2015 Vega Sicilia, Valbuena 5.°, Ribera del Duero

The aromas to this are so complex and enticing with nutmeg, dark berries, chocolate and white pepper. Full body. Dense and layered with so much wonderful, complex and succulent character. It just makes you want to drink it. Drink or hold.

The 2015 Valbuena, a red blend of mostly Tempranillo with some 5% Merlot, is released in the fifth year after the harvest. It's explosive and showy, with a complex nose that shows a mixture of flowers and wild herbs, balsamic touches and great nuance. This wine has gained in complexity since the 2010 vintage, where they implemented some changes that increased the expressivity and precision of this wine. The tannins are fine-grained and there is very good balance, and the warm conditions of the year have been absorbed well by the wine. Despite the natural conditions of the year, the wine follows the path of freshness of the 2010. 173,673 bottles, 5,625 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2018.

Tinto composto a partir de 95% T empranillo e 5% Merlot, com estágio em uma combinação de barricas novas e usadas de 225 litros de carvalho francês e americano e tanques de madeira, sendo de 5 anos o tempo total de maturação antes de sair ao mercado, entre passagem por madeira e estágio em garrafa. Desde a safra 2010 esse vinho vem ganhando precisão e finesse. Complexo nos aromas e nos sabores, tem taninos firmes e finos e refrescante acidez, que envolve sua fruta lembrando mirtilos, seguidos de notas florais e de alfazema. Álcool 14,5%.

Magnum. Leather, liquorice – but it's clearly not bordeaux. There is more ripeness and flesh here, alongside fibrous tannin and a scrubby herbal note akin to the best southern Rhônes. Intense but forgiving and modest. (RH)