The harmony of beauty
Macán Clásico emerged from the heart of La Rioja. A wine of yesterday and today that respects the most authentic and typical style of a prestigious region.
A wine that searches for harmony by turning to its roots. The nature of its origins gives it a special elegance, a lingering mark, wrapping it in an unforgettable balance of sensitivity and expressivity.
Red wine wholly made using the Tempranillo variety. After the alcoholic fermentation, the malolactic process is carried out in barrels and in tanks. The ageing takes place in extrafine and fine grain French wood, the majority in new barrels and the rest in one-wine barrels. It remains in wood for 15 months and then in bottles until it is sold.
Macán and Macán Clásico are the joint vision that two great names of the wine world, Rothschild and Vega Sicilia, have of La Rioja. They are very elegant wines, where the harmony of their aromas and flavours show the authenticity of the land from where they come and its capacity to produce great wines.
Macán Clásico is very approachable and expressive, more pleasant and pleasurable when drunk with a marked character of the land from which it comes and a simplicity that makes it very attractive.
Its co-existence is due to the desire to preserve the Bordeaux tradition to produce a first and second wine. Both always coexist and are treated exactly the same from the wine to the classification tasting. The different wine batches of the vintage are then separated, with the two wines being considered individually and showing the differences between them.
Description
From the slopes of the Sierra de Cantabria, Macán Clásico is deeply rooted in the territory, in Rioja's Sonsierra, an area with centuries of winemaking tradition, wisdom and culture. Deep and complex, it is a reflection of the freshness, fruitiness, vivacity and finesse of this terroir.
This wine is the result of a substantial investment in the selection, purchase and management of 100 hectares of vineyards since 2004. In addition, the work carried out in the winery since 2009 (first vintage released) is also commendable. Moreover, since 2016, the joint project of Tempos Vega Sicilia and Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild in DOCa Rioja boasts state-of-the-art facilities where innovation, technology and knowledge converge.
Macán Clásico is a single varietal, 100% Tempranillo. Its grapes come from plots with limestone and sandy-clay soils. The 2020 vintage was abundant, rainy, balanced and fluid. Although it was a challenging year due to Covid, in the vineyard we benefited from the fruitiness of the grapes and more elegant skins. We pushed the extraction a little further and put more emphasis on the oak in the ageing process, especially American oak, to give the wine more density.
Macán Clásico 2020 delivers a lively, vibrant, digestible, yet fun expression. Macán Clásico is gradually asserting its own style.General information
Alcohol by volume
14 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
30 yearsVineyard surface area
100 ha (San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Labastida, Ábalos, Navaridas and Elvillar)Planting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
483 mYield
3,000 kg/ha - 21 Hl/haHarvest
Manual, in 12 kg boxes, from 13 September to 30 September2020 Vineyard cycle
The first part of the growing season was quite wet with high spring temperatures. The rains in May and June were very useful in building up soil reserves.
Average temperatures were above normal only during the summer months, particularly in the first fortnight of September, with very warm winds from the south-east.
The vintage can be described as mildly wet, with most of the rain falling between March and June.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be cellared for 10-15 years if stored in optimal conditions: 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
Best served at 18 ºC / 64 ºF.Production
202,660 standard Bordeaux bottles, 1,998 Magnum, 54 Double Magnum and 20 Imperial.
Year bottled
August 2022
Description
Macán Clásico is an exemplary wine from the Sonsierra region of La Rioja, steeped in centuries of tradition, knowledge and winemaking culture in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria. It conveys the terroir's freshness, fruitiness, liveliness, and delicateness, which provides depth and complexity.
A lot of hard work went into selecting, acquiring, and nurturing 100 hectares of vineyard for this wine since 2004, along with the commendable efforts in the winery since 2009 (when the first vintage was marketed). Furthermore, Tempos Vega Sicilia and Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild have jointly owned modern facilities in the Rioja DOCa region since 2016, where innovation, technology, and wine science converge.
Macán Clásico is made from one variety: 100 % Tempranillo. The grapes come from plots with alkaline sandyclay soils. Concentration and potency were expected with this vintage given the warmer vine cycle, which proved correct, but the 80 litres that fell in September meant the skins radically changed their texture, moving from drier to firmer texture grapes, while remaining noble. A vintage with very mild extractions, almost infusionlike, nature providing everything. We also reduced the effect of the American oak during ageing, leaning towards toasts to provide more freshness.
