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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.3 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 135 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by evanlyall on 4/24/2024 & rated 95 points: Beautiful dark color, earthy to start but soft, easy drinker. Really enjoyable. Drink now would be my recommendation. (52 views) | | | Tasted by KVM on 4/1/2024: Very dark red. Nose of raw liver, black berry, cherry, very expressive! Full bodied, black pepper, oak spice, cherry, mature note of leather, great concentration, still has a grip. The long finish really shows the oak. This is outstanding! (319 views) | | | Tasted by Tomlamb on 12/3/2023: Excellent wine. Drink now. (719 views) | | | Tasted by TightLettuce on 11/11/2023 & rated 93 points: Still quite fresh, oak was powering but well integrated at this point.
93+ (731 views) | | | Tasted by Battersea James on 5/19/2023 & rated 90 points: Consistent with previous tasting note. Definitely needs drinking! (1183 views) | | | Tasted by T.E.D. on 5/6/2023 & rated 89 points: A bit to cloying and flat for my preference. Nose showed some promise however palate was very flat with no structure or backbone. (1158 views) | | | Tasted by Matotse on 1/21/2023 & rated 90 points: Excellent right out of the bottle but starting to fade a bit after 2 hrs. Think it has peaked. Still love the wine but won't wait drinking it now. (1523 views) | | | Tasted by Brent25 on 10/9/2022 & rated 94 points: Clear deep garnet; clean medium plus nose of blackberries, balsamic, cassis, figs, cocoa and leather; dry; high acidity; medium plus tannins; high alcohol; medium plus body; pronounced flavour intensity; palate is tarter and follows nose; long finish; drinking beautifully - lots of lovely tertiary but still fresh - drink now or in a few years; last bottle - wish we had more! (1795 views) | | | Tasted by Battersea James on 5/21/2022 & rated 90 points: Whilst I still really enjoyed this wine, it’s definitely on the decline in my mind. It’s lost a lot of the crunchy fruit and acidity that it once had. Whilst still nicely balanced, this wine is a lot more one dimensional than before. I personally would drink this wine up! (2104 views) | | | Tasted by T.E.D. on 12/12/2020 & rated 93 points: Consumed over two months thru coravin. Definitely showing some age and roundness. Nose shows good berry concentration, black fruits and hints jam and spice. Palate is smooth and well integrated, notes of pepper, sweet tobacco, leather, boysenberry and cassis. Very smooth and fairly complex. Still has a few years left as secondary notes are just coming through. (3959 views) | | | Tasted by galewskj on 12/6/2020 & rated 91 points: Virtual Spanish Wines: There was a slight caramelization on the palate which also made it a touch sweet. This wine also seemed rather big, and I'll likely hold my last bottle 5 years. (3724 views) | | | Tasted by rocknroller on 12/3/2020 & rated 92 points: Virtual Single Blind Spanish Tasting (Home): Very dark red/purple color, saturated to the edge. Splash decanted and poured into jars for transport and poured into glasses about 2 hours later. Drank one glass plus single blind over 3 hours. This was probably the biggest of the grouping and thus I figured it might be the Vega-Sicilia. Dense on the nose, blackberry, blackberry liqueur, smoked meats, vanilla cream, dark fruits and earthy. The palate shows a lot power and concentration to the deep brambliy fruit, blackberry and blackberry liqueur, hints of blue fruits, spices, lacquer, earth more oak, some tannins and a little agressiveness on the finish. This was quite good and yet my lowest ranked wine of the group - which says something for the wine tonight. I had a good bit of this left for the next night and it was further integrated and drinking even better. Still a baby with significant upside. 92(+)pts. (3663 views) | | | Tasted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine on 12/3/2020 & rated 92 points: Spectacular Spanish Reds: Spanish Spectacular Zoom Tasting
Wines: This was a very nice tasting, conducted as a single blind (we knew the wines, but not which was which). The wines featured included the following:
2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia (Starter wine)
2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat
2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto
2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904
2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster
2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5°
NV Pedro Ximenez Spinola Sherry (Desert wine)
Prep: Wines were decanted for about 10 mins then poured/filtered into jars for transport, and consumed 2-4 hours later.
