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!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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Wines of San Sebastian; 7/9/2019-7/11/2019: Feel like Bordeaux at first (could be the 5 percent Merlot blend). Soft nose filled with dark berries and spicy oak. Good grippy structure but somehow very easy drinking due to opulent fruit.
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Spanish wine night, with my wine group, at a NYC restaurant. We had the 2012 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla El Nido, 2012 Mas Martinet Priorat Clos Martinet, and the 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5°. The wines were opened, but not decanted, for 30 minutes before pouring. This was the group favorite, just inching past the Clos Martinet.
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Floral, fragrant, elegant, nice balance but missing a complexity, intensity, energy and depth that I would want and expect from this price range. It’s good but not great. I’m wondering if more times in the bottle would allow it to fill out, open up and gain some complexity and interest?
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The wine looks garnet colored. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like espresso, oak and vanilla. It tastes like black pepper, black currant (cassis) and medium toast. The body is medium/full. The wine has polished texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
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Invierno frío, verano muy caluroso con buena sanidad de la fruta. Vendimia 24/9 al 3/10. Algo menos de capa que el 2008, ribete abierto. De corte "clásico", maduro, con fruta licorosa y fondo balsámico. En boca fluido, con sensación de materia, acidez bien integrada, estructura media, tostados y humo en el retronasal. Largo.
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Dark red, faded rim Lots of new oak character on the nose, dark and spicy with some more delicate floral notes Still very fresh, lively, dark fruit, warm spices, herbs and dark chocolate, not unlike something from the southern Rhone
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Dark saturated purple. Really interesting nose of dark leafy bramble fruit with an exotic hint of cinnamon and spice. Great fruit concentration, elderberries and some dark chocolate. There's also a crunchy element to the fruit, like a good loire cab franc. Still big and tannic and needs a few more years to chill out and develop some secondary notes. I'll leave my last bottle for another few years.
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Black centre, plum coloured rim. Plum and heat in the nose. Full bodied, mellow, extraordinary sweetness and depth of flavour. Still tannic and powerful. Worth the money.
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just showing a little fading at the rim FLoral and perfumed on the nose plus some oaky notes Fresh fruit, cherries/ raspberries, very very fresh and floral, then dark chocolate notes, long, oaky finish Showing really well, great fun now though probably worth keeping for more complexity
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Dyp intens med bjørnebær, behagelige røde blomster og grønne urter. Ganske tungt aromabilde, men fortsatt mer harmonisert nese enn den yngre 2012-årgangen.
Medium + konsentrasjon, med skogsbær, bjørnebær, og tydelige mørk sjokolade på paletten. En elegant og lang utgang med lett mintpreg og litt urtepreg.
Fin balanserende syre og tanniner. En meget god Valbuena. www.botti.no
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Food pairing made me pnp. Deep purpur colour. Dominant vanilla one th enose this time around also, but now the muscular body balanced it out quite well. Alcohol too. Juciy. Soothing, sweet dark berries with touch of wood and wet forest floor. Great pairing with grilled lamb that had soaked in indian flavoured marinade. Fine finish. 91-92p now. Lots of upside.
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Very concentrated but slightly coarse. Some quite grating tannins and there's a slightly vegetal / stale element to the fruit. Hopefully a bad bottle as I've two more.
My second bottle in a few months. Rich and structured nose, showing coco nib, hard red berry, black berry, brush and leather. Initial palate of Coco nib, sweet raspberries, dusty leather. Nice structure with medium acid. Back palate of coco, smoke, smoked meat, rust and pencil shavings. Letter than my first bottle and quite well made.
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Black cherry with watery rim; fresh nose of sweet cherries, vanilla, leather and dust; palate follows nose with juicy berries and a backbone of char, tar, wood and leather; big balance with big integrated tannins and big acidity; lovely wine to pair with bacon-wrapped filet mignon; Devon considers it good value, but Brent does not
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What can you really say when you find such a great wine? It's features a full body, fantastic mature tannis with acidity that's present but delicate (for Tempranillo). Really long finish. Gorgeous fruit and oak. Extrelemy balanced and ready to drink. Pairs perfectly with meat as expected. Truly outstanding value. It's not cheap, but better that anything I've tasted in it's price range.
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Til Valbuena 2009 og 2006 i neste flight ble det servert modnet and med rødbeter og szechuanpepper.
2009: sen modning, men varm avsltning. Svart med rød kant. Kirsebær, rødbær, plommer, lær, kaffe. Samme i munn, tettpakket og tanninsk, men mere elegant enn 08 og 07. Flott balanse. Svært lang bordeauxaktig ettersmak og bedre balanse mellom frukt og eik. Flott potensiale. 91-92.
