2019 Vega Sicilia Valbuena
"The scent of cherry preserves and violet wafts from the glass. A cloak of elegant tannins is wrapped around Mission fig, cherry preserve, mocha, fennel pollen and rose petal flavors that evaporate into a satisfying and long-lasting finish."
- 96 Points, Mike DeSimone, Wine Enthusiast
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"The obsession in 2019 was to avoid excess ripeness and to keep the freshness, so they did a softer vinification, used larger vats for the élevage and used less American wood. The 2019 Valbuena was produced with a blend of Tinto Fino with 3% Merlot. It has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.88 and 4.6 grams of acidity. I love the nose; it is perfumed and subtle. And the wine is beautifully textured; the tannins are very fine, silky even, quite different from the tannins from the other 2019s from the group that I tasted next to this, Macán and Pintia. A triumph over the conditions of the year, it's a more elegant Valbuena than I anticipated. 190,490 bottles, 5,581 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2022."
- 95 Points, Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate
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"Valbuena nearly always contains a little Merlot, and that's the case on this 2019, which is dominated by 97% Tinto Fino. Aged in a classic combination of French and 15% American oak, it's a bold, layered, well-structured cuvée with blackberry and blueberry fruit supported by good acidity for the vintage, a balsamic undertone, stylish, youthful tannins and plenty of backbone. 2025-38"
- 96 Points, Tim Atkin, MW