Macán Clásico 2019 offers a more concentrated, potent expression, while also conserving the zing and fresh nuance from our soils.General information
Alcohol by volume
14 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
32 yearsVineyard surface area
100 ha (San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Labastida, Ábalos, Navaridas, and Elvillar)Planting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
483 mYield
4,000 kg/ha - 28 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg crates from 26 September to 9 October2019 Vineyard cycle
2019 was a dry year. The lack of water during May, June, and July affected the vineyard, with temperatures slightly higher than average, even during winter and autumn. In fact, it can be considered the warmest year of the decade, with days when temperatures were higher than normal, and a heatwave at the end of June and start of July that unusually saw temperatures topping 40 ºC.
The drought affected the entire ripening phase, with the berries only swelling very slightly. However, the 80 litres that fell during the first fortnight of September helped alleviate the vines' water needs, with the fruit quickly swelling.
Ultimately, the weather was kind to the harvest, which the region experiencing mild temperatures, a limited diurnal temperature range, and no mists or rainfall that could have posed a risk to production.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be aged for up to 10 - 15 years if stored in the ideal conditions of: 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
The recommended drinking temperature is 18 ºC/ 64 ºF.Production
77,316 Bordeaux, 1,050 Magnum, 58 Double Magnum, and 22 Imperial bottles.
Year bottled
August 2021
Description
Macán Clásico is an exemplary wine from the Sonsierra region of La Rioja, steeped in centuries of tradition, knowledge and winemaking culture from the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria. It reveals the terroir's freshness, fruitiness, liveliness, and delicateness, which provides depth and complexity.
A lot of hard work went into selecting, acquiring, and nurturing 100 hectares of vineyard for this wine since 2004, along with the commendable efforts in the winery since 2009 (when the first vintage was released). Furthermore, Tempos Vega Sicilia and Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild have jointly owned modern facilities in the Rioja DOCa region since 2016, where innovation, technology, and wine science converge.
Macán Clásico is made from one variety: 100 % Tempranillo. The grapes come from plots with alkaline sandyclay soils. We had to wait until October to harvest this more Atlantic-influenced vintage. It has a more elegant profile and is more fluid so we could push the extraction a bit further. We increased the impact of the new oak barrel by 10 % during ageing, looking to give the wine more depth and structure.
Macán Clásico 2018 is the purest expression of Rioja Tempranillo, having a fresher, subtler, and more elegant profile.General information
Alcohol by volume
14 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
31 yearsVineyard surface area
100 ha (San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Labastida, Ábalos, Navaridas, and Elvillar)Planting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
483 mYield
4,000 kg/ha - 28 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg crates from 2 to 14 October2018 Vineyard cycle
2018 was a fresh and damp year with mild winter temperatures and abundant precipitation, including six snowfalls during the first quarter, enabling the soil to gain significant water reserves.
Budburst was 10 days late, with abundant rainfall and moderate temperatures continuing throughout spring. This resulted in ripening being delayed by 2 weeks.
Harvesting was normal, running from 2 to 14 OctoberStorage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be aged for up to 10 - 15 years if stored in the ideal conditions of 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
The recommended drinking temperature is 18 ºC / 64 ºF.Production
151,411 Bordeaux bottles, 1,033 Magnum, 51 Double Magnum, and 18 Imperial bottles.
Year bottled
August 2020
Description
Macán Clásico is a quintessential wine from the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria in La Rioja, reflecting centuries of tradition, knowledge and winemaking culture. It showcases the freshness, fruitiness, liveliness and delicateness of the terroir, while also providing depth and complexity.
Since 2004, behind the making of this wine, the winery has been meticulously working on the selection, acquisition and nurture of 98 hectares of vineyard, releasing its first vintage in 2009. And since 2016, the joint venture between Tempos Vega Sicilia and the Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild within the DOCa Rioja has owned modern facilities where innovation, technology and wine science converge.
Macán Clásico is single-varietal 100 % Tempranillo. Its grapes come from limestone plots with a slightly more sandy-loam profile. This vintage was marked by a frost on April 28th, with the harvest taking place early and in somewhat warm conditions. This is why special emphasis was placed on very gentle extractions, working the presses differently this year and polishing them before blending in the final assemblage. 50 % new oak barrels were used for ageing, giving greater weight to the fresher profiles, and 10 % American oak barrels to work on smoothness.
Macán Clásico 2017 conveys the purest expression of Rioja Tempranillo, with its profile being somewhat warmer and firmer yet extremely harmonious.General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
30 yearsVineyard surface area
102 haPlanting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
483 mYield
2,200 kg/ha - 25 Hl/haHarvest
Manual in 12 kg boxes from September 15th to September 27th2017 Vineyard cycle
The winter of 2017 was mild and fairly dry. The months of December and January were cooler and harsher, but temperatures were higher than normal (almost spring-like) in the second fortnight of February.
2017 will always be marked by the late frosts that affected crops in the northern half of Spain. In the specific case of the BR-VS plots, on 20 April there was a light frost in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. More serious was the advection frost (due to a cold spell originating from northern Europe) recorded on 28 April, which affected certain areas of the vineyard.
