Vega Sicilia
Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5º
2016
Valbuena 5º represents the refined second wine of Tempos Vega Sicilia, offering elegant Tempranillo-based expression from Ribera del Duero with five years of ageing, embodying the estate's legendary commitment to quality and time-honoured winemaking tradition.
Country
Spain
Region
Ribera del Duero
More information
Producer
Vega Sicilia is one of Spain's most celebrated wine producers, internationally renowned for its commitment to expressing the country's diverse terroirs through meticulous viticulture and winemaking. With estates spanning various Spanish wine regions, the producer has become synonymous with elegance, authenticity and wines of exceptional quality that rank among the most sought-after bottles from Spain.
The producer's vineyards benefit from Spain's remarkable diversity of soils, microclimates and indigenous grape varieties, allowing Vega Sicilia to craft wines that reflect the unique character of each region. Sustainable vineyard management, careful parcel selection and traditional winemaking techniques combined with modern precision enable the estate to produce wines of remarkable balance, aromatic complexity and distinguished ageing potential. Each wine is crafted to honour its origin, with minimal intervention allowing the purity of terroir and varietal expression to define the final blend.
Vega Sicilia's signature portfolio showcases the depth and breadth of Spanish winemaking, from structured, age-worthy reds to refined, elegant whites. The wines consistently receive acclaim from critics and collectors worldwide, reflecting the producer's benchmark status within the Spanish wine landscape. Across every vintage and appellation, Vega Sicilia demonstrates a unwavering dedication to quality, terroir expression and the celebration of Spain's rich winemaking heritage, making its wines highly regarded among serious enthusiasts and collectors seeking authentic expressions of Spanish viticulture.
Explore every Vega Sicilia wine and vintage, compare prices from trusted wine merchants across Europe and discover the best offers with Sipfind.
Country
Region
Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero is widely regarded as one of Spain's most prestigious wine regions and has established itself among the world's great producers of age-worthy red wines. Located along the Duero River in north-central Spain, the region combines centuries of winemaking tradition with exceptional high-altitude terroir, producing some of the most sought-after and collectible wines in Europe. Since receiving Denominación de Origen status in 1982, Ribera del Duero has become synonymous with powerful, structured Tempranillo that rivals the finest wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy.
The region stretches across the Castilla y León plateau at elevations between 750 and 1,000 metres, where continental climate extremes create ideal conditions for Tempranillo, locally known as Tinto Fino or Tinta del País. Limestone and clay soils combined with dramatic diurnal temperature variation produce wines of remarkable concentration, intense fruit character and extraordinary ageing potential. Hot summer days and cool nights preserve natural acidity while developing deep colour and complex tannins. The region's four provinces—Burgos, Valladolid, Segovia and Soria—each contribute distinctive expressions of high-altitude Spanish terroir.
Ribera del Duero is home to legendary estates including Vega Sicilia, whose Único remains one of the world's most collectible wines, alongside Pingus, Dominio de Pingus, Pesquera, Alión and Hacienda Monasterio. These producers have established the region's reputation for meticulous viticulture, extended oak ageing and wines of outstanding depth and longevity. The region's classification system designates Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva wines based on ageing requirements, ensuring consistent quality across all tiers.
Whether exploring iconic estates, benchmark vintages or the distinctive character of high-altitude Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero represents the pinnacle of Spanish fine wine. Discover Ribera del Duero wines, compare prices from trusted merchants across Europe and find the best offers with Sipfind.
Grapes
Tempranillo is Spain’s most internationally recognised red grape variety and the foundation of many of the country’s greatest wines. It reaches particularly distinguished expressions in Rioja and Ribera del Duero, where differences in altitude, climate and ageing traditions create remarkably diverse styles.
The grape typically combines flavours of red and dark cherry, plum and blackberry with notes of herbs, spice and tobacco. With oak ageing, Tempranillo can develop characteristic aromas of cedar, vanilla, leather and dried fruit, while retaining the balance of fruit, acidity and tannin that gives the finest examples considerable ageing potential.
Tempranillo adapts particularly well to Spain’s continental conditions. In the high-altitude vineyards of Ribera del Duero it can produce concentrated, powerful wines with firm structure, while Rioja is renowned for expressions ranging from vibrant and fruit-driven to complex, traditionally matured wines.
