Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia - Rioja 'Macán Clásico' 2019

Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia was born in 2004 as the result of a joint venture between Tempos Vega Sicilia and the Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild. Both firms share the idea of making great wines in La Rioja, a unique, singular, inimitable winegrowing region. After five years of terroir evaluation and acquisition of 92 ha of vineyard, the project takes shape in 2009 with the first vintage of our two wines: Macán and Macán Clásico. To offer a modern and unique vision of Rioja, is our philosophy, following the Bordeaux model of a first and second wine.

Macán Clásico is deeply attached to its territory. Freshness, fruitiness and delicacy are its signs of identity. It is produced in stainless steel casks; part of malolactic fermentation in oak; new oak and single-use barrels, aging for 12 to 14 months determined only by the characteristics of the vintage. It later sits in bottle for over 18 months. Macán Clásico offers the purest expression of Rioja´s Tempranillo. It is fresh yet serious, with substance and intensity.

"The second wine in the Bordeaux sense is the 2019 Macan Clasico, a more concentrated and powerful wine cropped from a warmer and drier year that was saved by the 80 liters of rain in the first half of September. It fermented in stainless steel with 10% of their own yeasts, and the levage was 22% in stainless steel and the rest in new and used oak barrels, mostly French but with around 5% of them American, and lasted 12 months. It has a moderate 14% alcohol, mellow acidity and good freshness and balance. 2019 was a dry and warm year when they did a soft vinification to avoid harsh tannins. The nose is ripe without excess, and the oak is neatly integrated. The palate is juicy and round, with fine tannins and a velvety texture." - 93 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"Rich, but refined and layered nose that unwinds dark plums, dried strawberries, olives, cocoa beans and some savory Mediterranean spices. Medium-to full-bodied palate, framed by an abundance of powerful, fine-grained tannins that give a grippy texture" - 93+ points, James Suckling

Producer: Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Varietal: Tempranillo

Appellation: Rioja

Vintage: 2019

Size: 750ml