Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5º 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.

Vivid ruby. A highly perfumed, complex bouquet displays smoke-accented cherry and black currant liqueur, vanilla, pipe tobacco and incense qualities, along with exotic spice and mineral overtones. Sweet and deeply concentrated, offering expansive dark fruit, floral pastille, chewing tobacco and spicecake flavors that become livelier and pick up a hint of cola with aeration. Seamless, focused and lively for its lushness,finishing very long and sweet, with building florality and fine-grained tannins lending gentle grip.

Cuddly berry aromas include a hint of raisin. The palate echoes the nose, meaning this is full and ripe, with smooth tannins supporting raisiny softness. Cassis, exotic spice notes and baked berry flavors are lush on the finish. This seems ready for near-term drinking; enjoy now through 2030.

Drinking nicely, with a forward, supple, yet still nicely concentrated style, the deep ruby/plum-hued 2014 Valbuena offers up ample darker currant and berry fruits as well as roasted herbs, scorched earth, and spice, with some floral and sandalwood notes emerging with time in the glass. A more understated, elegant, nuanced version of this cuvée, it's medium-bodied and has beautiful overall balance, supple tannins, and outstanding length. The 2014 is 95% Tempranillo and 5% Merlot, and it should continue drinking nicely for another 10-15 years with no issues.

This solid red delivers ripe fruit, toasty oak, lively acidity and well-integrated tannins. Currant and blackberry flavors mingle with espresso, black olive and loamy earth notes. Harmonious, in the modern style. Tinto Fino and Merlot. Drink now through 2029. 15,390 cases made, 730 cases imported.