2021 Vega Sicilia Valbuena (Ribera del Duero)

A blend of 96% Tempranillo and 4% Merlot, sourced from vineyards located between 720 and 930 m above sea level, rooted in limestone marl soils. The 2021 vintage was shorter in production but marked by excellent quality. Winter brought significant snowfall, spring was very wet, and the summer remained cool, slowing down the vegetative cycle and contributing to the wine’s finesse. Ageing follows the traditional five-year process: 12 months in barrel, 12 months in large wooden vats, 6 months in stainless steel, and the remaining time in bottle before release. Total production is 178,876 bottles, 5,566 magnums, 400 double magnums, 35 imperials and 5 salmanazars.
This Valbuena is, for me, a particularly special edition. The texture is silky, almost haute couture, with delicately pitched black fruit, graphite ink notes and impeccably integrated oak. Cedar, black cherry and a faint mineral line shape the aromas, while the palate shows seductive perfume, refined structure and a tannin profile that is both silky and full of promise. Tertiary elements are barely emerging – just a whisper of elegant leather – suggesting a long and graceful evolution ahead. An impressive Valbuena, and one of my favourites in the entire 2026 Vega Sicilia release. 18.5 points