Scattered showers and mild temperatures in the spring slightly brought forward the growth cycle of the vineyard. There was further heavy rain in June, with more than 70 litres per square metre. In the month of July there were storms with some hail damage, although the good wind and temperature conditions of the following days quickly healed the wounds and impacts caused by these storms.
Meanwhile, rainfall in late August and early September helped mitigate water shortages in the middle and deep root areas. The rains in these months favoured growth and the normal development of the grape ripening process.
The harvest proceeded under normal conditions between 15 September and 27 September, with good weather prevailing.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be stored for 10-15 years in optimal conditions: 12-14 °C / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
The recommended serving temperature is 18 °C / 64 ºF.Production
37,211 Bordeaux bottles, 1,057 Magnum, 80 Double Magnum and 24 Imperial.
Year bottled
August 2019
Description
Macán Clásico is deeply attached to its territory, Rioja San Vicente de la Sonsierra compiling centuries of tradition, knowledge and winegrowing culture from the foothills of Sierra de Cantabria. It expresses freshness, fruitiness and delicacy coming from its terroir which provides depth and complexity.
Behind this wine today, since 2004 holds immense effort in the selection, acquisition and care for the 92 hectares of vineyard and since 2009 (first release) praiseworthy work in the cellar. In addition, since 2016 the joint project between Tempos Vega Sicilia and the Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild in La Rioja DOCa includes modern facilities where innovation, technology and eno-science merge together.
Macán Clásico is a single variety, 100% Tempranillo. Its grapes grow on chalky soils with a sandy marl profile. Vintage 2016 was produced in the new facilities in Samaniego allowing a more precise, parcel driven vinification. For its ageing, new oak was reduced in 50% and 10% of barrels used were American oak built in Vega Sicilia´s own cooperage.
Macán Clásico 2016 offers the purest expression of Rioja's Tempranillo. It's a fresh wine, but at the same time serious, with persistence and depth.General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
30 yearsVineyard surface area
92 haPlanting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
483 mYield
3,600 kg/ha - 25 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg cases from September 17th to October 3rd2016 Vineyard cycle
From a meteorological point of view, abundant rainfall during the winter months marked vintage 2016 allowing the accumulation of water reserves that were key to overcome a very dry and hot summer. Budding occurred on April 20th, with some delay compared to the previous year, while flowering took place on June 20th. In the months of August and September, water stress episodes contributed to increase the maturation problems caused by the excess production in many plots
throughout La Rioja.
The lack of rain in the summer, caused clusters to have smaller berries at the start of the campaign, but moderate rainfall in the third week of September was beneficial to complete maturation. These favorable weather conditions brought hope in the increase of productive expectations.
Harvest took place from the 17th of September to the 3rd of October.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is ready to drink now holding a potential ageing window of approximately 10 - 15 years if kept in ideal conditions: constant temperature of 12-14 ºC, 60% relative humidity.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.Production
97,497 Bordeaux bottles, 1,068 Magnum, 60 Double Magnum and 21 Imperial.
Year bottled
August 2018
Description
Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia was born in 2004 as the result of a joint venture between Tempos Vega Sicilia and the Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild. Both firms share the idea of making great wines in La Rioja, a unique, singular, inimitable winegrowing region. After five years of terroir evaluation and acquisition of 92 ha of vineyard, the project takes shape in 2009 with the first vintage of our two wines: Macán and Macán Clásico. To offer a modern and unique vision of Rioja, is our philosophy, following the Bordeaux model of a first and second wine.
Macán Clásico is deeply attached to its territory. Freshness, fruitiness and delicacy are its signs of identity. It is produced in stainless steel casks; part of malolactic fermentation in oak; new oak and single-use barrels, ageing for 12 to 14 months determined only by the characteristics of the vintage. It later sits in bottle for over 18 months.
Macán Clásico offers the purest expression of Rioja´s Tempranillo. It is fresh yet serious, with substance and intensity.
General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
40 yearsVineyard surface area
92 haPlanting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
550 mYield
3,500 kg/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg cases from September 17th to October 3rd2015 Vineyard cycle
From a meteorological point of view, 2015 vintage is characterized by its cold and humid winter, close to 500 l/m2 between October and March. This water availability, along with the warm dry weather in spring, eased an optimal budding and the start of the vineyard´s growing cycle. Thermometers remained high throughout the summer, with episodes of showers which provided the needed water for the plant to complete full ripeness. This all helped in good sanity of the vineyard, with the only exception being several important hail incidents that diminished the production in the affected areas. Harvest was normal, between September 17th and October 3rd with dry weather, good temperature difference between day and night, thus, an adequate balance of the grape components.