2006: kveldens antatt beste årgang. Rel varm sesong med tidlig modning og innhøsting. Svart med mørkerød kant. Litt mere lukket på nese. Kirsebær, rødbær, blomster, lakris, kaffe. Samme i munn med lær og pipetobakk. Kompakt, tett, frisk. Herlig balanse og lang ettersmak. Nesten som en Margaux på steroider. Kompleks med mange lag. Nice juice! 93
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Valbuena No 5 - 2009. Wow! Absolutely spectacular. From a warm vintage which show on the wine. Certainly more robust than say 08 and 07 and even 06 but is gutsy with balance, refinement and layered complexity. On the nose yummy balsamic note with licorice, dark fruit, vanilla (not too much). On the taste more of the anise, fennel character from the nose, nice ripe tannians. It's a little more loose and charming than the more linear and classically styled 06. This Valbuena '09 outshone Unico 07 on the day.
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Great from the off. Nose of blue and blackberries; violet, smoky oak. Palate similar with added sweetnesses from the oak. Pushing boundaries of ripeness. Fleshy. Becomes much more elegant and precise after a couple of hours - great tobacco and sweet brown sugar sweetness. More complexity. Great length. Drinking now and close to peak - a year or 2. Best I have had from here.
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Absolutely phenomenal. I was thoroughly impressed with the 2009 Valbuena. The wine was ultra smooth with super soft tannins and barely perceptible acidity. I didn't expect this from a wine that's only 8 years old. It has a medium-strong body, soft aftertaste. Lot's of oak and black fruit. Consistency was velvety. I had it with a "Chuleton" (a very large piece of grilled steak with nothing but salt) and it was a marvelous match. The reputation of Vega-Sicilia is absolutely deserved. Go drink yours, no need o wait any longer.
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Bright aromas of ripe blackberry, black cherry, pencil lead and slight anice seeds. Decanted for 2h. Full bodied, lean with firm tannin. Very Bordeaux-like. Black currant and pepper on the lingering finish.
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My first experience with the production by Vega. Rich and inky purple color showing richness. Nose is still somewhat tight showing youth. Rich dark fruit, new leather, toasty vanilla, Pen ink. The palate shows depth, structure and secondary notes peeking through. The oak nature is very apparent, with some burnt vanilla, milk chocolate notes, and savory and supple tobacco. Surprisingly faded a bit after a few hours of air. Will wait another year.
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From memory. We found the Valbuena 5° on the wine list without birth year, and decided to have a go in hope of it being a vintage we had not tasted. It was not though. None the less, this is a great wine. Without decant, i was firm and a bit tight. In light of my own holdings, I was pleased to note that this time there was no overwhelming vanilla notes. It simply needs more time or a proper decant if had now. 92-94p
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Uncles Fine Wine Club’s - Grand Cru Tasting (Bodø): Still a baby, but highly complex with upfront toasted oak, ripe cherry, dark chocolate, some dry fruit elements and phenolic undertones. Lots of concentrated flavors of fruit, spices, licorice on the palate. Long finish and great balance. 93-95 points.
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(BBR Spain Tasting) :: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Merlot. Alongside the 2006, 2011. Dark garnet. Huge perfume, showing balsam, eucalyptus, old saddle leather, clove. Complex and so well balanced. An unbelievable mouthfeel - dense, expressive but without being heavy. Perfect acidity here, keeps this brooding powerhouse light and dainty. A treat.
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Tasted next to the 2011. More open and expressive on nose and palate, wonderfully balanced as well. Forest notes, hints of shoe polish on the nose. Soft tannic grip, again fresh and lively. Super length. Maybe not quite as much depth and power compared to the 2011. 93-95
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Very pleasant but somewhat mono dimensional, offering sweet red currant tannin. Thinner than I would probably like so well suited for a round of tapas in the Spanish evening heat, but less fitting for a chilly autumn evening at home.
After a few hours the wine is noticeably thicker and a vegetable note unwelcomingly emerges.
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Wanted to repeat my 05.12.2015 food matching experience; cote de boeuf - this time dry-aged - and shitake. Local asparagus are in season so added some fried ones as well. Only got to give it 11/2 h decant, perhaps that is why the wine did not feel in sync to me. Basically, the vanilla notes was too present. Much to like about this wine, even the vanilla. My wife loved it, this was her first time tasting it. I loved it a bit less than in December 2015. By all means pretty enjoyable now but I am mostly thinking about how good this will be when things integrate more. Added: Kept 40% of the bottle overnight in fridge. As it was picking up temp in the glass, more barnyard notes on the nose while firm towards delicate in the mouth. However, overall the wine was now disturbed by an alcohol stint.