Scores: The group's top 3 wines were: WOTN = 2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, two wines tied for second = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, and 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster. My order was as follows: WOTN = 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster, #2 = 005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, #3 = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, #4 (tie) = 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5° and 2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto.
Review:
2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5° - Even though I scored this a 92 (which normally is a very good score), I felt, based on the notes in CT, that this wine would have performed better (I really expected it to be WOTN). I correctly guessed this was a 2009 wine, but thought it was the Priorat, rather than the VS Valbuena. Based on this bottle, I must say I disagree with some of the notes in CT, i.e., I don't think this wine is anywhere near its peak. This wine was much more fruit-forward than any of the other wines. Nice nose with dark fruit and oak dominating, but some herbs and leather also in the background. The palate was mostly red fruit with tart cherry and currant dominating, but also plenty of oak, spice and earth also present. Finish was medium. 92 points for now, but I will disappointed if it is not a point or two higher in a few more years. Very drinkable now, but should improve. (3496 views) | | | Tasted by Alvarovazquez on 8/30/2020 & rated 93 points: Subtle and elegant, well integrated and balanced. Decanted for three hours before consumption. Entering its peak. Enjoy it now and for the next four years (3098 views) | | | Tasted by jhbehrens on 8/23/2020 & rated 92 points: Wonderful aromas of black fruit in a wine that is both light and serious. Still has some sharpish acidity and medium tannins assuring it will get better with a few more years in the cellar (1576 views) | | | Tasted by domco on 6/8/2020: Nice mix of red and dark fruit, some dusty tannins, a little savory element to it with a touch of vanilla. Well balanced, nice acidity. I think sitting in a sweet spot right now but has years ahead of it still. (1955 views) | | | Tasted by Lewerentz on 6/6/2020 & rated 93 points: Great wine at its peak now (1958 views) | | | Tasted by Battersea James on 5/23/2020 & rated 93 points: Beautiful nose of red currant and cherries. On the palate, restrained red fruit with gorgeous acidity. Well integrated tannins. Secondary notes of vanilla give a lovely long finish. Really enjoyable and lots of life ahead of it. (1891 views) | | | Tasted by SlimShaney on 4/27/2020 & rated 92 points: Initially thin red current then after a few hours puts on weight (dont we all) and throws out classic Ribera musky vegemite (1934 views) | | | Tasted by gouldcampbell77 on 4/10/2020 & rated 94 points: Absolutely a point right now this minute. Perfect mix of concentration, aged fruit and lively tannin. Any longer and I think this would be on the downhill. My last bottle and absolutely no hesitation about drinking it. (1807 views) | | | Tasted by KeithAkers on 3/7/2020 & rated 94 points: Vega Sicilia Valbuena Vertical (Bob's, Lincoln Park): Nose: The nose is savory, deep, and beautifully aromatic filled with black cherries, black raspberries, tobacco, licorice, herbs, smoke, earth notes, and spice tones. There is a lot of layering with it taking a few passes to get every bit of what the nose is bringing.
Taste: The feel is Full bodied with tart, medium+ acidity and chewy, high tannins. The structure is really coming into a great place right now with the tannins having youth to them, but they aren't taking front stage. The feel is deep, broad shouldered, and savory with black cherries, black raspberries, licorice, tobacco, smoke, and spice notes.
