Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5º Año 2014

The 2014 Valbuena, mostly Tempranillo with some 5% Merlot fermented by plot, making a selection from their 210 hectares of vineyards, and then matured in a combination of barriques and larger 20,000-liter oak vats. 2014 is a spectacular vintage of Valbuena, and it reminds me of the 2010, perhaps a tad more elegant and less powerful. It's expressive and has floral notes on the nose along with wild berries, herbs and a spicy and smoky touch that's nicely integrated. It has good complexity and nuance, and the palate is medium to full-bodied and intense, with pungent flavors and great length and persistence. Truly spectacular! 184,684 bottles, 5,578 magnums and some large formats produced. It was bottled in June 2016.

The ripeness is impressive here. A lot of work was done in the vineyard in 2014 to get yields right. It delivers darker fruit aromas and flavors, black cherries and plums, dark chocolate and licorice. The palate is deeply fleshy with rich blueberries, cassis and dark roasting herbs. Very deep-set, powerful black fruit with a deeper tannin texture. The power and freshness here is extraordinary. Deeply layered. Superb. Approachable now, but the best drinking will be from 2024 onwards.

Valbuena comes from Vega Sicilia’s 150 north-facing hectares on the south side of the Duero river and contains 5% Merlot in 2014. Smoky, youthful and intense with supporting acidity and effortless complexity. 2022-33

After 12 months in 70% French and 30% American barriques, this 2014 underwent a pre-blend prior to 16 months in large-format vats. The wine was then blended again before bottling. It's an excellent vintage: very expressive with echoes of fruit amid the cedar and smoke aromatics. The palate is plummy and powerful, driving through to a memorably long finish, with notes of peppery spice and underlying firm tannins.