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Tasted a two ounce pour from Coravin. This is a big chewy wine with noticeable oak and thick fruit. It is good but seems that it needs time for the parts to integrate better.
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Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 año Vertical Tasting Event (Bodega Santa Cecilia - Madrid): Booktext vintage where for first time malbec is eliminated. The official version says that did not provide too much (After over a hundred years !!!). The unofficial talks about the impossibility of replacing the vineyards of this varietal especially considering that VS liked Argentinian. Who knows... Nose dominated by aromas of licorice and reheated sweets. Somewhat warm in the mouth. Too short. Leaves nothing special except for its high level of alcohol.
Añada de libro donde por vez primera se suprime el malbec. La historia oficial dice que no aportaba gran cosa (¡¡¡después de más de cien años!!!). La no-oficial habla de la imposibilidad de reemplazar las viñas de ese varietal por otras de garantías sobretodo teniendo en cuenta que las que gustaban eran argentinas. Para gustos, los colores. En nariz predominan los aromas a regaliz y a chuches recalentadas. Un tanto cálido en boca. Demasiado corto. No deja un poso especial salvo por su alto nivel de alcohol.
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Ao seu lado, e degustado na rebelde adolescência, estava o Valbuena. Vermelho-rubi escuro, desfilando frutas secas, cravo, ameixas, folhas de tabaco, grãos de café torrado e cedro. Ataque um pouco contido, mas logo se faz expansivo, muscular e denso, a despeito de algumas arestas. Devido ao seu poderoso esqueleto, vai se transformar em algo muito especial. A questão principal é; sendo já, tão delicioso, como manter nossas mãos longe de uma garrafa dessas...? Ao lado do Cordero al Chilindrón com Guisantes y Menta alçaram belíssimos vôos.
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Once decanted and still a bit chilled it was tight and somehow out of sync. By all means, nose was interesting but mouth was disappointing (having previously had the 06 and 07). From 2 1/2h it took off. Fantastic nose though lagging a bit behind in the mouth. Until around 3h when I just became sad. For only having one glass left. It had just reached that other dimension to me. Complete joy. Some pointers: its was generally cherries, with some vanilla, tobacco and pepper at the back, until when it just came together as one. Tannins were plush pretty much all the way. I paired it with cote de beouf and shitake. I will do that again. 94p for now, until having retasted.
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Reticent bouquet of dark fruits, cigar spices and some oxide. Palate has the same components with a high dose of new oak which is normally the case with this region. It's a well made wine but appears rather young and IMO just as good as any Alion but at almost double the price, 92-93
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(at Hisop - Barcelona) Drunk after the '04 uniqo. Unfortunately, it did not stand up well to its big brother. There was a nice earthy complexity to the nose. However, there was a sharpness to the wine that made it seem disjointed. Maybe an awkward stage...maybe not a perfect bottle. Nice wine but...(89+?)
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Vega-Sicilia with Pablo Álvarez (Tenzing, Chicago): Medium-dark carmine color. Sweetly spicy nose of cola, with a somewhat sappy quality. This has an elegant palate of light, bright red fruit in the grip of long, super-structured tannins. Delightful now but I'd be happy to lay this down for the long haul. Better than the 2008.
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High complexity nose of sour apples, salvia and liquorice. Further it has earthy, wet soil, truffles and more green herb notes. Rich and flavourful on the palate. Well-integrated oak aromas and tight tannins.
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(Tasted at Berry's Spain 2014): rich, complex, precise, very clean. A nose of red and black cherries, a bowl full of dried rose petals. This has a massive palate, right across, and follows through to a long elegant finish. Impeccable structure.
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Vega Sicilia Tasting (Wine World, Seattle, WA): Smoky nose. Full, dark and dense. Lots of dark fruit, in a round and elegant package. Finishes with super fine tannins and nice acidity. A bit rough around the edges still, at least compared to the 2008.
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A very elegant, smooth, rich, and very accessible 2009. It would be very difficult to resist drinking it now although it should last many more years. Great stuff. [Justerini Spanish wine tasting event Sep 1, London]
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Drank at the Madrid Ritz Terrace, which obviously adds to the impression... decanted. Very lively and healthy color, strong nose, quite balanced and very concentrated but without sharp edges; some burnt tires, chocolate... good balance of fruit and subtle wood. Very long finish. It has a powerful skeleton so it will probably last a long time. A wonderful wine.