Overall: This is a flat out knockout. It is so well balanced with a level of depth and complexity that only comes from great wines. This can certainly age further as the structure is there, but it is just so good right now. (1374 views) | | | Tasted by Vinolsen on 3/1/2020: Middag 29 feb walther Anette Jesper j Ulrik Ingrid Cecilie Thomas (1671 views) | | | Tasted by BSA on 1/25/2020 & rated 93 points: Seductive nose with sweet tobacco, leather, wood, over mostly blueberries and some bright cherries. Cooler and more strict fruit in the mouth. Acidity is present but in check. Rather fine grained tannin. Lovely. No rush but drinking well now. 93-94p (1781 views) | | | Tasted by Brent25 on 12/11/2019 & rated 92 points: Clear deep ruby; clean medium nose of blueberries, cassis, toast, cloves and wet leaves; dry; medium plus acidity; medium plus tannins; high alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus flavour intensity; pfn with addition of dark chocolate; long finish; outstanding quality; refined and elegant; beautiful wine but not sure it’s worth the price (1951 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 10/28/2019 & rated 93 points: This seems to have come along quite nicely over the past year. I forgot that I had this. The 2009 Valbuena shows a pretty ravishing nose - raspberry compote, lipstick, warm early, slightly rubbery. Gourmandise palate - so enticing. Lush fruit but a bit of cured meat and grippy tannin as well. A little clipped on the finish, however. 92-93. (2663 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (9/6/2022)
(Vega Sicilia Castilla y León Valbuena 5, Red, Spain) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (9/6/2022)
(Vega Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5, Red, Spain) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (9/5/2022)
(Vega Sicilia, Valbuena 5º Ribera del Duero Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (4/18/2018)
(Vega Sicilia, Valbuena 5º Ribera del Duero Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Sarah Jane Evans MW
Decanter, The Changing Style of Vega Sicilia (4/17/2018)
(Vega Sicilia, Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Castilla y Léon, Spain, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | Decanter
(Vega Sicilia, Valbuena, Ribera del Duero, Spain, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, September/October 2014, IWC Issue #176
(Bodegas Y Vinedos Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5 Anos Ribera Del Duero) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JamesSuckling.com and JancisRobinson.com and Decanter and Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Producer WebsiteTempranillo BlendTempranillo is the backbone of wines made ihvhhcn the best well-known Spanish regions Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but is also grown as far afield as Mexico and Australia.
As a flavor profile, red fruits like strawberries and cherries can predominate - but with a rustic edge. The Many wines made from Tempranillo will spend a few years in barrel and bottle before reaching the consumers . Many Tempranillo-based wines see a few years of oak - add that to a few years of bottle and the wine can give a subtle - and occasionaly not-so-subtle - leathery mouthfeel. The combination of the tart fruit and tannins make this wine very food friendly.Spain Vinos de España - Wines of Spain (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior) | Wikipedia
Wine Map on weinlagen-info
Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From inky, dark reds of the [Priorat] to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spain can easily boast of elaborating a wide variety of notable styles. Within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions, of which a handful have gained international recognition: [Rioja], Priorat and [Ribera del Duero]. Yet these regions are only a small sample of the high quality wines Spain produces. Regions such as Cava, Penedes, Somontano, Galicia, Rueda and Jerez are only a few of the numerous regions worthy of exploration throughout Spain. Spain can also lay claim to having the most land under vine in the world, growing up to, by some accounts, 600 indigenous varietals of which Tempranillo is their most well known. Other popular varietals include [Garnacha], Bobal and Monastrell for reds and for whites; the infamous [sic] Palomino Fino grape which is used in the production of sherry wine, Pedro Ximenez in Montilla Morilles, Albarino used in the creation of the bright, effervescent wines of Galicia, and Verdejo in Rueda. - Source: - Catavino.net
Spain is not in the forefront of winemaking for its dessert wines, other than for its sweet wines from Sherry country including the highly revered Olorosos (when sweetened). But apart from Sherry Spain has a range of styles of dessert wines, ranging from the those made from the Pedro Ximenez grape primarily in Jerez and Montilla-Moriles) to luscious, red dessert wines made in the Mediterranean from the Garnacha (Grenache) grape. Some good Moscatels are made in Mallorca, Alicante and Navarre. The northwest corner of Spain, Galicia, with its bitter Atlantic climate, is even making dessert wines, called “Tostadillos” in the village of Ribadivia (similar to France’s “Vin de Paille”). The Canary Islands have made interesting dessert wines for centuries (they are mentioned by Shakespeare, for example) and in recent years the quality of winemaking has been improved and the Canary Islands wines are being better marketed now. The winemaking styles for “Vinos Dulces” are also diverse, from “Late Harvest” (Vendimia Tardía) to “Fortified Wines” (Fermentación Parcial). Based on in-spain.info.Castilla y León Castilla y León Wine (Turismo Castilla y León )Ribera del Duero El Corazón del Duero - The Heart of Duero (Consejo Regulador de la D.O. Ribera del Duero) |
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