(4 customer reviews)

Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2017

$169.95
PRICE CLUB members save $4 per bottle
14.50% /
750ml /
Vintage: 2017
  • WS 93
  • MEL 94
  • WA 96
  • DEC 95
  • JS 96
  • WAS 94
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6 bottles
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    Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2017, crafted by the renowned winery Vega Sicilia under the expert guidance of winemaker Gonzalo Iturriaga, embodies the purest essence of their red wine collection. This exceptional vintage, influenced by frost and drought, presented a challenging year, demanding careful interpretation and skilled adjustments. To capture the wine’s true harmony, a deliberate approach was taken during fermentation, extracting less to ensure a more mature, juicy, and voluptuous expression.

    Radiating a deep, garnet color, Valbuena 5 2017 captivates the senses from the very first pour. Its bouquet reveals a symphony of aromas, including blackberries, violets, and sandalwood, interlaced with subtle hints of vanilla. Full-bodied and exquisitely structured, it graces the palate with racy tannins and a cascade of luscious fruit flavors. The wine’s linear profile and remarkable length leave a lasting impression, while a slight chewiness adds to its overall complexity. While already displaying excellent quality, it is advisable to allow the wine to mature further before experiencing its full potential, making it ideal for consumption after 2023.

    Rated 96 points by James Suckling, this vintage showcases Vega Sicilia’s mastery in winemaking. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate also awarded it a noteworthy 96 points, acknowledging the wine’s exceptional performance despite the challenges faced during the year. Decanter awarded it 95 points, praising its ability to surpass expectations in a challenging vintage, with vibrant cherry and redcurrant notes leading the way. Wine & Spirits granted it 94 points, recognizing its depth and textural elegance in a year of diminished crops. Wine Spectator, with 93 points, commends its harmonious integration of dense tannins and the lingering, spiced finish.

    Crafted from a blend of 94% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 6% Merlot, sourced from vineyards with an average age of 36 years, Valbuena 5 2017 showcases the exceptional quality of grapes grown on the 210-hectare Finca Vega Sicilia estate. With a planting density of 2,222 plants per hectare and an altitude ranging from 700 to 900 meters, the vineyard benefits from the unique terroir of the Ribera Del Duero appellation.

    Valbuena 5 2017 stands as a testament to Vega Sicilia’s unwavering commitment to excellence, epitomizing the timeless art of winemaking. Indulge in this extraordinary vintage to experience the pinnacle of red wine craftsmanship.

    4 reviews for Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2017

    1. WS

      A savory thread of fragrant wild herb, cedar and leather winds through a creamy range of damson plum, dried fig, olive tapenade and smoke in this supple, layered red, which is rich and concentrated, but harmonious overall, integrating a frame of dense tannins and orange peel acidity. Ends with a lingering, spiced finish.

    2. WA

      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.

    3. DEC

      Proof that in a tough year (memorable frosts and summer heat) top producers can be relied on to produce fine wines. The 2017 jumps out of the glass with cherry and redcurrant conserve, and flowers. It enters fresh, with succulent cranberry fruit. Finally finishing with dark fruits embedded in mocha and spicy fenugreek. Complete. Following the Vega Sicilia pattern, it spent its first year in barriques (20% American, 40% French). And then a second year in the impressive army of 80-220hl tinas (wooden vats).

    4. JS

      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.

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    Critical Acclaim

    WS 93
    Wine Spectator
    A savory thread of fragrant wild herb, cedar and leather winds through a creamy range of damson plum, dried fig, olive tapenade and smoke in this supple, layered red, which is rich and concentrated, but harmonious overall, integrating a frame of dense tannins and orange peel acidity. Ends with a lingering, spiced finish.
    MEL 94
    Mel's Notes
    Color: Deep, garnet color that radiates richness and intensity.
    Nose: A symphony of blackberries, violets, and sandalwood, beautifully interlaced with subtle hints of vanilla. The bouquet is perfumed, floral, and expressive, embodying the essence of the Ribera Del Duero terroir.
    Palate: Full-bodied and exquisitely structured, the palate is graced with racy tannins and a cascade of luscious fruit flavors. The wine's linear profile and remarkable length leave a lasting impression, while a slight chewiness adds to its overall complexity. Notes of savory plum, green herb, and anise are seamlessly woven into the fabric of this wine.
    Food Pairings: The richness and complexity of the wine make it an ideal pairing for robust dishes. It would pair beautifully with grilled red meats, hearty stews, and aged cheeses. The wine's savory elements would also complement dishes that incorporate wild herbs, olives, or mushrooms.
    WA 96
    Wine Advocate
    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.
    DEC 95
    Decanter
    Proof that in a tough year (memorable frosts and summer heat) top producers can be relied on to produce fine wines. The 2017 jumps out of the glass with cherry and redcurrant conserve, and flowers. It enters fresh, with succulent cranberry fruit. Finally finishing with dark fruits embedded in mocha and spicy fenugreek. Complete. Following the Vega Sicilia pattern, it spent its first year in barriques (20% American, 40% French). And then a second year in the impressive army of 80-220hl tinas (wooden vats).
    JS 96
    James Suckling
    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.
    WAS 94
    Wine & Spirits
    You won’t find many 2017s from Ribera del Duero with such depth and textural elegance. It was a year of frost-diminished crops, and vines struggling to mature their fruit in a dry season. Iturriaga harvested early, and lowered the percentage of new oak barrels. After a year, he transferred the wine to large wooden casks for the second year. This 2017 seems austere before opening to savory plum, green herb and anise. The seamless weave of the tannins puts the greatness of this terroir on display.

    What does Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2017 taste like?


    Light
    Bold
    Smooth
    Tannic
    Dry
    Sweet
    Soft
    Acidic
    Earthy Flavors of the wine

    leather, earthy, mushroom

    Red Fruit flavors of the wine

    cherry, raspberry, red fruit

    Oaky Flavors of the wine

    oak, tobacco, vanilla

    apple, green apple, pear

    Black Fruit Flavors of the wine

    blackberry, plum, dark fruit

    Aromas and Flavors of Spices in the wine

    pepper, licorice, cinnamon

    Citrus notes found in the wine

    citrus, lemon, grapefruit

    cheese, cream, oil

    Vegetal notes found in the wine

    tomato, grass, asparagus

    raisin, fig, prune

    tropical, pineapple, guava

    Floral aromas found in the wine

    violet, lavender, potpourri

    Food Pairing with Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2017

    Our wine experts think this Red Wine Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2017 wine would be a match made in heaven with these dishes. Bon appétit!

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