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We poured the wine into a decanter and followed its development over a couple of hours. It was dark ruby in colour and offered violet, dark berries, cherry, ripe plum, cabbage, chocolate, cocoa, espresso, spices and vanilla on the nose. On the palate the wine showed red and dark berries, cherry, blueberry, blackberry, plum, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, spices and vanilla, paired with medium to medium-plus acidity, medium-plus fine tannin and incredible length. I really loved the intriguing cocoa note that lingered on the aftertaste for quite some time. The plush, medium-bodied wine seemed restrained and elegant despite of its ripeness. It was smooth, and balanced except for the creamy oak that became more and more pronounced as time passed. The wine was very young and might well turn into something special with mid-term cellaring, the main issue being that it already is so delicious that it might turn out to be difficult to keep one’s hands off the bottles… A great wine; 93 points for the time being.
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Vega Sicilia Wines by Xavier Ausas (Enoteca Barolo - Madrid): Pitch-dark colour. Reduced nose at first. Rich, opulent, dense, gentle version of a VS. What a nose! Cereals on fresh fruit. An extraordinary effort for a Valbuena. Cocoa and coffee on the palate. Elegant to the bone. Let this bottle lay down for five years more. It will be a beauty.
Color negro oscuro. Al principio, nariz reducida. Abundante, opulenta, densa, una versión amable del VS. ¡Menuda nariz! Cereales sobre fruta fresca. Un esfuerzo increíble para una Valbuena. En boca cacao y café. Elegante hasta el límite. Deja descansar esta botella cinco años más. Será una belleza.
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4/24/2024 - evanlyall Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful dark color, earthy to start but soft, easy drinker. Really enjoyable. Drink now would be my recommendation.
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4/1/2024 - KVM wrote:
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!
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12/3/2023 - Tomlamb wrote:
Excellent wine. Drink now.
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11/11/2023 - TightLettuce Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still quite fresh, oak was powering but well integrated at this point.
93+
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5/19/2023 - Battersea James Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note. Definitely needs drinking!
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5/6/2023 - T.E.D. wrote: 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.
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1/21/2023 - Matotse wrote: 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.
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10/9/2022 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 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!
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5/21/2022 - Battersea James Likes this wine: 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!
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12/12/2020 - T.E.D. wrote: 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.
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12/6/2020 - galewskj wrote: 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.
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12/3/2020 - rocknroller wrote: 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.
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12/3/2020 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 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.
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8/30/2020 - Alvarovazquez Likes this wine: 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
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8/23/2020 - jhbehrens Likes this wine: 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
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6/8/2020 - domco wrote:
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.
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6/6/2020 - Lewerentz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great wine at its peak now
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5/23/2020 - Battersea James Likes this wine: 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.
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4/27/2020 - SlimShaney Likes this wine: 92 Points
Initially thin red current then after a few hours puts on weight (dont we all) and throws out classic Ribera musky vegemite
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4/10/2020 - gouldcampbell77 wrote: 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.
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3/7/2020 - KeithAkers wrote: 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.
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3/1/2020 - Vinolsen wrote:
Middag 29 feb walther Anette Jesper j Ulrik Ingrid Cecilie Thomas
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1/25/2020 - BSA wrote: 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
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12/11/2019 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 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
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10/28/2019 - englishman's claret wrote: 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.
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7/9/2019 - Bobhelge wrote: 92 Points
Wines of San Sebastian; 7/9/2019-7/11/2019: Feel like Bordeaux at first (could be the 5 percent Merlot blend). Soft nose filled with dark berries and spicy oak. Good grippy structure but somehow very easy drinking due to opulent fruit.
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3/8/2019 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
Spanish wine night, with my wine group, at a NYC restaurant. We had the 2012 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla El Nido, 2012 Mas Martinet Priorat Clos Martinet, and the 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5°. The wines were opened, but not decanted, for 30 minutes before pouring. This was the group favorite, just inching past the Clos Martinet.
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11/8/2018 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 91 Points
Floral, fragrant, elegant, nice balance but missing a complexity, intensity, energy and depth that I would want and expect from this price range. It’s good but not great. I’m wondering if more times in the bottle would allow it to fill out, open up and gain some complexity and interest?
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11/6/2018 - jusuf Likes this wine: 97 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like espresso, oak and vanilla. It tastes like black pepper, black currant (cassis) and medium toast. The body is medium/full. The wine has polished texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
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10/19/2018 - englishman's claret wrote: 90 Points
Black-fruited, slightly rubbery nose. Big, ripe, glossy palate packed full of fruit. Very tannic. A bit dumb at the moment.
