Backfill & Diversify Vol. 8

In 1864 Eloy Lacanda y Chaves planted Bordelais grape varieties as well as Tempranillo (here called Tinto Fino or Tinto del Pais) in the Ribera del Duero, that western Spanish wine producing region upstream of the Port vineyards of Portugal.

The vineyard now stretches to 500 acres of Ribera del Duero and is made up of 20% Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a little Malbec), with the rest Tempranillo.

The three wines made here are the Reserva Especial (an unusual blend of several vintages), Unico (which is made only in the best vintages) and the wine offered here: Valbuena, which is aged for 5 years in American oak before it is released.

“The 2003 Valbuena is purple-colored and super-fragrant with aromas of pain grille, pencil lead, black currant, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a powerful, concentrated wine with an opulent palate-feel, layers of flavor, and beautiful integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, no mean feat in the torrid 2003 vintage. Supple, sweet, and long, this superb effort will evolve for another 4-6 years and drink well through 2025. 94%.” erobertparker.com

Vintage	Wine	Drink dates	Case size	Price In Bond
2003	Valbuena, Vega Sicilia, Ribera del Duero, Spain Notes: The colour has taken on the first signs of ageing from the wood in the slight "bricking" at the rim of the garnet bowl. The nose, too, is starting to develop cedary, almost claret-like notes to its concentrated blackcurrant fruit aromas. There are nuances of spice and an overall meatiness here. There is proper, Bordeaux-style structure on the palate, with minerals and fine tannins underpinning a driving wedge of cassis flavoured fruit. The wine is very, very long in the mouth. This remains fresh and complex and will age into fabulous maturity.	2012-2023	12x75cl	£801.00
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