Valbuena 5º is the purest expression of Vega Sicilia’s red wine. It is aged for five years between barrel and bottle, giving rise to the wine’s name: Valbuena 5º. This 2019 vintage was drier than the previous ones, which was evident during the grape tasting at the beginning of September. The fruit was very healthy and the skins ripened well thanks to the rain that fell at this time of year. Our obsession was to find freshness without erring on the side of over-ripeness. During the fermentation, we made sure that the extraction was gentle. The ageing was adjusted, maturing part of the wine in oak vats during the first year to add tension to the wines. For this vintage, the presence of American oak was reduced in favour of French oak, with a preference for light toasts. In the second year, the wooden vats helped to bring out complex nuances and, above all, textural elegance.

This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be cellared for 25 years.