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9/26/2018 - Renevin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nez expressif, fumée, bacon, floral. En bouche belle rondeur, tanins soyeux. De belle ampleur et une longue finale. Très bon
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9/1/2018 - PacoHigon Likes this wine:
Invierno frío, verano muy caluroso con buena sanidad de la fruta. Vendimia 24/9 al 3/10. Algo menos de capa que el 2008, ribete abierto. De corte "clásico", maduro, con fruta licorosa y fondo balsámico. En boca fluido, con sensación de materia, acidez bien integrada, estructura media, tostados y humo en el retronasal. Largo.
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4/30/2018 - mikemboutiquewines wrote: 92 Points
From magnum. Interesting balsamic and fig notes. Lots of room to run!
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4/18/2018 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
Dark red, faded rim
Lots of new oak character on the nose, dark and spicy with some more delicate floral notes
Still very fresh, lively, dark fruit, warm spices, herbs and dark chocolate, not unlike something from the southern Rhone
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2/26/2018 - gouldcampbell77 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark saturated purple. Really interesting nose of dark leafy bramble fruit with an exotic hint of cinnamon and spice. Great fruit concentration, elderberries and some dark chocolate. There's also a crunchy element to the fruit, like a good loire cab franc. Still big and tannic and needs a few more years to chill out and develop some secondary notes. I'll leave my last bottle for another few years.
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2/16/2018 - rupertg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black centre, plum coloured rim. Plum and heat in the nose. Full bodied, mellow, extraordinary sweetness and depth of flavour. Still tannic and powerful. Worth the money.
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12/4/2017 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
just showing a little fading at the rim
FLoral and perfumed on the nose plus some oaky notes
Fresh fruit, cherries/ raspberries, very very fresh and floral, then dark chocolate notes, long, oaky finish
Showing really well, great fun now though probably worth keeping for more complexity
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10/25/2017 - Andre Brattland wrote: 93 Points
95% Tinto Fino, og 5% Merlot.
Dyp intens med bjørnebær, behagelige røde blomster og grønne urter. Ganske tungt aromabilde, men fortsatt mer harmonisert nese enn den yngre 2012-årgangen.
Medium + konsentrasjon, med skogsbær, bjørnebær, og tydelige mørk sjokolade på paletten. En elegant og lang utgang med lett mintpreg og litt urtepreg.
Fin balanserende syre og tanniner. En meget god Valbuena. www.botti.no
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7/26/2017 - BSA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Food pairing made me pnp. Deep purpur colour. Dominant vanilla one th enose this time around also, but now the muscular body balanced it out quite well. Alcohol too. Juciy. Soothing, sweet dark berries with touch of wood and wet forest floor. Great pairing with grilled lamb that had soaked in indian flavoured marinade. Fine finish. 91-92p now. Lots of upside.
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7/10/2017 - gouldcampbell77 wrote: 85 Points
Very concentrated but slightly coarse. Some quite grating tannins and there's a slightly vegetal / stale element to the fruit. Hopefully a bad bottle as I've two more.
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6/2/2017 - Romol Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Very good Valbuena. Ready to drink with enough air. 93 pts at the moment.
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4/9/2017 - T.E.D. wrote: 94 Points
My second bottle in a few months. Rich and structured nose, showing coco nib, hard red berry, black berry, brush and leather. Initial palate of Coco nib, sweet raspberries, dusty leather. Nice structure with medium acid. Back palate of coco, smoke, smoked meat, rust and pencil shavings. Letter than my first bottle and quite well made.
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4/2/2017 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black cherry with watery rim; fresh nose of sweet cherries, vanilla, leather and dust; palate follows nose with juicy berries and a backbone of char, tar, wood and leather; big balance with big integrated tannins and big acidity; lovely wine to pair with bacon-wrapped filet mignon; Devon considers it good value, but Brent does not
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2/25/2017 - AndreRibeiroChaves Likes this wine: 98 Points
What can you really say when you find such a great wine? It's features a full body, fantastic mature tannis with acidity that's present but delicate (for Tempranillo). Really long finish. Gorgeous fruit and oak. Extrelemy balanced and ready to drink. Pairs perfectly with meat as expected. Truly outstanding value. It's not cheap, but better that anything I've tasted in it's price range.
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2/9/2017 - "Rhône Rider" Likes this wine: 92 Points
Til Valbuena 2009 og 2006 i neste flight ble det servert modnet and med rødbeter og szechuanpepper.
2009: sen modning, men varm avsltning. Svart med rød kant.
