Rated 4.73 out of 5 based on 3 customer ratings

Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2017

Name: Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2017
Brand: Vega Sicilia
SKU: EIOILJVLISYVICLK64EC4FQO
Price: 169.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.73 (4 reviews)

$169.95

14.50% /

750ml /

Vintage: 2017

WS 93
WA 96
DEC 95
JS 96
WAS 94

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Winery: Vega Sicilia
Varietal: Tempranillo
Winemaker: Gonzalo Iturriaga
Wine Style: Red Wine - Rich and Intense
Wine Country Of Origin: Spain
State / Province: Ribera del Duero

Brand: Vega Sicilia

Wine Description

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.

Additional information

Weight	3.5 lbs
Size	750ml

Reviews (4)

4 reviews for Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2017

Rated 4 out of 5
WS – March 23, 2023
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.
Rated 4 out of 5
WA – March 23, 2023
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.
Rated 4 out of 5
DEC – March 23, 2023
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).
Rated 4 out of 5
JS – March 23, 2023
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.

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

leather, earthy, mushroom

cherry, raspberry, red fruit

oak, tobacco, vanilla

apple, green apple, pear

blackberry, plum, dark fruit

pepper, licorice, cinnamon

citrus, lemon, grapefruit

cheese, cream, oil

tomato, grass, asparagus

raisin, fig, prune

tropical, pineapple, guava

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!

Beef

Game (deer, venison)

Lamb

Vega Sicilia

Vega Sicilia is widely recognized as the preeminent wine producer in Spain. Situated in the Ribera del Duero region, this estate is renowned for its rich and intricate red wines primarily crafted from the Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) grape variety. Among its notable offerings, the highly coveted Unico stands out as one of Spain's most prestigious and expensive wines. Spanning approximately 1000 hectares (2470 acres), the Vega Sicilia estate boasts around 210 hectares (520 acres) dedicated to vine cultivation. With a history dating back to 1864, well before the establishment of the appellation it resides in, the winery's current wine styles emerged in the 1910s. Since the Alvarez family assumed ownership in 1982, the estate's commitment to quality has yielded greater consistency. The... Read More

Tempranillo

Tempranillo, one of the most renowned red grape varietals, has captivated wine enthusiasts around the world with its exceptional flavors and versatility. Originating from Spain, this grape has established its dominance in numerous wine regions, thanks to its adaptability and ability to express diverse terroirs. Tempranillo flourishes in several regions across the globe, but its heart lies in its homeland, Spain. The country's diverse climatic conditions and soil profiles provide the ideal foundation for this grape to thrive. In the renowned regions of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, Tempranillo revels in a continental climate characterized by hot, dry summers and cold winters. The clay and limestone-rich soils in these areas provide excellent drainage and contribute to the grape's balanced... Read More

Winemaker of Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2017

Gonzalo Iturriaga

Gonzalo Iturriaga, the esteemed winemaker of Vega Sicilia in Spain, stands as a true maestro in the world of winemaking. Renowned for his exceptional talent and unwavering commitment to quality, Iturriaga has made significant contributions to the legacy of Vega Sicilia. With a career spanning over two decades, he has garnered numerous accolades and achievements. Iturriaga's winemaking philosophy revolves around honoring tradition while embracing innovation. He meticulously tends to the vineyards, ensuring the grapes attain optimal ripeness and expressing the unique terroir of the Ribera del Duero region. Iturriaga's careful selection of oak barrels for aging and his mastery of blending techniques result in Vega Sicilia's... Read More

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Ribera del Duero

Nestled in the heart of Castilla y León in northern Spain, Ribera del Duero is a wine region steeped in history and renowned for producing some of Spain's most exceptional wines. Though it wasn't until 1982 that Ribera del Duero was awarded Denominación de Origen (DO) status, its winemaking heritage can be traced back centuries, with Bodegas Vega Sicilia, founded in 1864, serving as a pioneering estate in the area. The wine region takes its name from the Duero River, which divides the area and provides much-needed water supply to the local vineyards. The capital of Ribera del Duero, Aranda de Duero, boasts ancient... Read More

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