Macan Clasico 2016

TEMPOS VEGA SICILIA

Macan Clasico
2016

Country
Spain
Regulated designation
Denominación de origen calificada (DOCa)
Region
La Rioja
Varietal(s)
Tempranillo 100 %
Alcohol percentage
14.5%
Colour
Red
Sugar
Dry
Aging vessel type
French oak
Length of aging
15 months
Producer's website

About this winery

Vega Sicilia is a legendary estate recognized worldwide – and for good reason: this old property, dating from 1864, produces several high quality wines, including the renowned “Unico” which is subjected to an extremely long ageing process (up to 8 years before bottling), what delights the most demanding palates around the world. Founded in 1864 by Eloy Lecanda, the property bought its first vines in Bordeaux. The estate produced the first vintage of Vega Sicilia Valbuena and Vega Sicilia...

See the TEMPOS VEGA SICILIA detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

Red wine wholly made using the Tempranillo variety. After the alcoholic fermentation, the malolactic process is carried out with 30% in barrels and the remaining 70% in tanks. The ageing takes place in extrafine and fine grain French wood, the majority in new barrels and the rest in one-wine barrels. It remains in wood for 15 months and then in bottles until it is sold.

Tasting notes

Macán and Macán Clásico are the joint vision that two great names of the wine world, Rothschild and Vega Sicilia, have of La Rioja. They are very elegant wines, where the harmony of their aromas and flavours show the authenticity of the land from where they come and its capacity to produce great wines. Macán Clásico is very approachable and expressive, more pleasant and pleasurable when drunk with a marked character of the land from which it comes and a simplicity that makes it very attractive.

Press reviews

Wine Advocate

- 93 points -

Luis Gutiérrez, October 2020 (Vintage 2016)

The 2016 Macán Clásico is their second wine in the Bordeaux sense. In 2016, they fermented the wine in stainless steel and reduced the number of new barrels to 50%, while 5% of the barrels were produced with American oak at the Vega Sicilia cooperage. The new winery was 100% ready and now has much better facilities. The élevage lasted 12 months, and this has contained ripeness and integrated oak. The year had freshness and balance and helped to produce lighter and more expressive wines, like this one. This has to be one of the finest vintages for this cuvée. 97,654 bottles, 1,060 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in August 2018.

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James Suckling

- 93 points -

(Vintage 2016)

A very perfumed red with ultra fine and chewy tannins that coat the mouth and draw you down the linear line of this wine. Purple fruit, stones and blue fruit. Medium to full body. Better in 2021, but already beautiful. Drink now or hold.

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Wine Spectator

- 92 points -

(Vintage 2016)

This powerful red features a thick texture and muscular tannins. The flavors lean toward the austere side, with espresso, loamy earth, tar and graphite notes. The tannins and currant-infused core give way to a spicy, floral finish. Best from 2022 through 2036. 8,140 cases made, 748 cases imported

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Decanter

- 91 points -

Jane Anson, December 2019 (Vintage 2016)

Released one year earlier than the Macán, this is full of bright and pure red fruits. I tasted this first at the winery, then again at my house, and it's a brilliant wine for drinking now - already open and welcoming, with a touch of smoked cherry and cinnamon. Cool temperature fermentation to keep the focus on the fruits, with just 5% American oak ensuring the kiss of sweetness. This 2nd wine has been made since the first vintage, helping Macán to stand out from its peers in the region.

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