The expression of time
A wine that shows us the splendour of each vintage based on the wisdom of the past and the wealth of the present.
A mellow, passionate and living style that year after year, challenge after challenge, harvest after harvest reinterprets its style to keep its essence intact.
Valbuena, is the purest expression of the Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) in Vega Sicilia. Tinto Fino is clearly the predominant wine in the assemblage of the varieties that make up this magnificent wine. The other variety used is Merlot, which is added to a greater or lesser extent depending on the vintage.
The Valbuena Tempranillo is obtained from plots located on gentle concave slopes that descend from the wasteland. Those soils are made up of material that was eroded and accumulated as colluvial on the lower slopes, developing a high profile soil, with a specific important evolution with the formation of a deep calcic horizon.
Valbuena provides us with a direct and understandable view of the greatness of this "terroir" with the direct influence of each vintage. Its production remains unchanged meaning that it is each year's weather factors that mark the differences between the different harvests.
Fermentation at a controlled temperature with native yeast in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation also takes place in stainless steel.
After fermentation, it is aged for five years, between wood and in the bottle, which is why it is called Valbuena 5º. French and American wood, new and used 225-litre barrels, 20,000 litre vats, a long and complex process for a great wine.
Description
Valbuena 5º is the purest red wine expression at Vega Sicilia, aged for five years in oak and bottle, hence its name: Valbuena 5º.
This 2019 vintage was drier than the previous ones, which was evident during the grape tasting at the beginning of September. The fruit was very healthy and the skins ripened well thanks to the rain that fell at this time of year. Our obsession was to find freshness without erring on the side of over-ripeness. During the fermentation, we made sure that the extraction was gentle. Obviously, we adjusted the ageing, maturing part of the wine in oak vats during the first year to add tension to the wines. For this vintage, the presence of American oak was reduced in favour of French oak, with a preference for light toasts. In the second year, the wooden vats helped to bring out complex nuances and, above all, textural elegance.
Valbuena 5º 2019 is both succulent and muscular, taut and delicate. Expressive, elegant, lively and profound, it is a fascinating wine.General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
97 % Tinto Fino and 3 % MerlotAverage age of vineyard
35 yearsVineyard surface area
210 ha (Finca Vega Sicilia)Planting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
700 - 900 mYield
3,100 kg/ha - 21,7 Hl/haHarvest
Manual, in 12 kg boxes, from 26 September to 11 October2019 Vineyard cycle
Temperatures were warmer than usual at the end of the previous growing season and the weather conditions resulted in good cane ripening. Average spring temperatures and rainfall helped the plants to sprout successfully in the second half of April with no frost. In terms of rainfall, the total for the year is below average.
Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be cellared for 25 years if stored in optimal conditions: 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
Best served at 18 ºC / 64 ºF.Production
190,490 standard Bordeaux bottles, 5,581 Magnum, 390 Double Magnum, 37 Imperial and 6 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
June 2022
Description
Valbuena 5º is the purest expression of red wine at Vega Sicilia. It is aged between barrel and bottle over five years, giving rise to the wine's name: Valbuena 5º.
A fresher, Atlantic-influenced, somewhat more productive vintage. We had to be stricter during selection, but these vintages provided a touch of zing and verticality to the wines, which is wonderful. We were able to squeeze extraction somewhat more for the 2018, and we increased the influence of wood during the first year of ageing, particularly our American oak (5 %). During the second year of ageing, the vat worked on this complexity of nuances and particularly the elegance of the texture.
Valbuena 5º 2018 is a vertical, zingy, crystalline expression, full of nuances, with a seductive and unctuous texture.General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
96 % Tinto Fino and 4 % MerlotAverage age of vineyard
33 yearsVineyard surface area
210 ha (Finca Vega Sicilia)Planting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
700 - 900 mYield
3,100 kg/ha - 21.7 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg crates from 1 to 13 October2018 Vineyard cycle
The previous cycle ended with lower than average minimum temperatures and widespread frosts from early November. Winter temperatures were lower than normal, but they were above average in early April, leading to suitable budbreak in the second fortnight of the month.
Summer temperatures were normal for the time of year, and combined with the abundant water reserves in the soil and good luminosity, the vineyard developed excellently, with a faster vine cycle.
Stormy periods with abundant precipitation during early September led to a delay in harvesting.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be aged for up to 25 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
180,580 Bordeaux, 5,528 Magnum, 411 Double Magnum, 39 Imperial, and 6 Salmanazar bottles.
Year bottled
June 2021
Description
Valbuena 5º is the purest expression of Vega Sicilia's red wine. It is aged for five years between barrel and bottle, giving rise to the wine's name: Valbuena 5º.
A complex vintage influenced by frosts and drought. A quick and early harvest, definitely a challenging vintage we interpreted by extracting less during fermentation and making adjustments in ageing. The first year of ageing 10 % less new oak barrels were used and ageing took place in wooden casks during the second year, essential when it comes to developing the wine's harmony and tension.
