2019 Bodegas Vega Sicilia “Classic Macán” Rioja, Spain

In 2013, Macán became the brainchild of Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia. The union of two leading names of the world of wine is based in La Rioja denomination of origin and augers a future full of great wines. It is the combination of sun, earth, water and man in search for an inimitable style that brings together tradition and the avant-garde. A true classic. 2019 was a dry year. The lack of water during May, June, and July affected the vineyard, with temperatures slightly higher than average, even during winter and autumn. In fact, it can be considered the warmest year of the decade, with days when temperatures were higher than normal, and a heatwave at the end of June and start of July that unusually saw temperatures topping 40 ºC. The drought affected the entire ripening phase, with the berries only swelling very slightly. However, the 80 litres that fell during the first fortnight of September helped alleviate the vines' water needs, with the fruit quickly swelling. Why do we like it? This is a wine with power, but elegant at the same time. Notes of leather, curry seeds, tobacco and sandalwood. This is a fantastic wine that is ready to drink, but certainly has the potential for further ageing over the next 10 years. Grape            Tempranillo Country        Spain                                 Region          Rioja                           Vintage         2019