2019 Vega Sicilia, Valbuena 5.°, Ribera del Duero

Extremely perfumed with violets and a bouquet of flowers. Then there’s blue fruits such as blueberries and raspberries. Medium-bodied with beautifully crafted tannins that give a superb mouthfeel and finesse. Refinement with depth and focus. So wonderful to drink now but it will be even better in four or five years. Try in 2027

Valbuena nearly always contains a little Merlot, and that's the case on this 2019, which is dominated by 97% Tinto Fino. Aged in a classic combination of French and 15% American oak, it's a bold, layered, well-structured cuvée with blackberry and blueberry fruit supported by good acidity for the vintage, a balsamic undertone, stylish, youthful tannins and plenty of backbone. Drink 2025-2038.

The scent of cherry preserves and violet wafts from the glass. A cloak of elegant tannins is wrapped around Mission fig, cherry preserve, mocha, fennel pollen and rose petal flavors that evaporate into a satisfying and long-lasting finish.

The obsession in 2019 was to avoid excess ripeness and to keep the freshness, so they did a softer vinification, used larger vats for the élevage and used less American wood. The 2019 Valbuena was produced with a blend of Tinto Fino with 3% Merlot. It has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.88 and 4.6 grams of acidity. I love the nose; it is perfumed and subtle. And the wine is beautifully textured; the tannins are very fine, silky even, quite different from the tannins from the other 2019s from the group that I tasted next to this, Macán and Pintia. A triumph over the conditions of the year, it's a more elegant Valbuena than I anticipated. 190,490 bottles, 5,581 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2022.

Tinto composto a partir de 97% Tempranillo e 3% Merlot, com fermentação sem adição de leveduras exógenas e posterior estágio de 24 meses em uma combinação de tonéis de carvalho de 20.000 litros e de barricas novas e usadas de carvalho francês e americano de 225 litros, num total de 5 anos de maturação antes de sair ao mercado, entre passagem por madeira e estágio em garrafa. Apesar de um pouco mais seco e quente que 2018, 2019 foi um bom ano em Ribera del Duero, o que se reflete no perfil desse vinho, com bom corpo, mas ao mesmo tempo muito preciso e elegante. Traz frutas vermelhas e negras maduras no ponto certo, seguidas de notas florais, balsâmicas, de ervas, de especiarias doces e terrosas, tudo em meio a uma acidez refrescante e taninos firmes e finos, que aportam fluidez e profundidade ao conjunto. Está ótimo agora e tem tudo para ficar ainda melhor nos próximos 20 anos. Álcool 14.5%

The 2019 Valbuena 5º is primarily Tempranillo with a 3% dash of Merlot from the Vega Sicilia Estate and was aged for up to two years, one in foudres and the other in different kinds of oak barrels. Garnet-red with a faint bluish-purple sheen. The aromas feature cedar and vanilla accompanied by plum, sour cherry and subtle pine hints. The dry and velvety palate shows a faintly chalky texture and supple tannins that create an unctuous but taut character. The energetic red is wrapped in a gently plush blanket. Drink 2025-2040. Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous.

97% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), 3% Merlot. One year ageing in foudres, one year in barrels of different sizes, 3 years in bottle. 190,000 bottles produced. pH 3.88. Deep ruby with a hint of purple. Incredibly aromatic with rich black fruit and weighty concentration. Evidently high alcohol – warming and viscous with mouth-coating, superfine tannin. Balanced, fresh acidity and integrated vanilla and spice oak character. More evident fruit than oak compared with the 2010 tasted alongside – a result of them lessening barrique and increasing large format while reducing toast level. Lactic, creamy finish. (SCJ)