Valbuena 5º 2017 is more mature, juicy, and voluptuous expression, with the focus always on harmony.General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
94 % Tinto Fino and 6 % MerlotAverage age of vineyard
36 yearsVineyard surface area
210 ha (Finca Vega Sicilia)Planting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
700 - 900 mYield
2,500-3,000 kg/ha - 17.5-21 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg crates from 14 to 29 September2017 Vineyard cycle
Slightly lower than expected temperatures were recorded during January, along with severe frosts. However, that trend changed during February and through to the end of June, with average temperatures (2 to 3 ºC) higher than the mean. The high temperatures in April saw budburst come slightly early in the vineyard, already at phenological stage C (visible green point) on 20 April. However, both sharp temperature changes towards the end of that same month and severe widespread frosts significantly impacted budburst. The most significant frost occurred on the night of April 27/28, causing most damage to the vineyard, but we managed to tackle it efficiently using the estate's frost towers.
The cold front at the end of April/start of May passed over quickly, giving way to high temperatures and rainy periods, enabling the vineyard to recover.In terms of precipitation, the accumulated amount of just 235 litres across the entire wine-growing season was below the historical mean.
The significant diurnal (daily maximum and minimum) temperature variations during the first fortnight of September are worth mentioning, given their importance when ripening grapes.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be aged for up to 25 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
170,071 Bordeaux bottles, 5,516 Magnum, 406 Double Magnum, 34 Imperial, and 5 Salmanazar bottles.
Year bottled
June 2020
Description
Valbuena is the purest expression of red wine at Vega Sicilia and is aged for five years between barrel and bottle, which lends its name to the end product: Valbuena 5º.
The first year of ageing is done in oak barrels and it`s particularly important, using 75 % French oak and 25 % American oak. In this first stage, our goal is to build the wine, working on its structure, sense of sweetness and density. The second year of ageing takes place in large wooden vats and, in this stage, it gains elegance, complexity, tension and subtlety.
Valbuena 5º 2016 is the perfect balance between elegance, complexity and concentration. Pure harmony.General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
94 % Tinto Fino and 6 % MerlotAverage age of vineyard
35 yearsVineyard surface area
210 haPlanting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
700 - 900 mYield
3,000-3,500 kg/ha - 21-24.5 hl/haHarvest
Manual in 12 kg boxes from September 22 to October 112016 Vineyard cycle
The first frosts took place in mid-November, although they were not significant until December. This triggered a good parch process. The weather was relatively mild from November to February, a trend that was reversed in early March. As the start of spring was cooler than average, bud break was slightly later than usual.
The summer was typical of Ribera del Duero and flowering took place in the middle of June. The swelteringheat experienced in the month of August caused long dormancy stages that delayed ripening.
September was a dry month, which helped ensure good health and a well-balanced end of ripening. The harvest began on 22 September with pie de cuba and then continued between 27 September and 11 October.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be stored for 30 years in optimal conditions: 12-14 °C / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
The recommended serving temperature is 18 °C / 64 ºF.Production
182,882 Bordeaux bottles, 6,030 Magnum, 411 Double Magnum, 50 Imperial and 6 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
May 2019
Description
Valbuena is the purest expression of a red in Vega Sicilia, with five years of ageing between oak and bottle, which gives the wine its name: Valbuena 5º. The first year in oak barrel is of great importance to find the additional body and completing its ageing in wooden vats, where it shows extraordinary change in texture, gaining in precision, elegance, tension and subtlety.
Valbuena 5º 2015 is a concentrated and powerful vintage, but at the same time silky and deep.General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
95 % Tinto Fino and 5 % MerlotAverage age of vineyard
35 yearsVineyard surface area
210 ha (Finca Vega Sicilia)Planting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
700 - 900 mYield
3,600 kg/ha - 25 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12-kg cases2015 Vineyard cycle
Autumn was a little drier than usual. It gave way to a winter with a good amount of water accumulated to face the beginning of spring 2015 with good water reserves in depth. However, the first part of spring was dry, which caused the plant's budding to be delayed compared to a normal year.
Thanks to the absence of important spring frost and a rainier finish than usual, spring caused the plant to accelerate its pace. The extreme heat of the month of July ensured good sanity of the bunches.
In the end, the good conditions of summer, helped to have a very healthy and slightly advanced harvest compared to an average year with a remarkable balance between all the components of the grape.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is ready to drink now holding a potential ageing window of approximately 25 - 30 years if kept in ideal conditions: constant temperature of 12-14 ºC and 60% relative humidity.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.Production
173,673 Bordeaux bottles, 5,625 Magnum, 388 Double Magnum, 32 Imperial and 5 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
June 2018
Description
Valbuena is the pure expression of a red at Vega Sicilia, with an ageing of five years from barrel to bottle, which gives it its name, Valbuena 5º (5th year). 225-litre French and American oak barrels, both new and used, 8,500-litre vats are used in a long and complex process for perhaps, the wine which has evolved the most over the last few years.
Valbuena 5º presents its splendor in each vintage and a direct view of the greatness of its soil, where the weather conditions each year make a clear distinction on the vintage.