Kirsebær, rødbær, plommer, lær, kaffe. Samme i munn, tettpakket og tanninsk, men mere elegant enn 08 og 07. Flott balanse. Svært lang bordeauxaktig ettersmak og bedre balanse mellom frukt og eik. Flott potensiale. 91-92.
2006: kveldens antatt beste årgang. Rel varm sesong med tidlig modning og innhøsting. Svart med mørkerød kant. Litt mere lukket på nese. Kirsebær, rødbær, blomster, lakris, kaffe. Samme i munn med lær og pipetobakk. Kompakt, tett, frisk. Herlig balanse og lang ettersmak. Nesten som en Margaux på steroider. Kompleks med mange lag. Nice juice! 93
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2/3/2017 - jrh82 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Valbuena No 5 - 2009. Wow! Absolutely spectacular. From a warm vintage which show on the wine. Certainly more robust than say 08 and 07 and even 06 but is gutsy with balance, refinement and layered complexity. On the nose yummy balsamic note with licorice, dark fruit, vanilla (not too much). On the taste more of the anise, fennel character from the nose, nice ripe tannians. It's a little more loose and charming than the more linear and classically styled 06. This Valbuena '09 outshone Unico 07 on the day.
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1/20/2017 - alion wrote: 94 Points
Great from the off. Nose of blue and blackberries; violet, smoky oak. Palate similar with added sweetnesses from the oak. Pushing boundaries of ripeness. Fleshy. Becomes much more elegant and precise after a couple of hours - great tobacco and sweet brown sugar sweetness. More complexity. Great length. Drinking now and close to peak - a year or 2. Best I have had from here.
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1/18/2017 - AndreRibeiroChaves Likes this wine: 98 Points
Absolutely phenomenal. I was thoroughly impressed with the 2009 Valbuena. The wine was ultra smooth with super soft tannins and barely perceptible acidity. I didn't expect this from a wine that's only 8 years old. It has a medium-strong body, soft aftertaste. Lot's of oak and black fruit. Consistency was velvety. I had it with a "Chuleton" (a very large piece of grilled steak with nothing but salt) and it was a marvelous match. The reputation of Vega-Sicilia is absolutely deserved. Go drink yours, no need o wait any longer.
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1/6/2017 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 94 Points
My initial score was 92 but then after an hour it improved so much that I changed it to 94. My wife in particular really loved this wine! Very nice.
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1/5/2017 - Alpton Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright aromas of ripe blackberry, black cherry, pencil lead and slight anice seeds. Decanted for 2h. Full bodied, lean with firm tannin. Very Bordeaux-like. Black currant and pepper on the lingering finish.
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11/14/2016 - T.E.D. wrote: 93 Points
My first experience with the production by Vega. Rich and inky purple color showing richness. Nose is still somewhat tight showing youth. Rich dark fruit, new leather, toasty vanilla, Pen ink. The palate shows depth, structure and secondary notes peeking through. The oak nature is very apparent, with some burnt vanilla, milk chocolate notes, and savory and supple tobacco. Surprisingly faded a bit after a few hours of air. Will wait another year.
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10/28/2016 - BSA Likes this wine: 92 Points
From memory. We found the Valbuena 5° on the wine list without birth year, and decided to have a go in hope of it being a vintage we had not tasted. It was not though. None the less, this is a great wine. Without decant, i was firm and a bit tight. In light of my own holdings, I was pleased to note that this time there was no overwhelming vanilla notes. It simply needs more time or a proper decant if had now. 92-94p
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10/14/2016 - Bobhelge wrote: 94 Points
Uncles Fine Wine Club’s - Grand Cru Tasting (Bodø): Still a baby, but highly complex with upfront toasted oak, ripe cherry, dark chocolate, some dry fruit elements and phenolic undertones. Lots of concentrated flavors of fruit, spices, licorice on the palate. Long finish and great balance.
93-95 points.
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10/14/2016 - Torchy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Uncle Fine Wine Club Fall BYO; 10/14/2016-10/15/2016 (Tord House): Dark core and slight edge. Flowers and perfume on the nose. Struggling to obtain any fruit on both the nose and mouth. Mouth with some chocolate and hints of coffee. No typical tempranillo!
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10/11/2016 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 95 Points
(BBR Spain Tasting) :: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Merlot. Alongside the 2006, 2011. Dark garnet. Huge perfume, showing balsam, eucalyptus, old saddle leather, clove. Complex and so well balanced. An unbelievable mouthfeel - dense, expressive but without being heavy. Perfect acidity here, keeps this brooding powerhouse light and dainty. A treat.
