2000 Valbuena No 5
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2000 Valbuena gives up aromas of fresh herbs, spice box, lavender, and black cherry. Just a bit lean on the palate, it has some elegance, savory flavors, and adequate balance. Drink it over the next 10 years. Bodegas Vega Sicilia remains a benchmark for the world’s great red wines. The Valbuena bottling receives 3 years in barrel and 2 years in bottle prior to release. On the occasion of my visit in May 2010, the three Reserva Especials already in bottle and awaiting release were tasted side by side. They are identified (for the purposes of this review only) as the 2013 Release, the 2012 Release, and the 2011 Release. I was not told what vintages are in each bottling but it actually makes little difference. The Reserva Especials are blended to a house style designed to reflect Vega Sicilia at its very best. The vagaries of vintage (as reflected in Unico) are blended away leaving a wine that is, in my opinion, better than any of the single vintage wines with the possible exception of the 1942. Importer: Christopher Cannan, Europvin; www.europvin.com
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Bright medium ruby. Aromas of plum, mocha, tobacco and nutty oak. Sweet and round but firmly structured, with concentrated, ripe flavors of raspberry, redcurrant and tobacco enlivened by bright, harmonious acidity. No rough edges, even if the long, complex, sweetly tannic finish features some youthfully clenched flavors of cherry cola, sweet tobacco and herbs.
Cask sample. 15% of Merlot and Malbec spice up the Tempranillo in this bottling. Very young and still quite gassy on the nose. Sweet, flattering fruit with fine tannins and lots of lively acidity but intensely rich underneath. Lively, aromatic and friendly with round, supple tannins. (JR)
About the producer
Vega Sicilia is undoubtably Spain’s most famous winery; a true icon in fine wine with a history dating back to 1864.