A warm vintage supported by a favorable winter.
Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is ready to drink now holding a potential ageing window of approximately 10-15 years if kept in ideal conditions: constant temperature of 12-14 ºC and 60% relative humidity.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.
Production
70,928 Bordeaux bottles, 1,042 Magnum, 62 Double Magnum and 22 Imperial
Year bottled
May 2017
Description
Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia was born in 2004 as a result of the joint venture between Tempos Vega Sicilia and the Winemaking Company Baron Edmond de Rothschild. Both firms share the idea of making great wines in Rioja, a unique, singular, inimitable winegrowing region. After a five year period of terroirs evaluation and acquisition of 92 has. of vineyard, the project takes shape in 2009 with the first vintage of our two wines, Macán and Macán Clásico. Our philosophy is to offer a modern and unique vision of Rioja following the Bordeaux model of a first and second wine.
Macán Clásico is a wine deeply attached to its territory. Freshness, fruitiness and delicacy are its signs of identity. It is produced in stainless steel casks; part of its malolactic fermentation in oak; new oak and single use barrel ageing for 12 to 14 months determined only by the characteristics of the vintage. It is balanced in bottle for over 18 months.
Macán Clásico offers the purest expression of Rioja´s Tempranillo. It is fresh, jovial and pleasant.General information
Alcohol by volume
14,5 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
40 yearsVineyard surface area
92 ha split between Ábalos, Labastida, El Villar and San Vicente de la SonsierraPlanting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
500 mYield
3.500 kg /haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg. cases2014 Vineyard cycle
Abundant rainfall and cool winter weather provoked delay in the start of vineyard´s cycle. The situation improved due to high temperatures in spring, early summer and evenly spread rainfall registered in key moments for optimal plant development. These favorable conditions, that represented a healthy vine management, were reinforced with warm weather in July and August. Despite the delay in the cycle´s initiation, ripening suffered a noticeable acceleration up to the point of being a few days ahead of a normal campaign.
Harvest took place last week of September and the first week of October and in spite of the high temperature episodes and sporadic rainfall, the grapes were high quality.Storage, serving and drinking window
These wines are ready for drinking now but may potentially be stored for approximately 15 years if kept in optimum conditions (12-15 ºC) at 60% relative humidity, and constant temperature, protected from direct light.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.Production
68.468 Bordeaux bottles, 1.042 Mágnum bottles, 35 Double-Mágnum bottles and 13 Imperial bottles.Year bottled
May 2016
Description
Bodegas Benjamín de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia is a result of the admiration that two great names in the world of wine feel for the exceptional wine region of Rioja. Incomparable in its calcareous-clay soils, incomparable in its unique mixed climate of Atlantic, continental and Mediterranean currents, incomparable in the personality of its grapes and Tempranillo wines and incomparable in its tenacity and passion of its people.
Bodegas Benjamín de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia is under the Qualified Appellation of Origen Rioja (DOCa). Its wines are a result of a meticulous selection within 130 high quality "pagos" (vineyard), acquired in the last 13 years and located on the slopes of the Cantabria Mountain Range. 90 hectares are spread along high terraces in the Municipality of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Labastida, Ábalos and El Villar.
Macán Clásico represents freshness, kindness, gentleness. It is made from 100% Tempranillo grapes with selection on the field and at the winery. Part of its malolactic fermentation was performed in barrels. Its ageing process reaches 12 months in extra-fine French oak barrels, new and one use, before obtaining roundness in bottle for over 18 months.
Macán Clásico is the pure expression of Rioja Tempranillo grapes with a modern production reinforcing its elegance and a careful ageing to enhance its fineness. 2013 was a complex year where extensive selection was carried out. Sober vintage; fresh, pleasant and elegant.
General information
Alcohol by volume
14%Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
40 yearsVineyard surface area
90 ha (split between Samaniego, Baños de Ebro, Labastida, Ábalos, El Villar and San Vicente de la Sonsierra)Planting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
500 m2013 Vineyard cycle
Mild winter with rain throughout the entire season. Cold spring causing a slow budding. Cool summer with an adequate thermal contrast between day and night at end of cycle. Veraison in mid-August (15 days late according to average) and a later harvest compared to previous years; precipitation and low temperatures during harvest.
Storage, serving and drinking window
These wines are ready for drinking now but may potentially be stored for approximately 15-20 years if kept in optimum conditions (12-15 ºC) at 60% relative humidity, and constant temperature, protected from direct light.
Optimum drinking temperature is 17 ºC.
Production
39,500 bordeaux bottles, 1,071 magnum bottles, 35 double-magnum bottles and 14 imperial bottles.
Year bottled
June 2015.
