Vega Sicilia, Valbuena No. 5, 2018

Vega Sicilia is without a doubt the most prestigious winery in Spain; a pioneering producer who is often referred to as the equivalent to a Spanish "First Growth" and blazed a trail for the wines of Ribera del Duero. Valbuena no.5 is the purest expression of Tempranillo wine at the estate, and 2018 is a blend of Tempranillo (96%) with a touch of Merlot (4%), aged for 5 years in a combination of barrel and bottle, from which the name derives. It is always juicy and voluptuous showing great harmony between elegance, complexity, and concentration.

Deep and complex, with fresh black and blue fruit and an attractive floral and peppery note to this vintage, followed by hints of cedar, sweet spice and vanilla. Very dusty and juicy on the palate, with mealy, powdery tannins that interweave with the fruit. A Valbuena 5 that you can appreciate earlier. Drink or hold. 96/100 points. James Suckling

This is a very spicy vintage for Valbuena, getting closer to the style of Único (while at the same time I felt the 2018 Pintia from Toro was getting closer to the aromatics of some vintages of Valbuena, like 2010). It was a late-ripening year with a tendency toward freshness in the wines. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with very fine tannins that made the wine nicely textured and very elegant. There is a lot of regularity in the Valbuena of the last few years, here with more tension and freshness of the 2017, a little more balsamic even. Drink 2023-2032. 96/100 points. Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate)

Fantastic freshness. Really round and glorious and direct. Just a hint of port (same river!) but the freshness compensates. Beautiful texture. Long and seductive. Mountain intensity with some meatiness. Very long. Drink 2023-2038. 18/20 points. Jancis Robinson MW