Vega Sicilia - Ribera del Duero 'Valbuena 5º' 2017 (Magnum)

Valbuena is the purest expression of a red in Vega Sicilia, with five years of ageing between oak and bottle, which gives the wine its name: Valbuena 5º. The first year in oak barrel is of great importance to find the additional body and completing its ageing in wooden vats, where it shows extraordinary change in texture, gaining in precision, elegance, tension and subtlety.

Vega Sicilia's 2017 Valbuena 5º is produced with 94% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 6% Merlot grapes, fermented with indigenous yeasts after cooling the grapes. It then undergoes nearly three years of aging in a combination of new and used French and American oak barrels and larger oak vats. The vintage was marked by a warm, dry end to the season and low overall rainfall, influencing the wine's character. 

“2017 was marked by the frost of the night between April 27 and 28 that Vega Sicilia fought with their anti-frost towers. The end of the season was warm, and the overall rain was low, 235 liters. The 2017 Valbuena is marked by these circumstances, produced with 94% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 6% Merlot, with good ripeness (14.5% alcohol) and mellow acidity (4.65 grams of tartaric acid and a pH of 3.85). The grapes were cooled down and took three to four days of maceration to start fermenting with indigenous yeasts. The wine matured in a combination of new and used French and American 225-liter oak barrels and 21,000-liter oak vats for almost three years. The result, for whatever reason, was nothing short of spectacular. The wine is perfumed, floral, expressive and balsamic like few vintages before. It doesn't feel like a 2017 at all; it is harmonious, and the tannins were fine. It's an amazing Valbuena that clearly transcends the character of the vintage. What I see here is that since 2010, the wine has a very high consistency. And in 2017 it excels.” 96 Points, Wine Advocate

“Proof that in a tough year (memorable frosts and summer heat) top producers can be relied on to produce fine wines. The 2017 jumps out of the glass with cherry and redcurrant conserve, and flowers. It enters fresh, with succulent cranberry fruit. Finally finishing with dark fruits embedded in mocha and spicy fenugreek. Complete. Following the Vega Sicilia pattern, it spent its first year in barriques (20% American, 40% French). And then a second year in the impressive army of 80-220hl tinas (wooden vats).” - 95 Points, Decanter

“A savory thread of fragrant wild herb, cedar and leather winds through a creamy range of damson plum, dried fig, olive tapenade and smoke in this supple, layered red, which is rich and concentrated, but harmonious overall, integrating a frame of dense tannins and orange peel acidity. Ends with a lingering, spiced finish.” - 93 Points, Wine Spectator

Producer: Vega Sicilia

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla y León

Varietal: Tempranillo, Merlot

Appellation: Ribera del Duero

Vintage: 2017

Size: 1.5L