Vega Sicilia - Valbuena No.5 (2017). Ribera del Duero, Spain.

Vega Sicilia - Valbuena No.5 (2017). Ribera del Duero, Spain.

Undoubtedly Spain's greatest producer & up there with the biggest names in the world. 

Valbuena, is the purest expression of the Tinto Fino grape (Tempranillo) in Vega Sicilia. Whilst Tinto Fino is the predominant variety in the assemblage of Valbuena a portion of Merlot is also added into the wine, to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the vintage. After fermentation, Valbuena is aged over five winters in barrel then bottle, which is why it is called Valbuena 5º. The crucial first year of ageing takes place in barrel, with 75% French oak and 25% American oak. In this first stage, the aim is to amplify the wine’s structure, sense of sweetness and density. The second year of ageing takes place in large wooden vats and, during this stage, it gains elegance, complexity, tension and subtlety. Valbuena 5º 2017 (94% Tinto Fino, 6% Merlot) is a ripe, voluptuous style, with a notable harmony between fruit and structure.

This could age beautifully for a very long time, but the bottle we enjoyed over dinner last month was beautifully open from the moment it was decanted. I've never trued anything quite like it.

Perfect company for an evenings meditation over a complex, nuanced & ethereal wine.