Vega Sicilia - Ribera Del Duero "Valbuena 5" 2019

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• Origin: Ribera del Duero, Castilla y León, Spain
• Appellation: DO Ribera del Duero
• Grape variety: Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) with a small proportion of Merlot
• Alcohol percentage: approx. 14.5%
• Style: Powerful, refined, layered, and elegant
• Cellaring potential: Now until 2045+
• Rating: 96/100 Wine Advocate – 96/100 Vinous

Valbuena 5º 2019 is the most direct expression of Vega Sicilia, yet remains a wine of great class and depth. On the nose, notes of ripe cherry, blackcurrant, and plum, interwoven with cedar, graphite, spice, and a subtle balsamic touch. On the palate, the wine is full and harmonious, with velvety tannins, fresh acidity, and an impressive balance between ripe fruit and structure. The finish is long and layered, with fine wood notes elegantly integrated and a persistent mineral tension.

Vinification.
The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully selected. After fermentation, the wine matures in various types of wood to build complexity and balance: a combination of large vats and smaller oak barrels, with some new wood. The total aging period is about five years, with barrel aging and bottle aging complementing each other to give the wine an impressive harmony and refinement upon release.

The estate.
Vega Sicilia is the historic reference house of Ribera del Duero and is world-renowned for its uncompromising quality, long aging, and timeless style. The estate works with great attention to terroir, old vines, and sustainable vineyard practices, with a strong focus on soil health and biodiversity. Valbuena 5º embodies this philosophy in a slightly more accessible way than Único: still deep and complex, but with a more open and gastronomic style that evolves beautifully with bottle aging.