Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5° Ribera del Duero 2021

To call the Valbuena 5? a "second wine' may not be technically incorrect – after all, it is released after just five years of ageing (hence the name), rather than the ten years one must wait for the Único. However, the term does not even begin to do justice to its extraordinary quality. The critics' ratings alone – consistently in the high 90s – reflect the class of this extravagant cuvée made from Tempranillo with a small proportion of Merlot. The complex, lengthy ageing – initially in American and French oak, then in larger casks – results in intense, dense yet silky-smooth tannins. This creates a highly complex, multi-layered and powerful aromatic profile.