Descripción

Valbuena 5º es la expresión más pura del tinto en Vega Sicilia. Su crianza entre madera y botella alcanza una duración de cinco años, dando así nombre al vino y dotándole de gran recorrido y riqueza aromática. Representa la línea más moderna de la bodega ribereña, con un estilo distinto a Unico, la otra gran referencia de la casa. "Esta es una de las mejores añadas recientes de Valbuena y, en cierto modo, me recordó a la de 2010, con elegancia y precisión", apuntó Luis Gutiérrez en su crítica de The Wine Advocate.

Ficha técnica

La bodega
Vega Sicilia
Tipo
Tinto
Añada
2021
Grado
14.0% vol.
Variedad
96% Tinto fino, 4% Merlot
Origen
Ribera del Duero

Cata

Vista
De color cereza oscuro con borde granate.
Nariz
Compleja, dominada por aromas a fruta madura, ebanistería, tabaco y especias dulces.
Boca
Tinto especiado, con taninos pulidos y un final largo.
Temperatura de servicio
Entre 16 y 18 °C.
Consumo
Hasta 2039, aproximadamente, si se conserva en óptimas condiciones.

Viñedo y elaboración

Nombre
Finca Vega Sicilia.
Descripción
Viñedos plantados a una altitud entre los 720 y los 930 metros sobre el nivel del mar en Valbuena de Duero (Valladolid).
Superficie
La bodega tiene 210 hectáreas en total, de las cuales solamente algunas se utilizan para la elaboración de Valbuena.
Edad
Cepas de una media de 35 años.
Suelo
Arcillo-calcáreo, con zonales pardos y una parte aluvial.
Clima
Año marcado por la borrasca de nieve Filomena en enero, que proporcionó buenas reservas de agua.
Envejecimiento
Crianza de 12 meses en barricas y tinos de roble de 8.500 y 21.00 litros de capacidad, y pasado ese tiempo permanece solo en estos últimos.
Embotellado
En mayo de 2024.

Opinión de los críticos

James Suckling:

One of the finest Valbuenas available, showcasing great depth, structure and detail while remaining polished. It exhibits notes of blackberries, cocoa powder, graphite, and high-quality sandalwood, with hints of lard and violets. The standout feature this year is the quantity and quality of the tannins—huge, yet incredibly refined and polished. There are plenty of fine grits that aren’t fully integrated but should harmonize in two to three years. Exceptionally long finish. Will hold effortlessly for the next 20 years. 176,000 bottles produced. (Zekun Shuai)

The Wine Advocate:

The 2021 Valbuena comes from a year with pristine grapes, good ripeness and balance, for them one of their finest years when they didn't have to rush and everything happened in a smooth way. The year was marked by the snowstorm Filomena in January, which provided good water reserves, and the rest of the winter had temperatures reaching -15 degrees Celsius! This was a blend of 96% Tinto Fino (a.k.a. Tempranillo) and 4% Merlot aged in barrels and 8,500- and 21,000-liter oak vats during the first year and later only in oak vats. This is the youngest expression of the "Vega" nose, subtler and elegant, more insinuating, less developed and keeping some primary notes, not as tertiary as the Únicos. It comes in at 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.85 and 4.65 grams of acidity, and it has a medium- to full-bodied palate, with elegant tannins and very good balance. This is one of the finest recent vintages for Valbuena, and in a way, it reminded me of the 2010, with elegance and precision. A total of 176,876 bottles, 5,566 magnums and some larger formats were produced. It was bottled in May 2024. (Luis Gutiérrez)

Tim Atkin:

It's not a surprise that the 2021 Valbuena is so distinguished, given the quality of the 2021 vintage in Ribera del Duero. Blending Tempranillo and 4% Merlot from the extensive Vega Sicilia estate, this is a younger-vine cuvée from ten to 20-year-old parcels. Curated in 75% new French and 25% American oak, followed by extra time in foudres, it has the structure, focus and intensity of an outstanding year, with subtle aromas of toast, vanilla and graphite, layers of liquorice, plum and blackberry and succulent, fine-grained tannins. Deceptively approachable, this is a wine to cellar and savour. 2029-40.