Macán Clásico 2021 Magnum

The 2021 Macán Clásico comes from a fantastic year in Rioja; it was the second vintage where they used some Garnacha (maybe 5% this year, they are increasing slowly). It was harvested at the same time as Tempranillo and adds freshness. It was a year of above-average rain, a mild spring and some hail in mid-June that affected seven hectares of vines but didn't touch the rest. The weather was stable during the harvest, with mild temperatures. The wine has a moderate 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.7 and 4.7 grams of acidity. Fifty percent of the volume was inoculated with their native yeast, and fermentation was in stainless steel. Forty percent of the wine matured in new French oak barrels, 30% in used French oak, 5% in American oak and the remaining 25% was kept in stainless steel. It has an herbal twist and a more Atlantic character, reflecting a cooler (less warm) vintage. It's fine-grained, textured and chalky, with very fine tannins and great balance. This is a production of 222,532 bottles, 2,001 magnums and some larger formats. It was bottled in August 2023. (Luis Gutiérrez)

Vega Sicilia (and partner Benjamin de Rothschild) never seem to do things in a hurry, so it's taken a while for them to make a Macán Clásico that they are really proud of. This blend of Tempranillo and 1% Garnacha reflects the quality of the vintage, with lovely perfume, sculpted tannins, subtle 40% new wood (and a 15% stainless steel component), black cherry, summer berry and vanilla spice flavours and a tapering finish. 2026-40. 

A spicy, fresh and accessible Macan Clasico that shows tapenade, dark spices, red pepper and black cherries. Plenty of fruit, with a medium body and a round, approachable finish loaded with spiced strawberries and cherries. Tannins have already softened. An elegant and lengthy wine. Drink on release in 2025. (Zekun Shuai)