Vega Sicilia Valbuena: 10 Best Bottles, Tasting Notes, Prices (2024)

Valbuena is an elegant red wine crafted by the iconic Spanish winery Vega Sicilia. The wine is made from the finest Tempranillo grapes in the Ribera del Duero wine region. 

Vega Sicilia is the first Spanish winery to blend traditional Bordeaux varieties with local grapes.

In this article, we’ll explore the wonderful Vega Sicilia Valbuena, its best bottles, and their investment potential. We’ll also look at some interesting facts about the winery, and other Vega Sicilia wines. 

Vega Sicilia Valbuena: Grapes Used & How It Is Made

The mellow Vega Sicilia Valbuena is made from the Tempranillo grape variety (also known as Tinto Fino) and a small amount of Merlot.   

These Tempranillo vine plantings are grown on gentle concave slopes rich in colluvial soils that accumulate due to erosion during the rainy season. The cold climate results in Tempranillo grapes with deeper concentration and ripe tannins.

The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation at controlled temperatures with native yeast in stainless steel tanks.

Then, it’s aged in 20,000 liter vats and 225 litre barrels made from French and American wood for five years (the reason why the wine is called Valbuena 5.)

Now, let’s explore the different Valbuena vintages, their prices, and tasting notes.

10 Best Vega Sicilia Valbuena Vintages To Buy Now

Here are the best vintages of Vega Sicilia Valbuena to buy in 2024:

• 1990 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain, $251
• 1998 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain, $220
• 2003 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain, $200
• 2015 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain, $183
• 1992 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain, $155
• 2014 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain, $139
• 1999 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain, $128
• 1997 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain, $148
• 2010 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain, $182
• 2009 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5,  Ribera del Duero, Spain, $210

1. 1990 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($251)

This Spanish wine has an expressive nose of oak, sandalwood, and ripe red fruit. The wine is dry and acidic with high tannin levels, coating the palate with wild herbs and tobacco notes.

2. 1998 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($220)

This Valbuena vintage has tasting notes of wild berries, tobacco, and plums. On the nose, it’s less intense and has red fruit and cedar aromas. 

3. 2003 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($200)

Here’s a Vega Sicilia Valbuena wine that gives oak and dark berries flavor along with orangey undertones. This silky Spanish wine has dried fruit, cinnamon, and white pepper aromas.

4. 2015 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($183)

This vintage has complex, enticing aromas of white pepper, wild berries, along with floral notes and balsamic touches. It coats the palate with red and dark fruit, prunes, and oak flavors.

5. 1992 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($155)

With a well-defined structure, this vintage has vanilla, dark fruit, and bramble flavor hints. The nose reveals sophisticated aromas of black currant, raspberry, and earth.

6. 2014 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($139)

Here’s a Valbuena vintage with harmonic coffee, chocolate, and wild berry tasting notes. The wine also displays ripe red fruit, cedar, and floral fragrances on the nose.

7. 1999 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($128)

This fabulous vintage reveals pungent flavors of wild berries, leather, and smoke, along with orangey undertones. It has delicate aromas of mint, eucalyptus, and cherry.

8. 1997 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($148)

On the palate, this red wine has flavors of dark berries like plum, blackberry, and black currant with balsamic touches. The vintage is rich in wild herbs, raspberry, and graphite aromas.

9. 2010 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($182)

With robust and ripe tannin mouthfeel, this iconic Valbuena vintage has aromas of vanilla, pepper, and coffee. It gives pungent flavors of strawberry, cranberry, and other red fruits.

10. 2009 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($210)

This Spanish wine is a powerful and harmonious combination of oak, plum, leather, and floral notes on the palate. The vintage has dried fruit, cream, and floral aromas on the nose.

Investment Potential of Vega Sicilia Valbuena

For safe and easy investment, buy a Vega Sicilia Valbuena wine through Vinovest. Their advanced AI platform can help you purchase, store, and sell the best vintages from anywhere in the world.

Valbuena has a good investment potential. The price of Vega Sicilia Valbuena increases steadily over time. For example:

• The value of 1998 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5 increased by 72%, from $141 in 2019 to $243 in 2021.
• The cost of 2004 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5 increased from $182 in 2019 to $239 in 2021 (a 31% increase).

Also, Valbuena does reasonably well at auctions: 

• A bottle of 2014 Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 was sold for $266 at a Sotheby’s auction in May 2021. 
• Three bottles of Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 2013 were auctioned for $500 at another Sotheby’s auction in September 2021.

Moreover, it’s also much loved by renowned wine critics like Robert Parker (Wine Advocate.) He scored the 1995 Valbuena 5 a 96 for its great freshness. He has also given 94 points to the 2013 vintage.  

Let’s also look at the winery and the other wines it makes.

The Majestic Vega Sicilia Winery and Its Wine Styles 

The prestigious Vega Sicilia winery is located in Valbuena del Duero and is currently owned by Pablo Álvarez. 

Most of the wines are varying blends of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec Bordeaux varieties, and the Spanish varietal Tinto Fino. 

Here are the fabulous Vega Sicilia wines:

• Vega Sicilia Único: A perfect blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s the flagship wine of Vega Sicilia.
• Vega Sicilia Macán: Emerged from the fabulous La Rioja, this wine is a Tempranillo varietal wine and expresses the richness of the soil.
• Vega Sicilia Macán Clásico: It’s a pleasant Tempranillo wine - a result of a joint venture of Rothschild and Vega Sicilia. 
• Vega Sicilia Pintia: It’s a new generation Tempranillo wine exhibiting woody tannins and bold black fruit flavors.
• Vega Sicilia Alión: Made from Tinto Fino grapes, this wine is distinguished and praised for its authentic representation of the soil’s temperament. 
• Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva Especial: This is a blend of reserve wines from the best vintages.
• Vega Sicilia Oremus Mandolás: Made with Furmint using traditional Tokaj winemaking, this wine exhibits the uniqueness of the Oremus vineyard.
• Vega Sicilia Oremus Petracs: Made with Furmint grapes from the Petracs vineyard, this white wine is an elegant expression of its terroir.
• Vega Sicilia Oremus Late Harvest: A masterful blend of Furmint, Hárslevelű, Sárga Muskotály, Kövérszőlő and Zéta, this wine is mellow and fruity.
• Vega Sicilia Oremus Aszú: This dessert wine is a traditional Tokaji blend.
• Vega Sicilia Oremus Eszencia: Made with noble berries, this is an incredibly sweet low-alcoholic wine.

Add the Wonderful Valbuena to Your Collection Now!

Vega Sicilia Valbuena is an extraordinary wine that embodies the natural essence of the rich Spanish terroir and masterful winemaking of the Vega Sicilia winery. 

The wine is a great accompaniment to any special occasion or you can even serve it as a casual drink on a calm evening.

Go to the Vinovest website to invest in a bottle of iconic Spanish wines like these. Vinovest will handle the buying, storing, and selling process for you.