Thanks to the extraordinary job in the vineyard and ageing in tanks on its second year, today´s Valbuena 5º 2014 is velvety, complex, harmonious. A very fine wine.
General information
Alcohol by volume
14 %Variety
95% Tinto Fino and 5% MerlotAverage age of vineyard
35 yearsVineyard surface area
210 haPlanting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
700 mYield
3.600 kg/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12-kg cases from September 20th to October 3rd2014 Vineyard cycle
Mild winter and less rain than usual.
Spring started with higher temperatures than normal in both May and April, bringing forward budding 8 days. Starting mid-May temperatures began to decrease reaching normal values for the time, even particularly cold nights, yet no frost. It was a year of good fruit set where green pruning was very important, working plot per plot to attain optimal balance.
Summer started with moderate temperatures which persist until the end of August and rising higher than the average in September, favoring optimal maturity.
Harvest started September 20th ending October 3rd.
Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is ready to drink now holding a potential ageing window of approximately 20-25 years if kept in ideal conditions: constant temperature of 12-14 ºC and 60% relative humidity.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.
Production
184,684 Bordeaux bottles, 5,578 Magnum, 388 Double Magnum, 39 Imperial and 3 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
June 2017
Description
Valbuena is the pure expression of a red at Vega Sicilia, with an ageing process, from barrel to bottle, which lasts five years and gives its name: Valbuena 5º (5th).
Both new and used 225-litre French and American oak barrels and 8.500-litre vats are used for a long and complex process for perhaps, the wine which has evolved the most in the last few years.
Valbuena 5º presents its splendor in each vintage and a direct view of the greatness of its soil, where 140 hectares of land are dedicated to this wine; weather conditions each year make a distinction on the vintage.
Thanks to the extraordinary job in the vineyard and a second year ageing in tanks, today Valbuena 5º 2013 is vibrant and rich.General information
Alcohol by volume
14 %Variety
95% Tinto Fino and 5 % MerlotAverage age of vineyard
35 yearsVineyard surface area
210 haPlanting density
2.222 plants/haAltitude
700 mYield
3,600 kg /haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12kg cases2013 Vineyard cycle
Mild winter with temperatures slightly higher than usual and lower rainfall brought forward bud break 7 days, although precipitation in spring and relatively low temperatures caused a delay in both flowering and veraison, 10 days compared to last year.
Normal temperatures in summer, yet partly dry, with some showers caused no damage. Day temperature, as usual in September, though decrease in low temperatures, resulting in a wide temperature range between day and night.
Harvest took place starting end of September up to mid-October with abundant rainfall; so the enormous work in the vineyard reflects the grapes´ perfect sanitary conditions and ripeness level when entering the winery.
Storage, serving and drinking window
These wines are ready for drinking now but may potentially be stored for approximately 20 - 30 years if kept in optimum conditions (12-14 ºC) at 60% relative humidity, and constant temperature, protected from direct light.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.Production
150.650 Bordeaux bottles, 5.520 Mágnum bottles, 339 Double-Mágnum bottles and 26 Imperial bottles.Year bottled
June 2015Description
Of the 1,000 hectares making up the Vega Sicilia estate, 210 are used for wine growing, and there are 19 soil types divided for management purposes into 57 plots with very specific characteristics. The influence of the Duero river's flow and the passage of time have been vital in forming these soils.
140 of these hectares are employed to produce Valbuena 5º. A unique, magical estate, which alongside extraordinary vineyard management, enables the production of legendary wines.
Valbuena is the pure expression of red wine at Vega Sicilia, with an ageing process, from the barrel to the bottle, which lasts five years and gives the wine its name: Valbuena 5º (5th). Both new and used 225-litre barrels of French and American new and used wooden barrels, and 20,000-litre vats. A long and complex process for a great wine.
Valbuena always stands its ground, whole, elegant and serious.
A conquering wine. An opulent year, concentrated, impetuous and, without a doubt, a long journey.General information
Alcohol by volume
14 %Variety
Tinto FinoAverage age of vineyard
35 yearsVineyard surface area
210 ha (Finca Vega Sicilia)Planting density
2.222 plants/haAltitude
700 mYield
3,600 kg/ha - 25.2 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12-kg crates from September 19th to October 10th2012 Vineyard cycle
After a somewhat dry winter, spring begins with moderate temperatures and abundant rainfall with a recorded 70.7 liters in the month of April (during the first phases of vine budding) continuing until early May. Temperatures began to rise the rest of the month with a recorded 42 ºC / 108 ºF on the 26th and 27th of June. Notable absence of spring frost which allowed an adequate vine development. Summer is very dry with no records of rain in July and only 0.5 liters in August, with high temperatures throughout the summer; late September rain helped a good end maturity process. An outstanding plant health, high color intensity and extremely mature tannins with good ageing potential. Excellent vintage.
Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be aged for up to 20 - 30 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
174,545 Bordeaux bottles, 5,487 Magnum, 262 Double Magnum and 12 Imperial.
Year bottled
April 2014.