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10/10/2016 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Tasted next to the 2011. More open and expressive on nose and palate, wonderfully balanced as well. Forest notes, hints of shoe polish on the nose. Soft tannic grip, again fresh and lively. Super length. Maybe not quite as much depth and power compared to the 2011. 93-95
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9/24/2016 - SlimShaney wrote: 92 Points
Very pleasant but somewhat mono dimensional, offering sweet red currant tannin. Thinner than I would probably like so well suited for a round of tapas in the Spanish evening heat, but less fitting for a chilly autumn evening at home.
After a few hours the wine is noticeably thicker and a vegetable note unwelcomingly emerges.
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7/1/2016 - BSA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wanted to repeat my 05.12.2015 food matching experience; cote de boeuf - this time dry-aged - and shitake. Local asparagus are in season so added some fried ones as well. Only got to give it 11/2 h decant, perhaps that is why the wine did not feel in sync to me. Basically, the vanilla notes was too present. Much to like about this wine, even the vanilla. My wife loved it, this was her first time tasting it. I loved it a bit less than in December 2015. By all means pretty enjoyable now but I am mostly thinking about how good this will be when things integrate more. Added: Kept 40% of the bottle overnight in fridge. As it was picking up temp in the glass, more barnyard notes on the nose while firm towards delicate in the mouth. However, overall the wine was now disturbed by an alcohol stint.
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6/14/2016 - SlimShaney wrote: 90 Points
Modern. Sweet and sour citrus. Refreshing but not deeply satisfying. Care if I have another? Not really.
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6/5/2016 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted a two ounce pour from Coravin. This is a big chewy wine with noticeable oak and thick fruit. It is good but seems that it needs time for the parts to integrate better.
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5/31/2016 - Philippe_C wrote: 94 Points
Very black, super ripe, almost jammy but still nice freshness on the nose... Very fruity, red cherries, nice lenght
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5/19/2016 - Harley1199 wrote:
Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 año Vertical Tasting Event (Bodega Santa Cecilia - Madrid): Booktext vintage where for first time malbec is eliminated. The official version says that did not provide too much (After over a hundred years !!!). The unofficial talks about the impossibility of replacing the vineyards of this varietal especially considering that VS liked Argentinian. Who knows...
Nose dominated by aromas of licorice and reheated sweets.
Somewhat warm in the mouth. Too short. Leaves nothing special except for its high level of alcohol.
Añada de libro donde por vez primera se suprime el malbec. La historia oficial dice que no aportaba gran cosa (¡¡¡después de más de cien años!!!). La no-oficial habla de la imposibilidad de reemplazar las viñas de ese varietal por otras de garantías sobretodo teniendo en cuenta que las que gustaban eran argentinas. Para gustos, los colores.
En nariz predominan los aromas a regaliz y a chuches recalentadas.
Un tanto cálido en boca. Demasiado corto. No deja un poso especial salvo por su alto nivel de alcohol.
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2/18/2016 - GGP wrote: 97 Points
Ao seu lado, e degustado na rebelde adolescência, estava o Valbuena. Vermelho-rubi escuro, desfilando frutas secas, cravo, ameixas, folhas de tabaco, grãos de café torrado e cedro. Ataque um pouco contido, mas logo se faz expansivo, muscular e denso, a despeito de algumas arestas. Devido ao seu poderoso esqueleto, vai se transformar em algo muito especial. A questão principal é; sendo já, tão delicioso, como manter nossas mãos longe de uma garrafa dessas...? Ao lado do Cordero al Chilindrón com Guisantes y Menta alçaram belíssimos vôos.
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12/5/2015 - BSA Likes this wine: 94 Points
Once decanted and still a bit chilled it was tight and somehow out of sync. By all means, nose was interesting but mouth was disappointing (having previously had the 06 and 07). From 2 1/2h it took off. Fantastic nose though lagging a bit behind in the mouth. Until around 3h when I just became sad. For only having one glass left. It had just reached that other dimension to me. Complete joy. Some pointers: its was generally cherries, with some vanilla, tobacco and pepper at the back, until when it just came together as one. Tannins were plush pretty much all the way. I paired it with cote de beouf and shitake. I will do that again. 94p for now, until having retasted.
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10/10/2015 - RussK wrote: 92 Points
Russk Parker's Matter of Taste at the Moore Bldg. Iron.
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7/6/2015 - sweensomm wrote: 96 Points
Best wine I've tasted this year. Needs more time.
