James Suckling (98/100)
One of the finest Valbuenas available, showcasing great depth, structure and detail while remaining polished. It exhibits notes of blackberries, cocoa powder, graphite, and high-quality sandalwood, with hints of lard and violets. The standout feature this year is the quantity and quality of the tannins—huge, yet incredibly refined and polished. There are plenty of fine grits that aren’t fully integrated but should harmonize in two to three years. Exceptionally long finish. Will hold effortlessly for the next 20 years.
Guía Peñin (97/100)
R. Parker (96/100)
The 2021 Valbuena comes from a year with pristine grapes, good ripeness and balance, for them one of their finest years when they didn't have to rush and everything happened in a smooth way. The year was marked by the snowstorm Filomena in January, which provided good water reserves, and the rest of the winter had temperatures reaching -15 degrees Celsius! This was a blend of 96% Tinto Fino (a.k.a. Tempranillo) and 4% Merlot aged in barrels and 8,500- and 21,000-liter oak vats during the first year and later only in oak vats. This is the youngest expression of the "Vega" nose, subtler and elegant, more insinuating, less developed and keeping some primary notes, not as tertiary as the Únicos. It comes in at 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.85 and 4.65 grams of acidity, and it has a medium- to full-bodied palate, with elegant tannins and very good balance. This is one of the finest recent vintages for Valbuena, and in a way, it reminded me of the 2010, with elegance and precision.
Jancis Robinson (19/100)
18,5/20
This Valbuena is, for me, a particularly special edition. The texture is silky, almost haute couture, with delicately pitched black fruit, graphite ink notes and impeccably integrated oak. Cedar, black cherry and a faint mineral line shape the aromas, while the palate shows seductive perfume, refined structure and a tannin profile that is both silky and full of promise. Tertiary elements are barely emerging – just a whisper of elegant leather – suggesting a long and graceful evolution ahead. An impressive Valbuena, and one of my favourites in the entire 2026 Vega Sicilia release.