Vega-Sicilia Valbuena 5º 2017

Vega Sicilia is widely regarded as the greatest wine producer in Spain. The estate in Ribera del Duero is known for its dense, complex red wines made principally from the Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) grape variety. Its top wine, Unico, is one of Spain's most expensive and sought-after wines.

The Vega Sicilia estate covers around 1,000 hectares of which 210 hectares is under vine. It has been in operation since 1864, long before the development of the appellation in which it resides, and the current wine styles date from the 1910s. Quality has become more consistent since the current owners, the Alvarez family, took over in 1982. The vineyards are planted to around 80% Tempranillo with the remainder taken up by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and tiny amounts of Malbec. Yields are kept low, helped by green harvesting and painstaking grape selection. Winery operations are just as meticulous, with a complicated series of rackings from large barrels to barriques, mixing old and new oak and leading to wines that are capable of long aging. Vega Sicilia also owns the nearby Bodegas Alion, which produces high-quality varietal Tempranillo wines for earlier consumption, as well as Bodegas Pintia in Toro.

Valbuena 5° is made from Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) obtained from plots located on gentle concave slopes. The fermentation is carried out at a controlled temperature with native yeast in stainless steel tanks. The malolactic fermentation also takes place in stainless steel. After fermentation, the wine is aged for five years, between wood and in the bottle (which is why it is called Valbuena 5°): combination of French and American oak, new and used 225-litre barrels and 20,000-litre vats.