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5/16/2015 - farinas wrote: 92 Points
Reticent bouquet of dark fruits, cigar spices and some oxide. Palate has the same components with a high dose of new oak which is normally the case with this region. It's a well made wine but appears rather young and IMO just as good as any Alion but at almost double the price, 92-93
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4/27/2015 - dbkitc wrote: 89 Points
(at Hisop - Barcelona) Drunk after the '04 uniqo. Unfortunately, it did not stand up well to its big brother. There was a nice earthy complexity to the nose. However, there was a sharpness to the wine that made it seem disjointed. Maybe an awkward stage...maybe not a perfect bottle. Nice wine but...(89+?)
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4/16/2015 - NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Vega-Sicilia with Pablo Álvarez (Tenzing, Chicago): Medium-dark carmine color. Sweetly spicy nose of cola, with a somewhat sappy quality. This has an elegant palate of light, bright red fruit in the grip of long, super-structured tannins. Delightful now but I'd be happy to lay this down for the long haul. Better than the 2008.
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4/16/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Vega Sicilia Dinner with Pablo Alvarez (Tenzing - Chicago IL): Ripe and lush vs any young Unico, this shows good Asian spice with a nice cigarbox element as well. Good depth. Approachable now, better in 5+years.
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4/5/2015 - yofog wrote:
Lots of booze and oak here...sorry, I just don't get it.
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3/21/2015 - willthethrill Likes this wine: 94 Points
Even better than the 2007...more accessible ...enjoyed at El Lando with R
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3/16/2015 - Bobhelge wrote: 93 Points
High complexity nose of sour apples, salvia and liquorice. Further it has earthy, wet soil, truffles and more green herb notes. Rich and flavourful on the palate. Well-integrated oak aromas and tight tannins.
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10/18/2014 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 95 Points
(Tasted at Berry's Spain 2014): rich, complex, precise, very clean. A nose of red and black cherries, a bowl full of dried rose petals. This has a massive palate, right across, and follows through to a long elegant finish. Impeccable structure.
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9/19/2014 - dpolivy wrote: 93 Points
Vega Sicilia Tasting (Wine World, Seattle, WA): Smoky nose. Full, dark and dense. Lots of dark fruit, in a round and elegant package. Finishes with super fine tannins and nice acidity. A bit rough around the edges still, at least compared to the 2008.
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9/19/2014 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
Big, rough, and tumble. Powerful stuff. Finish builds. Very clean and focused.
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9/1/2014 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine: 94 Points
A very elegant, smooth, rich, and very accessible 2009.
It would be very difficult to resist drinking it now although it should last many more years. Great stuff.
[Justerini Spanish wine tasting event Sep 1, London]
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6/28/2014 - LopedeAguirre Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank at the Madrid Ritz Terrace, which obviously adds to the impression... decanted. Very lively and healthy color, strong nose, quite balanced and very concentrated but without sharp edges; some burnt tires, chocolate... good balance of fruit and subtle wood. Very long finish. It has a powerful skeleton so it will probably last a long time. A wonderful wine.
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5/11/2014 - PSPatrick wrote: 93 Points
We poured the wine into a decanter and followed its development over a couple of hours. It was dark ruby in colour and offered violet, dark berries, cherry, ripe plum, cabbage, chocolate, cocoa, espresso, spices and vanilla on the nose. On the palate the wine showed red and dark berries, cherry, blueberry, blackberry, plum, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, spices and vanilla, paired with medium to medium-plus acidity, medium-plus fine tannin and incredible length. I really loved the intriguing cocoa note that lingered on the aftertaste for quite some time. The plush, medium-bodied wine seemed restrained and elegant despite of its ripeness. It was smooth, and balanced except for the creamy oak that became more and more pronounced as time passed. The wine was very young and might well turn into something special with mid-term cellaring, the main issue being that it already is so delicious that it might turn out to be difficult to keep one’s hands off the bottles… A great wine; 93 points for the time being.
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12/4/2013 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
Vega Sicilia Wines by Xavier Ausas (Enoteca Barolo - Madrid): Pitch-dark colour.
Reduced nose at first. Rich, opulent, dense, gentle version of a VS. What a nose! Cereals on fresh fruit. An extraordinary effort for a Valbuena.
Cocoa and coffee on the palate. Elegant to the bone.
Let this bottle lay down for five years more. It will be a beauty.
Color negro oscuro.
Al principio, nariz reducida. Abundante, opulenta, densa, una versión amable del VS. ¡Menuda nariz! Cereales sobre fruta fresca. Un esfuerzo increíble para una Valbuena.
En boca cacao y café. Elegante hasta el límite.
Deja descansar esta botella cinco años más. Será una belleza.
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