6 Day Wine and Gastronomy Tour of Northern Spain
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Structure
Drinking window
Best 5 to 25 years from vintage.
vintage5 yrs25 yrs27 yrs
Critic scores
No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.
In the glass
Aroma: dark cherry, plum, cedar, vanilla, dried rose
Palate: blackcurrant, dark chocolate, dried herbs, spice, mineral
Vega Sicilia's earlier-release sibling to Unico, aged five years in oak, with a more approachable but still deeply structured profile of dark cherry, cedar and mineral complexity.
What it pairs with
-
Roast suckling pig (cochinillo)
Classic Castilian pairing; the wine's structure complements the richness of the roast. -
Venison stew
Game's iron richness is balanced by the wine's firm tannic frame. -
Aged Manchego
Nutty, crystalline cheese pulls out the wine's fruit and cedar notes.
How to serve Valbuena 5 Grado
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast suckling pig (cochinillo), Venison stew, Aged Manchego. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Named for its five years of oak ageing, Valbuena was historically produced alongside Unico as the shorter-aged wine of the estate. It was released as Valbuena 5 Grado to distinguish its ageing regime from the decade-plus Unico.
- 1864: Vega Sicilia estate founded
- 1982: DO Ribera del Duero granted
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Vega Sicilia · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tinto Fino, Merlot
- Classification
- DO Ribera del Duero
- Oak
- Five years of ageing in American and French oak casks before release
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- €100-200 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1915
Frequently asked about Valbuena 5 Grado
What does Valbuena 5 Grado taste like?
On the nose, dark cherry, plum, cedar, vanilla, dried rose. On the palate, blackcurrant, dark chocolate, dried herbs, spice, mineral. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, medium acidity with a long finish. Vega Sicilia's earlier-release sibling to Unico, aged five years in oak, with a more approachable but still deeply structured profile of dark cherry, cedar and mineral complexity.
When should I drink Valbuena 5 Grado?
Drink 5-25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Valbuena 5 Grado?
Roast suckling pig (cochinillo) is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Venison stew and Aged Manchego. Classic Castilian pairing; the wine's structure complements the richness of the roast.
What grapes are in Valbuena 5 Grado?
The blend is Tinto Fino, Merlot. The wine is classified as DO Ribera del Duero.
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