2021 Macán Clásico, Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia, Rioja, Spain

100% Tempranillo. Vines an average of 30 years old. 100 hectares on the lowest terraces close to the Ebro in San Vicente, Labastida, Ábalos, Navaridas and Elvillar. Limestone soils with a sandy clay texture that give less concentration and more fruit. Fermentation in stainless-steel tanks and ageing in barrels for 12 months followed by a further 18 months in the bottle.

For this vintage they have greatly reduced the extraction work because they want to achieve more smoothness. This is the cuvée where they use the lowest percentage of new wood only 55%), when the average for the rest of the wineries in the group is 80%! 5% of the barrels are American. 2021 was a comfortable vintage, with a very good maturation of the grape skins. Production: 222,532 bottles, 2,001 magnums, 59 double magnums and 20 Imperials.

The fruit rules over the wood. This is the most vibrant Vega Sicilia wine. Sweet tannin, accompanied by hints of violet and the impact of very black fruit with a high level of ripening. Graphite, pink pepper and hints of plum. It's a little light-hearted for a Vega Sicilia wine. Overall, friendly tannin, ample and very drinkable. The most approachable of Tempos Vega Sicilia’s wines.

Drink 2024 - 2035

This is a production of 222,532 bottles, 2,001 magnums and some larger formats. It was bottled in August 2023.

The 2021 Macán Clásico comes from a fantastic year in Rioja; it was the second vintage where they used some Garnacha maybe 5% this year, they are increasing slowly). It was harvested at the same time as Tempranillo and adds freshness. It was a year of above-average rain, a mild spring and some hail in mid-June that affected seven hectares of vines but didn't touch the rest. The weather was stable during the harvest, with mild temperatures. The wine has a moderate 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.7 and 4.7 grams of acidity.

Fifty percent of the volume was inoculated with their native yeast, and fermentation was in stainless steel. Forty percent of the wine matured in new French oak barrels, 30% in used French oak, 5% in American oak and the remaining 25% was kept in stainless steel. It has an herbal twist and a more Atlantic character, reflecting a cooler less warm) vintage. It's fine-grained, textured and chalky, with very fine tannins and great balance.

Drink 2025 - 2035

Vega Sicilia (and partner Benjamin de Rothschild) never seem to do things in a hurry, so it’s taken a while for them to make a Macán Clásico that they are really proud of. This blend of Tempranillo and 1% Garnacha reflects the quality of the vintage, with lovely perfume, sculpted tannins, subtle 40% new wood (and a 15% stainless steel component), black cherry, summer berry and vanilla spice flavours and a tapering finish.

A spicy, fresh and accessible Macan Clasico that shows tapenade, dark spices, red pepper and black cherries. Plenty of fruit, with a medium body and a round, approachable finish loaded with spiced strawberries and cherries. Tannins have already softened. An elegant and lengthy wine.

Drink 2025+