Known locally by names including Tinto Fino, Tinta del País and Cencibel, Tempranillo is grown across much of Spain and has become one of the defining varieties of Spanish wine. Its combination of structure, versatility and ability to express both terroir and maturation makes Tempranillo one of the world’s important red wine grapes.
Merlot is one of the world’s most important red wine grapes, celebrated for its generous fruit, supple texture and ability to produce wines ranging from approachable and elegant to exceptionally complex and long-lived. Originating in Bordeaux, France, Merlot is particularly associated with the Right Bank, where it forms the foundation of many of the prestigious wines of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion.
Merlot typically expresses flavours and aromas of plum, black cherry, blackberry and red fruits, often developing notes of chocolate, tobacco, cedar, herbs and earthy complexity with maturation. Its naturally rounded texture and generally softer tannin profile distinguish it from Cabernet Sauvignon, although the finest examples can possess considerable structure, freshness and ageing potential.
In Pomerol, Merlot reaches some of its most celebrated expressions, particularly on the appellation’s clay-rich soils, producing wines of remarkable concentration, texture and complexity. In Saint-Émilion, it is commonly blended with Cabernet Franc and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Sauvignon, creating wines that combine ripe fruit with structure, aromatic complexity and longevity.
Beyond Bordeaux, Merlot is widely cultivated in Italy, California, Washington State, Chile and other major wine regions. It can be produced as a varietal wine or used as a central component of blends, where its fruit and texture complement more structured grape varieties.
From the great Merlot-based wines of Bordeaux’s Right Bank to leading expressions around the world, Merlot’s combination of rich fruit, refined texture and capacity to express terroir has established it as one of the defining varieties of fine red wine.
History and Style
Valbuena 5º is the distinguished second wine of Tempos Vega Sicilia, one of Spain's most revered wine estates in Ribera del Duero. The '5º' denotes five years of ageing—combining time in barrel and bottle—before release, reflecting the estate's philosophy that great wine requires patience and meticulous cellar management. While positioned below the iconic Único in the Vega Sicilia hierarchy, Valbuena 5º is a benchmark wine in its own right, offering remarkable quality and age-worthiness.
Quick Facts
- Producer: Tempos Vega Sicilia
- Classification: DO Ribera del Duero (Second Wine of Vega Sicilia)
- Region: Ribera del Duero
- Appellation: DO Ribera del Duero
- Country: Spain
- Style: Full-bodied, oak-aged Ribera del Duero red
- Grape Composition: Predominantly Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) with Merlot, exact proportions vary by vintage
- Ageing Potential: 15-25+ years from release
- Alcohol (ABV): 13.5-14.5%
- Tasting Profile: Dark cherry, blackberry, cedar, tobacco, leather, baking spices, fine tannins
- Food Pairing: Roasted lamb, grilled beef, game birds, aged Manchego, hearty stews
- Serving Temperature: 16-18°C
- Bottle Status: Second Wine
- Vintage: Non-Vintage (multi-vintage release)
Vineyard, Terroir and Style
Tempos Vega Sicilia's vineyards sit at high altitude along the Duero River, where dramatic diurnal temperature shifts and poor limestone-clay soils produce grapes of exceptional concentration and finesse. The estate's winemaking heritage dates to 1864, establishing traditions that remain foundational to Ribera del Duero's reputation for world-class wines. Valbuena is crafted predominantly from Tempranillo (locally called Tinto Fino), complemented by Merlot, which adds roundness and aromatic complexity to the blend.
History and Reputation
The wine displays classic Ribera del Duero character: dark cherry and blackberry fruits layered with notes of cedar, tobacco, leather and baking spices from extended oak maturation. The palate is structured yet refined, with fine-grained tannins, vibrant acidity and a long, elegant finish that speaks to the wine's pedigree and cellar potential. Valbuena 5º pairs beautifully with roasted lamb, grilled ribeye, game birds and aged Manchego cheese.
For collectors and enthusiasts seeking authentic Spanish fine wine, Valbuena 5º offers compelling value and prestige. Compare prices across trusted merchants on Sipfind to discover this distinguished second wine from one of Europe's legendary estates.