2017 Valbuena 5°, Vega Sicilia, Ribera del Duero, Spain
OVERVIEW
2017 Valbuena 5° may be the second wine of Vega Sicilia but is still one of the very best wines in all of Spain. Always just a point or two behind its famous elder sibling, Unico, Valbuena 5° offers a taste of Unico at less than half the price.
If you're looking for an iconic wine, something a bit special for an anniversary or Christmas, you can't go far wrong with this delicious Tempranillo dominated wine with the lightest dash of Merlot. Sublime stuff.
CRITIC REVIEWS
2017 was marked by the frost of the night between April 27 and 28 that Vega Sicilia fought with their anti-frost towers. The end of the season was warm, and the overall rain was low, 235 liters. The 2017 Valbuena is marked by these circumstances, produced with 94% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 6% Merlot, with good ripeness (14.5% alcohol) and mellow acidity (4.65 grams of tartaric acid and a pH of 3.85). The grapes were cooled down and took three to four days of maceration to start fermenting with indigenous yeasts. The wine matured in a combination of new and used French and American 225-liter oak barrels and 21,000-liter oak vats for almost three years. The result, for whatever reason, was nothing short of spectacular. The wine is perfumed, floral, expressive and balsamic like few vintages before. It doesn't feel like a 2017 at all; it is harmonious, and the tannins were fine. It's an amazing Valbuena that clearly transcends the character of the vintage. What I see here is that since 2010, the wine has a very high consistency. And in 2017 it excels. 170,071 bottles, 5,516 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2020. 96 Points. Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate (December 2021)
Vega's vineyards were protected from the frosts by wind machines in 2017, so yields were not as badly affected as in some parts of Ribera. Aged in 80% new wood, with an 80/20 split between French and American oak, this is a blend of Tinto Fino and 6% Merlot, which shows a grassy undertone, well-handled tannic structure in a drought year, some wood spices, fine acidity and a balsamic lift. A mini Único. 96 Points. Tim Atkin MW (Dec 2021)
This shows wonderful aromas of blackberries, violets and sandalwood with vanilla undertones. Full-bodied with racy tannins and gorgeous fruit. Linear and very long. Slightly chewy. Needs time to come together, but already excellent quality. Drink after 2023. 96 Points. James Suckling (October 2021)
FOOD PAIRING INSPIRATION
This top end Ribera del Duero wine will pair well with grilled steaks, Moroccan tagine or lamb cutlets.
VINTAGE AND WINEMAKING
Although 2017 was a tough vintage, it means very little to wines like Unico and Valbuena 5° which simply defy the vintages thanks to the incredible amount of care in the vineyard. 2017 threw both spring frosts and summer drought at Vega Sicilia with neither interrupting the unequalled levels of quality at the winery.
Aged over five winters in barrel then bottle before its release, 75% French oak amplifies the sweet black fruit and velvety mouthfeel of Valbuena.
PRODUCER NOTES
Spain's most prestigious producer, Vega Sicilia is a Spanish icon. Founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, he arrived in the region with Bordeaux cuttings of Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon and planted them together with Tinto Fino in these hallowed soils. This act laid the first stone in building the reputation of the wines of Ribera del Duero today.
This traditional estate strives for excellence at every turn with painstaking selection in the vineyard and huge investment in oak in the winery. All the wines of Vega Sicilia, from Unico to Valbuena 5° to Alion all share these exacting standards and it's this insistence on quality that has helped Vega Sicilia develop their cult like status among oenophiles today.
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SERVICE AND STORAGE TIPS
We recommend this wine be served at 18C. The wine does not need to be decanted and is drinking well now but will last and evolve over the next 40-60 years.
DELIVERY INFORMATION
Delivery is free when you spend over £150. For orders under this amount then a £9.99 delivery charge will be applied.
We use a tracked DPD delivery service who provide text and email tracking updates.
Every bottle sold by CoolerSomm is subject to our quality guarantee. If a wine is corked or faulty, we will replace it.
2017 Valbuena 5°, Vega Sicilia, Ribera del Duero, Spain
| Wine Card | |
| Wine Producer | Vega Sicilia |
| Wine Region | Ribera del Duero |
| Wine Classification | DO Ribera del Duero |
| Wine Type | Red |
| Grape Variety | 94% Tempranillo & 6% Merlot |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Vintage Quality | Good - Parker |
| Maturity | For laying down |
| Body | Full Bodied |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Alcohol % | 14.5% |
| Bottle Type | Bordeaux 75cl |
| Serving Temperature | 16-18°C |
| Food Pairing | Beef, Lamb, Game |
| Awards | 96 Points - James Suckling |
| 96 Points - Tim Atkin MW | |
| 96 Points - Luis Gutiérrez (WA) |
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