperage and even grows its own cork oaks, testifying to a truly long-term vision. In 2024, Vega Sicilia became the first Spanish estate to top the Liv-ex Power 100 ranking, cementing its status as a global icon.

The vineyard
The Valbuena 5° 2021 comes exclusively from Finca Vega Sicilia, located within the Ribera del Duero appellation. The grapes come from around 140 hectares spread across 64 distinct plots featuring 19 different soil types. The vines, planted at a density of 2,222 vines per hectare, thrive between 700 and 900 metres in altitude on complex soils composed of fine colluvial deposits, limestone fragments, quartz gravel and sandy substrates. The plots dedicated to Valbuena feature relatively young vines, aged ten to twenty years, contributing a more fruit-forward, approachable character. The extreme continental climate, marked by harsh winters and hot summers, combined with significant diurnal temperature variation, promotes optimal ripening while preserving the grapes' freshness.

The vintage
The 2021 vintage is considered exceptional for Ribera del Duero. The year began with the Filomena snowstorm in January, bringing temperatures down to -15°C and building up significant water reserves. Spring benefited from well-timed rainfall, allowing for optimal bud break in early April. The summer, remarkably cool for the region, encouraged slow, steady ripening of the grapes, allowing them to develop complexity and balance without stress. September remained dry, providing ideal harvesting conditions. The harvest took place between 30 September and 10 October 2021. Winemakers describe 2021 as a vintage where everything unfolded harmoniously, without rush, allowing for optimal decisions at every stage.

Winemaking and ageing
Following hand-picked harvesting, the grapes for the Valbuena 5° 2021 were fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks using indigenous yeasts. Malolactic fermentation also took place in stainless steel tanks. The wine then followed the ageing protocol characteristic of Valbuena 5°, from which its name derives, referring to the five years spent between wood and bottle. In its first year, the wine aged in a combination of new and used 225-litre barrels made of French oak (75%) and American oak (25%), as well as in large wooden vats of 8,500 and 21,000 litres. In its second year, the wine was transferred to large wooden vats of around 20,000 litres to develop elegance, complexity and texture. Bottling took place in May 2024, followed by three years of bottle ageing prior to release.

Grape varieties
Tinto Fino (96%)
Merlot (4%)