VEGA SICILIA VALBUENA N5 2019

VEGA SICILIA VALBUENA 5º 2019

Style
The purest expression of Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) from the legendary Vega Sicilia estate, Valbuena 5º is regarded as one of Spain's greatest red wines. Aged for five years before release, it offers the perfect balance between youthful vibrancy and the elegance that defines Vega Sicilia. While Único represents the estate's ultimate icon, Valbuena 5º is admired for its remarkable precision, accessibility and unmistakable sense of place.

Region
Ribera del Duero DO, Castilla y León, Spain

Grape Varieties

• 97% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)
• 3% Merlot

Tasting Profile

Nose
A beautifully perfumed bouquet of violets, fresh flowers, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries is complemented by subtle notes of cedar, vanilla, tobacco, graphite and delicate spices. The aromatic purity and elegance are among the hallmarks of this exceptional vintage.

Palate
Silky, refined and impeccably balanced. Layers of ripe blue and black fruits unfold alongside notes of dark cherry, cocoa, sweet spice and fine cedar. The tannins are remarkably polished, giving the wine an effortless elegance while maintaining the depth and structure for which Vega Sicilia is renowned.

Structure

• Body: Medium to Full
• Tannins: Exceptionally fine and silky
• Acidity: Fresh and beautifully integrated
• Oak: Matured for approximately five years through a combination of French and American oak barrels, large oak vats (foudres) and bottle ageing, allowing extraordinary harmony to develop before release.

Finish
Long, graceful and persistent, with lingering notes of black fruit, graphite, sweet spice and floral nuances carried by remarkable freshness and finesse.

Summary

Valbuena 5º 2019 is one of the finest releases of the decade. Produced during a vintage where the focus was on preserving freshness and elegance, it showcases a softer vinification, larger ageing vessels and reduced use of American oak, resulting in a wine of exceptional purity and refinement. It is a magnificent expression of Ribera del Duero and one of the world's benchmark Tempranillo-based wines.

Vintage Notes

The 2019 growing season encouraged balanced ripening and excellent fruit concentration. Vega Sicilia's winemaking team deliberately pursued elegance over power by using gentler extraction, larger ageing vessels and a more restrained use of oak. The resulting wine displays extraordinary aromatic precision, silky texture and outstanding balance. Approximately 190,000 bottles were produced.

Drinking Window

Drink: 2027–2045

Although already captivating after extended decanting, the 2019 will continue to evolve beautifully for two decades or more. James Suckling recommends beginning to drink from 2027.

Food Pairing

A wine of extraordinary versatility that pairs beautifully with:

• Dry-aged ribeye or sirloin steak
• Roast suckling lamb
• Iberian pork
• Venison loin
• Beef Wellington
• Wild mushroom risotto
• Roast pigeon
• Aged Manchego
• Truffle-infused dishes

Serving Temperature: 17–18°C

Decant: 2 hours recommended to fully reveal its aromatic complexity.

Critical Acclaim

• 97 Points – James Suckling
• 95 Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
• 96 Points – Tim Atkin MW